50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Louisiana Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Louisiana.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Louisiana 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

Louisiana Engineering Company Licenses

Louisiana Engineering Firm License

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
Law:

LA Rev Stat § 37:689

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

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Louisiana licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Louisiana licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Each firm licensed with the board shall designate one or more supervising professionals. Each supervising professional shall be a licensed professional in an active
    status: 
    • whose primary employment is with the firm, provided the supervising professional works for the firm for a 12-month average of at least 30 hours per week or 130
      hours per month; or
    • whose employment is with the firm, provided the supervising professional has at least a 25 percent ownership interest in the firm. 
  • The supervising professionals of an engineering firm shall be professional engineers.
  • The responsibilities of a supervising professional include:
    • renewal of the firm’s license and notification to the board of any change in the firm’s supervising professionals; 
    • institution of and adherence to policies of the firm that are in accordance with the licensure law and the rules of the board; and
    • ensuring that all professional services provided by the firm are performed by or under the responsible charge of licensed professionals. 

Initial Registration

This section applies to engineering firms that are applying for a license in Louisiana 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:

$165

Turnaround:

Immediate confirmation is provided with online filing

Notes:
  • A firm that has  the word engineering or surveying or any derivative thereof in its title is considered to be offering to provide professional services and therefore must be licensed with the board before doing business
    in the state of Louisiana, unless it has in its title modifying or explanatory words which would, in their ordinary meaning, negate the inference of the professional practice of engineering or land surveying.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities.
  • 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.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "engineer", first obtain a letter of name approval from the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  3. Register an account and complete a Firm License Application on the website of the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Louisiana. 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 Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.
  3. File foreign qualification documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  4. Register an account and complete a Firm License Application on the website of the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.
Required Attachments:

Registration Renewal

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Either March 31 or September 30 Biennially

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

Late fee is $60

Required Attachments:

Amendment
Update Firm Contact Information

Form:

Update Firm Contact Information

Agency Fee:

$0

Amendment
Change of Supervising Professional

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Amendment
Application to Change Firm Name

Form:

Application to Change Firm Name

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$25

Law:

La. R.S. 12:1607, et seq., Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 46, Part LXI, Chapter 23

Required Attachments:

Attachments needed if you have a change in domestic corporate, LLC, or LLP name:

  • Certificate of Conversion or Certificate of Merger from the Louisiana Secretary of State. 

Attachments needed if you have a change in domestic corporate or LLC name:

  • A certified copy of the firm's articles of amendment issued by the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Attachments needed if you have a change in foreign corporations, foreign limited liability companies, foreign partnerships, and other foreign entities name:

  • A copy the firm’s amended certificate of authority to do business in Louisiana issued by the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Reinstatement

Form:

Application to Reinstate Expired Firm

Agency Fee:

$195

Louisiana Geology Firm License

Not required



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

More information: Louisana Board of Professional Geoscientists

Louisiana Land Surveying Firm License

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
Law:

La. R.S. 37:681 

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Each firm licensed with the board shall designate one or more supervising professionals. Each supervising professional shall be a licensed professional in an active
    status: 
    • whose primary employment is with the firm, provided the supervising professional works for the firm for a 12-month average of at least 30 hours per week or 130
      hours per month; or whose employment is with the firm, provided the supervising professional has at least a 25 percent ownership interest in the firm. 

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$165 or $330 for both 

How to Apply:
  1. Secretary of State: Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana
  2. Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board: Firm Application

Exception: A firm which has in its name the word “engineer” or “survey” or any derivative of that word must submit and have approved a Waiver Request Form to the LA Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board

Registration Renewal

Form:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Either March 31 or September 30 Biennially

Penalties:

Late fee is $60

Individual Licenses

Louisiana Individual Engineering Licenses

Louisiana Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$20

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

Biennially by September 30 or March 31 depending on when the license was issued.

Louisiana Geologist-in-Training Certificate

Agency:Louisana Board of Professional Geoscientists

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Annually by the end of month of initial licensure.

Louisiana Land Surveying Intern Certification

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$20

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

Biennially by September 30 or March 31 depending on when the license was issued.

Louisiana Professional Engineer License

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

A seal must always be accompanied by the licensee's signature and date. The signature and date must be placed adjacent to or across the seal.

Louisiana Admin Code Title 46:LXI § 2701

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Computer-generated seals of the same design and size may be used (see rules for physical seal specifications and examples)

...Documents which require a seal may be transmitted electronically provided the seal, signature and date of the licensee are transmitted in a secure mode that precludes the seal, signature and date being reproduced or modified.

Originally-sealed documents which no longer require a seal may be transmitted electronically but shall have the seal removed before transmitting and shall have the following inserted in lieu of the seal, signature and date.

Louisiana Admin Code Title 46:LXI § 2701

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

After passing the PE exam and obtaining the required experience, applicants should register through the board's online system to obtain a license.

Reciprocal Registration

Instructions:

Professional Engineer Applications

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$180

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Biennially by September 30 or March 31 depending on when the license was issued.

Louisiana Professional Geoscientist License

Agency:Louisana Board of Professional Geoscientists
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

See digital sealing guidelines.

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

a. Documents which require a seal may be transmitted electronically provided the seal, signature and date of the licensee is transmitted in a secure mode that precludes the seal, signature and date being produced or modified.

b. Originally-sealed documents which no longer require a seal may be transmitted electronically but shall have the generated seal, if any, removed before transmitting and shall have the following inserted in lieu of the signature and date: “This document originally issued and sealed by (name of licensee and license number) on (date of sealing). This document should not be considered a certified document.”

Louisiana Admin Code Title 46:LXII § 1501

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Reciprocal Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Notes:
  • The LBOPG will license a person from another state that has a reciprocity agreement in effect with Louisiana, provided that they have been licensed in that state for five years and that they meet all LBOPG licensing requirements except the examination requirement (i.e., paying the LBOPG licensing fee, completing the LBOPG license application, and submitting transcripts and three references to the LBOPG).
  • Currently, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have such a reciprocity agreement in effect with Louisiana.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150 ($100 for licensees aged 60+)

Due:

Annually by the end of month of initial licensure.

Louisiana Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Reciprocal Registration

Instructions:

Professional Land Surveyor Applications

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$180

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Biennially by September 30 or March 31 depending on when the license was issued.

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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