Home  Licensure  Requirements E-mail This Page  Printer-Friendly Format 

Related Pages
• Licensure for engineers
• Licensure for surveyors
• Licensing boards
• Licensing requirements
Licensing Requirements Information (2003 NCEES Survey of Licensing Boards)

 Summary — See results of the 2005 NCEES survey of U.S. engineering and surveying licensing boards. The survey contains information about licensing requirements for individuals and firms who practice or offer to practice engineering or surveying to the public in the United States and its territories.

The survey questions are grouped in the following categories:
A. Board of licensure
B. NCEES Records Program
C. Examinations in general
D. FE examination and engineer-intern certification
E. PE examination and professional engineering licensure
F. Business entity certifications of verification (COA)
G. Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination
H. PS examination and surveying licensure
I. Law Enforcement

NOTE: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF documents. Version 5.x or higher is recommended. (If getting version 6.0, please opt to download the FULL version of the software.)


A. Board of licensure

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. What are the professions regulated by your board?
2. What is the term of the majority of board members in your jurisdiction?

3. What is the maximum number of consecutive terms to which a board member may be appointed?
4. What is the procedure of appointment of your board members?
5. How many of each of the following persons does your statute require be on your board?

• P.E.
• P.S.
• Both P.E. and P.S.
• Architects
• Geologists
• Interior Designers
• Landscape Architects
• Public
• Other
6. Describe any specific practice disciplines, areas of employment, gender, or other qualifications required by your statutes for your board composition.
7. How is your board chair/president selected?
8. Is your board an independent state agency or under an umbrella organization?
9. How does your board receive its funding?
10. Is the Member Board Administrator (MBA) or otherwise-titled "Chief Staff Person" of your board required to be a professional licensed by your board?
11. Is the MBA or otherwise-titled chief staff person a professional licensed by your board?
12. Is the MBA of your board under the direct supervision of anyone other than the board?

13. How many total staff members are employed by your board office (including the MBA)?
14. Who provides non-prosecutorial legal advice to your board?
15. Does your board establish candidate application, examination, and renewal fees in your jurisdiction? If yes, how are the fees established?
16. Approximately how long does it take to effect a change in candidate fees?
17. In what format does your board publish a roster?
18. Does your board publish a newsletter? If yes, how often is it published?

19. What is your board's Web site address.
20.

List the applicable fees charged in your jurisdiction for:

• FE application
• FE examination
• FE re-examination
• EI certification
• EI certification by comity
• EI renewal
• PE appliciation
• PE examination
• PE re-examination
• PE application by comity
• PE reinstatement
• PE certificate
• PE renewal
• FS appliciation
• FS examination
• FS re-examination
• SI certification/certificate
• SI certification by comity or transfer
• SI renewal
• PS application
• PS examination
• PS re-examination
• PS application by comity
• PS renewal
• PS reinstatement
• PS certificate
• Certificate of Authorization (COA)
• COA renewal
• COA reinstatement
• State-specific surveyor examination
• Verification of exam/licensure


21. Which methods does your board allow in sealing final documents?
22. Which methods does your board allow in signing final documents?
23. How does your board evaluate foreign education?
24. Which foreign-degree evaluation services will your board accept?

25. At what point in the registration process does your board require a foreign-degree evaluation?

26. Does your board have an agreement or policy regarding overlap among the practices of engineering, architecture, surveying, geology, landscape architecture, or any other profession which defines what any or all can do?
27. Does your jurisdiction have a licensing requirement for those teaching advanced engineering design courses? If yes, does your board enforce this requirement?

28. Does your board restrict or prohibit competitive bidding for engineering and surveying services in the public sector? If not, do any of your state's other laws prohibit such practices?
29. Does your board restrict or prohibit competitive bidding for engineering and surveying services in the private sector? If not, do any of your state's other laws prohibit such practices?
30. Is errors-and-omissions/liability insurance required by your board for professional engineers and/or professional surveyors on public projects?

31. Is errors-and-omissions/liability insurance required by your board for professional engineers and/or professional surveyors on private projects?

32. Do your board members or board administrator regularly participate as state board visitors on ABET accreditation visits?



