Kentucky Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors

Online

$100 for an engineering firm permit or $150 for an engineering and land surveying firm permit.

• Per KRS 131.1817, the Board provides information on licensees and permit holders to the Kentucky Department of Revenue for the purpose of tax compliance.  If you have questions regarding tax issues, please contact them at http://revenue.ky.gov/
• Separate permits are required for engineering and land surveying. A Business Entity may apply for both permits on the same application. 
• To qualify for a Permit, a Business Entity must have a Kentucky licensed Professional Engineer (or Professional Land Surveyor, as appropriate) on staff who will be in responsible charge of the engineering (land surveying) services provided in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  • If more than one place of business is maintained in Kentucky, a different Kentucky licensed Professional Engineer (Professional Land Surveyor) must be in responsible charge of the engineering (land surveying) work for each office and be located at that facility. A licensee who renders occasional, part-time, or consulting services to or for a business entity shall not be in responsible charge.
•  All forms of Business Entities are required to obtain a Business Entity Permit.  This includes corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,  professional limited liability companies, and sole proprietors operating under any name other than the name listed on his or her individual PE or PLS license.   The only exemption from the Business Entity Permit requirement is a sole proprietor practicing in the name listed on his or her individual license.

Domestic Applicants:

• Identify a Kentucky licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities. If the firm maintains multiple office locations in Kentucky, a separate responsible engineer must be appointed for each office location.
• Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Applicants:

• Identify a Kentucky licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities. If the firm maintains multiple office locations in Kentucky, a separate responsible engineer must be appointed for each office location.
• Ensure that your Kentucky entity will meet ownership requirements.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
2. Complete an online Business Entity Permit Application with the Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Kentucky. If not required, skip to number 4.
2. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "engineer", first obtain a letter of name approval from the Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors.
3. File foreign qualification documents with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
4. Complete an online Business Entity Permit Application with the Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Online

$100 for an engineering firm permit or $150 for an engineering and land surveying firm permit.

Annually by December 31.

• Permits are issued on a Calendar Year basis and expire on December 31 of each year, unless renewed.  
• A renewal notice will be mailed prior to December 31 to each firm which has an active permit.  
• Permits may be renewed online.  
• An expired Permit may be renewed for up to one year following the expiration date by completing the online renewal form.  
  • A late renewal penalty equal to ten percent of the renewal fee for each month, or fractional month that the renewal is late will apply.
  • Any permit holder which fails to renew within one year after expiration must apply for reinstatement of its permit.

• List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses
• List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
• List of branch office locations including licensee in responsible charge

$0

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Notify the board in writing with any changes.

Online

$500

Licenses delinquent for less than a year just pay renewal and late fees. Licenses that are delinquent for more than one year must be reinstated.

Application for Business Entity Permit

$100 for a land surveying firm permit or $150 for a land surveying and engineering firm permit.

1. Secretary of State: Certificate of Authority
2. Land Surveying Board: Business Entity Permit

Exception: If the firm name contains the word “Engineering”, “Surveying: (or any derivation of those words), then Board approval, via a certificate or letter, must be gained before registering with the Secretary of State

Online

$100 for a land surveying firm permit or $150 for a land surveying and engineering firm permit.

Annually by December 31.

Online

$500

Licenses delinquent for less than a year just pay renewal and late fees. Licenses that are delinquent for more than one year must be reinstated.

Online

There is no initial license fee, but the NCEES does charge $100 to send a record to the board.

Kentucky requires an NCEES Record for licensure.

1. After meeting the Education, FE, and PPE requirements, and obtaining four years of progressive engineering experience following graduation, you may apply for initial licensure.
2. Request for your NCEES record to be transmitted to the board.
3. Complete the online application for licensure.

Online

$300

• If you are licensed in any state, territory, or possession of the United States, District of Columbia, or any foreign country, you are eligible for Kentucky licensure provided the requirements and qualifications supporting your license equals or exceeds Kentucky's requirements in effect on the date of issuance.
• Kentucky requires an NCEES Record for endorsement licensure.
• Canadian degrees accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board are acceptable. All other foreign degrees must be evaluated by NCEES Credentials Evaluations

• Request for your NCEES record to be transmitted to the board.
• Complete the online application for licensure.

Online

$150

Biennially by June 30. Licensees with last names beginning with A through K must renew their license in odd-numbered years. Those with last names beginning with letters L through Z must renew their license in even-numbered years.