50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Delaware Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Delaware.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Delaware for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Delaware Engineering Company Licenses

Delaware Certificate of Authorization (Engineering)

Agency:Delaware Association of Professional Engineers
Law:

Delaware Code Title 24 § 2821

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least 1 of the officers or employees of the corporation must be engineers licensed in Delaware.

Professional Corporations:

  • All shareholders must be engineers licensed in Delaware.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least 1 of the officers or employees of the corporation must be engineers licensed in Delaware.

Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • At least 1 of the partners or employees of the corporation must be engineers licensed in Delaware.

Initial Registration

This section applies to engineering firms that are applying for a license in Delaware for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Turnaround:
  • Applications are reviewed by the examining committee on the last Wednesday of each month. If the application is deemed to be in order then it will be up for approval at the next council meeting, which is held the second Wednesday of every month. If approved, you will be notified via email the day after the council meeting. 
  • Approximately 4-6 weeks depending on the date in which the application was submitted
Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:
  • At least one of the officers or one of the employees of the firm must be designated as being in responsible charge of the engineering activities and engineering decisions of the firm and hold an active P.E. license in Delaware.
  • Delaware Professional Engineer(s) that have been designated in responsible charge of engineering activities on behalf of the firm, must acknowledge the designation by signing and sealing the affidavit which is generated during the application process. Designated officers must also sign the affidavit.
  • Applicants should describe engineering work in detail, citing examples from projects which help demonstrate your specific, personal engineering contribution, and with a focus on analysis, design, computations, and engineering evaluations. Avoid vague terms such as "I was involved with" or "the team was responsible for" in favor of specifying exactly what engineering work you did.
  • Applicants may not verify their own experience.
  • At least 3 of your 5 professional references must hold ACTIVE PE licenses.
  • NCEES record-holders still need to complete the application (the experience history may be brief, but should include at least 4-8 years of engineering experience) and then have NCEES transmit your record to the Delaware PE board.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify a Delaware licensed engineer to act as the professional in charge of the firm's engineering activities in Delaware.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Ensure that your Delaware entity meets ownership requirements.
  • Identify a Delaware licensed engineer to act as the professional in charge of the firm's engineering activities in Delaware.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
  • Applicants with foreign education must submit an NCEES credentials evaluation.
  • All applicants must complete the Ethics & Regulations questionnaire, which requires the following reference materials: Delaware Professional Engineers' Act & DAPE Code of Ethics
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
  2. Apply for a Delaware Business License through the Division of Revenue.
  3. Register as a new applicant on the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers website.
  4. Fill out the online form and attach notarized and sealed documents as requested.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Delaware. If not required, skip to number 4.
  2. File a foreign qualification application with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
  3. Apply for a Delaware Business License through the Division of Revenue.
  4. Register as a new applicant on the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers website.
  5. Fill out the online form and attach notarized and sealed documents as requested.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of the firm's Delaware business license or a letter of exemption issued by the Delaware Division of Revenue
  • A list of the officers and board members of the firm
  • Applications must include an affidavit with a passport-like photograph taken within the last 90 days, and signed and dated on the front of the photo (this is generated as part of the online application).
  • DAPE requires OFFICIAL transcripts to verify your education qualifications. This means the transcript must be sent directly from the institution to office@dape.org

Registration Renewal

This section applies to engineering firms that are already licensed in Delaware and need to renew their license.

Instructions:

Complete renewal online and then email signed/stamped qualifier affidavit and DE General Business license or exemption to office@dape.org

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by September 30.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Required
Penalties:

$75 per month late fee

Required Attachments:
  • List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:

Notify the board in writing with any changes to key personnel or other firm information. The company address can be changed online.

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100 per month late (maximum $600) plus $150 renewal fee.

Delaware Certificate of Authorization (Land Surveying)

Agency:Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Land Surveyors
Eligible Entity Types:

Delaware allows surveying firms to practice under most entity types, including corporations, professional corporations, LLCs, and professional LLCs.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$207

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Required
How to Apply:
  1. Secretary of State: Foreign entity registration
  2. Division of Revenue: Business License registration OR Business License Exemption
  3. Surveying Board: Certificate of Authorization

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$207

Due:

By June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Notes:

In addition to the online renewal, Land Surveying firms need to complete the Verification of Surveyor in Charge form.

Delaware Geology Firm License

Not required



Geoscience Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Delaware.

Individual Licenses

Delaware Individual Engineering Licenses

Delaware Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Delaware Association of Professional Engineers

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Biennially by June 30 of even-numbered years

Delaware Geologist License

Agency:Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Geologists
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

See digital sealing guidelines.