B. NCEES Records Program

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. Which portions of the Council Record does your board accept for professional engineers? (Transcript, engineering references, verification of registration,verification of exam results, employment verification)

2. What is the time period (months or years) after which references are no longer considered current and become unacceptable?
3. How many current references does your board require for comity applications?
4. Which sections of the jurisdictional application form must be completed by a Council Record holder?
5. On the application or information sheet, do you routinely tell an applicant how much of the jurisdictional form must be completed if a Council Record is being transmitted?
6. Does your board have an expedited comity process for non-Council Record holders who possess certain credentials?
7. Does your board have an expedited comity process for Council Record holders who have not been designated as Model Law Engineers but who possess certain credentials?
8. Does your board have an expedited comity process for Council Record holders who have been designated as Model Law Engineers?

If NO: On the average, approximately how many days after receipt of an application with a Council Record does it take to process an application for a P.E. license by comity and issue a license?

If YES: On the average, approximately how many days after receipt of an application with a Council Record does it take to process an application for a P.E. license by comity and issue a license?
9. Approximately how many days does it take to process an application for a P.E. license by comity if the applicant does not submit a Council Record but meets the Model Law Engineer criteria?
10. Approximately how many days does it take to process an application for a P.E. license by comity if the applicant does not submit a Council Record and does not meet the Model Law Engineer criteria?
11. Does your board accept the Council Record for surveyors? If it does, which portions of the Council Record are accepted? (Transcript, surveyor references,verification of registration and examinations, employment verification)


C. Examinations in general

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. How are exam scores reported in your jurisdiction?
2. Does your jurisdiction have a residency requirement for assignment to an examination, passage of which would result in issuance of a first license to the applicant (non-comity exam applicant)?
3. If your state does not use ELSES to administer examinations, will your board
proctor examinations for other jurisdictions? If it will, does your board assess
a proctoring fee to the candidate being proctored?
4. If your state uses ELSES to administer examinations, will your board proctor
examinations for other jurisdictions that do not qualify for proctoring by ELSES?
If it will, does your board assess a proctoring fee to the candidate being proctored?
5. Does your jurisdiction have statutes or rules that require you to allow failing
candidates to review their examinations? (This does not refer to hand scoring.)
6. Who administers your examinations?
7. Please indicate the number of sites at which the following examinations are administered in the spring:

• Fundamentals of Engineering
• Fundamentals of Surveying
• Principles and Practice of Engineering
• Principles and Practice of Surveying
8. Please indicate the number of sites at which the following examinations are administered in the fall:

• Fundamentals of Engineering
• Fundamentals of Surveying
• Principles and Practice of Engineering
• Principles and Practice of Surveying
9. Who approves candidate requests for accommodation under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)?


D. Fundamentals of Engineering examination and Engineer-Intern certification

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. At what point in their education are students who are enrolled in an EAC/
ABET-accredited engineering program allowed to take the FE examination?
2. Graduation from which of the following programs is acceptable for taking
the FE examination?

Also see follow-up questions:

If graduation from a TAC/ABET-accredited engineering technology program is acceptable, are the following required prior to assignment to the exam?
• Is graduation from the program required prior to assignment to the exam?
• is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the exam?

If graduation from an ASAC/ABET-accredited program is acceptable, are the following required prior to assignment to the exam?
• Is graduation from the program required prior to assignment to the exam?
• is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the exam?

If graduation from a non-EAC/ABET-accredited program is acceptable, are the following required prior to assignment to the exam?
• Is graduation from the program required prior to assignment to the exam?
• is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the exam?

If graduation from a non-TAC/ABET-accredited engineering technology program is acceptable, are the following required prior to assignment to the exam?
• Is graduation from the program required prior to assignment to the exam?
• is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the exam?

If graduation from a non-ASAC/ABET-accredited related science program is acceptable, are the following required prior to assignment to the exam?
• Is graduation from the program required prior to assignment to the exam?
• is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the exam?
3. Regardless of education, are there any circumstances under which a candidate would be allowed to take the FE examination but not be issued a certificate until a later date when he or she has attained a specified amount of experience?
4. Is an applicant without a degree and not enrolled as a student in an approved program permitted to take the FE examination?
5. Does your jurisdiction have statutes or rules that limit the number of times a candidate is allowed to take the FE examination?
6. Does your jurisdiction have a provision to waive the requirement for passage of the FE examination for an individual with “long-established practice” (or similar wording)?
7. Does your jurisdiction have a provision to waive the requirement for
passage of the FE examination for an individual with a Ph.D.?
8. Does your board share FE performance data (i.e., Report 5) with any
engineering schools within your jurisdiction?
9. Does your board review the FE institutional report at a board meeting?
10. Does your board have an ongoing program of acquainting undergraduate
students with the value of licensure?


E. Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination and professional engineering licensure

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. Which of the following terms are partially or fully restricted in their usage in your jurisdiction? (Engineer; variations of “engineer,” e.g. registered engineer, licensed engineer; professional engineer)
2. List requirements for engineering licensure for graduates from an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program.

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience exclusive of education credit
• Minimum total years of experience after graduation

3. List requirements for engineering licensure for graduates from a TAC/ABETaccredited 4-year engineering technology program if your statutes allow for such.

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience exclusive of education credit
• Minimum total years of experience after graduation

4. List requirements for engineering licensure for graduates from a non-ABET-accredited 4-year engineering program if your statutes allow for such.

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience exclusive of education credit
• Minimum total years of experience after graduation

5. List requirements for engineering licensure for graduates from a non-ABET-accredited engineering technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience exclusive of education credit
• Minimum total years of experience after graduation

6. List requirements for engineering licensure for graduates from a non-ABET-accredited related science program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience exclusive of education credit
• Minimum total years of experience after graduation

7. List requirements for engineering licensure for applicants without a degree if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FE
• Minimum total years of experience
8. How does your jurisdiction license engineers?
9. Which NCEES exams are offered in your jurisdiction? The exams are as follows: Agricultural, Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Control Systems, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Fire Protection, Industrial, Mechanical, Metallurgical, Mining and Mineral, Naval Architecture and Marine, Nuclear, Petroleum, Structural I, Structural II.
10. Which of the following non-NCEES examinations does your board give to engineering candidates?
11. Does your jurisdiction have statutes or rules that limit the number of times a candidate is allowed to take the P.E. examination?
12. At any time after a candidate has failed the examination, can the board require the candidate to obtain more education before retaking the examination?
13. Will your board issue a P.E. license to a comity applicant who took an NCEES examination which your board does not offer?
14. Which of the following are considered by your board to be equivalent to EAC/ABET-accredited programs?
15. Which programs are considered by your board to be equivalent to TAC/ABET-accredited degrees?
16. What are the requirements in your jurisdiction for P.E. licensure by comity?
17. If a comity applicant took the P.E. exam in another jurisdiction before obtaining the experience required in your jurisdiction, would your statutes require that the applicant retake the P.E. exam, even if the applicant has the experience required by your jurisdiction at the time of comity application?
18. What is the current status of your statutes and/or rules with regard to continuing professional competency (CPC) for engineers?
19. What type of CPC program (if any) does your jurisdiction have in place for engineers?
20. If your jurisdiction has any type of CPC program in place for engineers, indicate the number of professional development hours (PDH's) required per year.
21. When a P.E.'s license is not renewed, how much time can elapse during which the licensee can renew without re-applying for a license?
22. What exemptions to the Practice Act does your jurisdiction law recognize?
23. Which exams must an individual pass to become licensed as a structural
engineer in your jurisdiction?
24. Does your board issue temporary licenses to professional engineers under any circumstances?


F. Business entity certifications of verification (COA)

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. Which business entities are required to have a certificate of authorization from your board to practice in your jurisdiction?
2. If your board issues them, on average, how many days does it normally
take your board to grant a certificate of authorization to a business entity?
3. To practice in your jurisdiction, does a business entity need to obtain any additional authorization from an agency other than your board?
4. What is the licensure requirement for owners of business entities that practice in your jurisdiction?
5. Does your board issue temporary Certificates of Authorization to business entities under any circumstances?


G. Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1. Graduation from which programs is acceptable for taking the FS examination in your jurisdiction? (without regard to whether additional experience may be required)

Also see follow-up questions:

If graduation from an EAC/ABET-accredited 4-year surveying engineering program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from a TAC/ABET-accredited 4-year surveying technology program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from a TAC/ABET-accredited 2-year surveying technology program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from an ASAC/ABET-accredited 4-year surveying program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from a non-accredited 4-year surveying program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from a non-accredited 2-year surveying technology program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?

