Professional Engineer Licensing

All 50 states and Washington, D.C. require engineers to be individually licensed before practicing or soliciting business. Each state board has its own professional standards for engineering licenses.

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• Jump To:
• Prerequisites
• Additional Requirements
• Initial Application Fees
• Reciprocal Registration
• Renewal Requirements
• Continuing Education

Explore licensing in your state:

Prerequisites

Engineers in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, must be individually licensed before practicing or soliciting business as an engineer. While each state board for engineers has its own requirements for licensure, potential licensees will follow a similar path of prerequisites to obtain a license in any state. Prerequisites typically include:

• A four-year engineering degree from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology(ABET) -accredited college or university program with a degree in engineering.
• Successful completion of a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) written examination, testing an applicant’s breadth of understanding of basic engineering principles, with some exams also testing elements of an engineering specialty.
• Successful completion of a written Principles and Practice in Engineering (PE) examination, testing an applicant's knowledge and skills in a specific engineering discipline and engineering ethics.
• A requisite amount of engineering experience, which for most states is four years and is usually under the supervision of a professional engineer.

ABET Waiver: In some cases, a state board of engineering may waive the requirement of an ABET-accredited degree and register an applicant who has demonstrated professional experience that is deemed to be equivalent to a degree in engineering from an accredited program.

Engineer-in-Training Certificates

After passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, most states issue or allow individuals to apply for an engineer-in-training (EIT) certificate. Although in many states EIT certificates are valid perpetually, some states require certificates to be renewed periodically. Click on a state page link below for more information about engineer-in-training certificates in your state.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the standard licensing requirements mentioned above, some states have additional requirements that go beyond what is required in other states. Additional requirements often include:

• A duration of state residency
• A reference from licensed engineer
• A duration of internship or training
• Additional experience
• Additional jurisdiction-specific exams (beyond the FE and PE)

Initial Application Fees

After meeting the prerequisites for licensure, applicants can begin the license application process. Depending on the state, applicants may need to file an application with the board prior to taking the PE exam, after passing the PE exam, or both prior to taking and after passing the PE exam.

Like the application process, application fees also vary by state. Some states charge separate fees for exam applications, license applications, and the issuance of the license, while other states charge a single flat fee. In many states, applicants must wait until their license application is approved before submitting the license fee and then receiving their license from the board.

Reciprocal Registration

Thanks to reciprocity, many engineers are licensed to practice in more than just one jurisdiction for greater job flexibility, mobility, and security. Reciprocity or licensure by comity is when a registered engineer in one jurisdiction applies for registration in another by providing documentation that he or she meets that jurisdiction's registration requirements. Typically this is accomplished through an NCEES Record.

Registration boards examine and keep a record of qualifications for each applicant for registration. Many registration boards expect an NCEES Record as a basis for reciprocal registration, although some will consider applicants without this record. A complete copy of an applicant’s NCEES Record will be provided to a registration board in support of the application for reciprocal registration.

Renewal Requirements

Professional engineer licenses typically need to be renewed on an annual or biennial basis. In addition to filing a renewal application and paying the license renewal fee, engineers in almost every state must also complete continuing education hours during the license renewal period. Many states require either 24 or 30 hours of continuing education over the course of a two-year license period.

Continuing Education Requirements

The majority of jurisdictions in the United States require engineers to earn continuing education credits before each license renewal. Requirements vary by state licensing board.

Continuing education is not only a way to network with engineering professionals. It also keeps professionals abreast of crucial topics and emerging issues. Credit opportunities include live education events, webinars, conferences, and self-guided courses.

If you are a licensed engineer anywhere in the United States, you must understand how your state handles continuing education, as it’s likely to impact your license renewal process. Proper renewals allow professionals to continue operations without interruption.

Keeping up with each state’s requirements, tracking renewals, and submitting the applications on time is critical to avoiding penalties. A dedicated compliance expert can help you keep track of varying jurisdiction requirements and updated laws.