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

An electronic seal and signature may be used in lieu of a stamped or embossed impression of the seal and original signature only for documents that are transmitted electronically. The graphic image of the electronic seal shall have the same graphic appearance in all respects as in subsection 3.1 above.

24 DE Reg. 3600-3.0

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

You are notified of the amount of the renewal fee at the time of renewal.

Due:

By September 30 of even-numbered years.

Delaware Land Surveyor License

Agency:Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$181

Notarization Required?:Required

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

You are notified of the amount of the renewal fee at the time of renewal.

Due:

By June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Delaware Professional Engineer License

Agency:Delaware Association of Professional Engineers
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Licensees may use a seal, signature, and date that can be created or transmitted electronically

24 DE Reg. 2829

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

See digital signing guidelines.

Requirement Notes:


  • You must be qualified in three areas: Education, Experience and Examination.

    • Education: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a science-related to engineering program. Otherwise, you are required to have 15 years of verifiable, acceptable engineering experience. Applicants with foreign education are required to submit an NCEES credentials evaluation.
    • Experience: Graduates from an ABET-accredited engineering educational program or an engineering educational program approved by an accrediting agency that is a signatory to the Washington Accord are required to have four (4) years of acceptable, verifiable engineering experience. All other graduates (non-ABET accredited engineering, engineering technology, or science-related to engineering programs) are required to have eight (8) years of acceptable, verifiable engineering experience.


      • The award of a Masters degree or PhD may each count towards one year experience credit as long as it is not achieved concurrent with work experience.
      • Experience must be verified by supervisors or work colleagues (applicants may not self-verify). Additionally, all applicants must provide 5 professional references, including at least 3 that are registered or licensed professional engineers in this or any other state or territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the province or territory of Canada or an IntPE registrant under the IEA.


    • Examination: All applicants are required to pass both the 6-hour Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, and one of the 8-hour Principles & Practice of Engineering (PE) examinations (or both parts of the 16-hour Structural Engineering (SE) examinations), prepared by NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying). Specifications for each of these examinations are available at www.ncees.org. Examination fees are paid to NCEES. FE and PE exams are computer-based and offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. NCEES is transitioning all SE exams to computer-based format.
    • Exemptions: If you have earned a PhD from an institution that had an ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's program, and that PhD required a qualifying exam, you may be eligible for a waiver of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination; or If you have a Council-approved engineering baccalaureate degree and fifteen (15) years of experience you may be eligible for a waiver of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.


Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Reciprocal Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:
  • Upon application and payment of the required fees, Council may issue a license if:
  • The applicant's qualifications on the date of licensure would have satisfied the requirements for license in Delaware on that date; OR
  • The qualifications of the applicant include a minimum of five (5) years of continuous and verifiable experience as a Professional Engineer, obtained in a state, territory, or possession of the U.S., D.C., or a province or territory of Canada. And, the applicant has not been the subject of any disciplinary action in a licensing jurisdiction.
  • NOTE: If your firm is planning to offer or provide engineering services in Delaware, the firm will need a Certificate of Authorization (COA). To avoid delays, the COA application can be submitted at the same time as your PE application if you are licensed in another jurisdiction already. When your PE application is ready for review, the COA application will also be reviewed.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Biennially by June 30 of even-numbered years

Delaware Surveyor Intern Registration

Agency:Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Notarization Required?:Required

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Learn about engineering licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Design Firm - Engineering firm registration is sometimes grouped with architecture and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

EI (Engineering Intern) - A term also used to describe an Engineer in Training.

EIT (Engineer in Training) - A professional designation granted upon having completed at least 3 years of school at an ABET-accredited university and having passed the FE exam.

FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) - An exam testing on basic engineering principles that is required to become an engineer in training.

PE (Professional Engineer or 'Principles and Practice in Engineering') - Means either Professional Engineer or refers to the Principles and Practice in Engineering exam that is a prerequisite for an engineering license.

Reciprocity - When a licensed engineer in one state can provide documentation (often an NCEES Record) to more easily apply for a license in another jurisdiction.

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Accrediting board that sets standards for university programs in a variety of applied science disciplines.

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Engineering, architecture, and land surveying advocacy group.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Organization that provides continuing education, professional conferences, and advocacy efforts to the civil engineering community.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Mechanical engineering organization that focuses on education and professional development.

Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC)
Reviews accreditation requirements and makes final decisions regarding the accreditation process.

National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES)
Develops, administers, and scores the exams used for engineering licenses.

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
NSPE is an advocacy group for professional engineers.

Revised February 20, 2023. Complete data last reviewed February 20, 2023.
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