If graduation from a non-accredited 4-year related science program is acceptable:
• Is graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
• Is experience after graduation required prior to assignment to the FS exam?
2. Is an applicant without a 2-year or 4-year degree permitted to take the FS examination?
3. Does your jurisdiction have a statute in place that will change the
requirements of education and experience previously outlined?


H. Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) examination and surveying licensure

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1.

List requirements for surveying licensure for graduates from a 4-year EAC/ABET-accredited surveying engineering program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation


2. List requirements for surveying licensure for graduates from a 4-year TAC/ABET-accredited surveying technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
3. List requirements for surveying licensure for graduates from a 2-year TAC/ABET-accredited surveying technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
4. List requirements for surveying licensure for graduates from a 4-year ASAC/ABET-accredited surveying technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
5. List requirements for surveying licensure for graduates from a non-accredited 4-year surveying technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
6. List requirements for professional surveying licensure for graduates from a non-accredited 2-year surveying technology program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
7. List requirements for professional surveying licensure for graduates from a 4-year non-accredited related science program if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
8. List requirements for professional surveying licensure for applicants who have no degree if your statutes allow such:

• Total hours of examination including the FS
• Minimum total years of experience
• Minimum years of experience after graduation
9. Applicants for professional surveying licensure required to complete an examination (to include take-home examination) on the following areas:

• Jurisdiction statute
• Standards of surveying
• Board rules and regulations
• Rules of professional conduct
• Other
10. Not including take-home examinations, how many hours is the candidate given to complete this examination?
11. What are the requirements for surveying licensure for applicants who are applying via comity?
12. Does your jurisdiction provide for licensing as a surveyor by "eminence" or "long-established practice"?
13. What is the current status of your statutes and/or rules with regard to continuing professional competency (CPC) for surveyors?
14. Are your CPC guidelines close to the NCEES model? What CPC programs do you recognize?
15. If your jurisdiction has any type of CPC program in place for surveyors, what are the number of professional development hours (PDH's) required per year?
16. When an P.S.'s license is not renewed, how much time can elapse during which the licensee can renew without re-applying for a new license?
17. Does your statutory definition of surveying or surveying include activities other than boundary-related surveying?
18. Does your board license photogrammetrists or mappers or other "measurement practitioners" separately from professional surveyors?
19. Does your board issue licenses to surveyors in any kind of a tiered system which limits the practice of some practitioners as compared to others?
20. Are surveyors licensed by your board allowed to perform non-boundary-related design work such as roadway design or storm water design?
21. Does your board issue temporary licenses to professional surveyors under any circumstances?



I. Law Enforcement

Click on a question to view a report (PDF) listing the responses of participating licensing boards. (Please note that not all boards participated in this survey.)

1.

Are the board members in your state or jurisdiction directly involved with the investigative process? If yes, explain briefly.
2. Are the board members in your state or jurisdiction involved in the review of investigative reports?
3. Does your board attempt to resolve cases through a negotiated settlement process?
4. Approximately what percentage of your enforcement cases are resolved through negotiated settlements?
5. Are your board members directly involved in negotiating settlements?
6. Does your board use information on NCEES’s Law Enforcement Exchange
to initiate enforcement actions against your licensees?
7. Approximately what percentage of your board’s annual budget is spent on its enforcement activities?
8. How many staff members hold the position of investigator?
9. How many contract investigators or consultants does your board employ?
10. How many staff members hold the position of attorney?
11. How many contract attorneys does your board employ?
12. Who prosecutes disciplinary cases that are brought before your board?
13. Does your board post disciplinary actions on NCEES’s Enforcement Exchange?
14. Approximately how many complaints are filed with the board each year against the following?
15. Of the complaints filed against your license holders, approximately percentage fall within the following general categories?
16. What specific action(s) can your board take or initiate against nonregistrants involved in the practice of engineering or surveying? (Injunctive proceedings, referral for prosecution, administrative fine)
17. What penalties can you impose on a licensee?