50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Nebraska Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Nebraska.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Nebraska 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

Nebraska Engineering Company Licenses

Nebraska Certificate of Authorization (Architecture/Engineering)

Agency:Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects
Law:

NE R.S. § 81-3436

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

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Nebraska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in Nebraska.
  • The architect and/or professional engineer must regularly perform professional services for the organization.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Nebraska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in Nebraska.
  • The architect and/or professional engineer must regularly perform professional services for the organization.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Nebraska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in Nebraska.
  • The architect and/or professional engineer must regularly perform professional services for the organization.

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Tiered fee structure by number of licensees:

  • 1-5: $100
  • 6-10: $200
  • 11-49: $300
  • 50+: $400
Turnaround:

Conditionally within one week of receipt, and firmly after the board meeting following the submission of the application. Board meetings take place every month.

Notes:

Please note the fee is based upon the total number of licensed architects and professional engineers regularly performing services for the organization, not simply the number of Nebraska licensees employed.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Nebraska licensed engineer and/or architect to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Nebraska.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Nebraska licensed engineer and/or architect to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Nebraska.
  • 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 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File an Application for Certificate of Authorization with the Board of Engineers and Architects.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File an Application for Certificate of Authorization with the Board of Engineers and Architects.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Nebraska Secretary of State.
Required Attachments:
  • List of officers including address, phone number, and Nebraska license number
  • List of members of the entity's governing body including address, phone number, and area of practice (if any)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal forms are mailed a month prior to expiration.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Tiered fee structure by number of licensees:

  • 1-5: $50
  • 6-10: $150
  • 11-49: $250
  • 50+: $350
Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • A renewal notice is sent to the organization at least one month prior to the expiration date.
  • Please note the fee is based upon the total number of licensed architects and professional engineers regularly performing services for the organization, not simply the number of Nebraska licensees employed.
  • Renewals for Certificates of Authorization must be mailed with a check or money order
Required Attachments:
  • List of officers and members of the firm including addresses and license numbers
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services

Amendment

Form:

Change to Certification of Authorization

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Reinstatement

Notes:

Licenses expired for less than 1 year can renew with no late fees, but licenses expired for more than 1 year cannot be reinstated and the licensee must apply for a new license.

Nebraska Certificate of Authorization for Geology

Agency:Nebraska Board of Geologists

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$100

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal form is mailed to the firm 30-60 days before the renewal is due.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Nebraska Land Surveying Certificate of Authorization

Agency:Nebraska Board of Examiners For Land Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:
  • $25
  • Payments can be made online

Registration Renewal

Form:

Certificate of Authorization 

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:
  • $25
  • Payments can be made online
Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Amendment

Form:

Certificate of Authorization Change Form

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Any changes to an existing Certificate of Authorization must be reported within 30 days.

Nebraska LLC Certificate

Agency:Nebraska Board of Examiners For Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:There is no form, simply follow the instructions.
Instructions:

LLC Certificate

Agency Fee:

$25

Notes:

Registration of an LLC is optional.

Registration Renewal

Form:There is no form, simply follow the instructions.
Instructions:

LLC Certificate

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Annually

Individual Licenses

Nebraska Individual Engineering Licenses

Nebraska Engineer Intern Certificate

Agency:Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects

Initial Registration

Form:

Engineer Intern Enrollment Application

Agency Fee:

$30

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Nebraska Geologist Intern Enrollment

Agency:Nebraska Board of Geologists

Initial Registration

Form:

Fundamentals of Geology (FG) Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$50

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Intern enrollments do not expire.

Nebraska Land Surveyor Registration

Agency:Nebraska Board of Examiners For Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Land Surveyor Application

Agency Fee:

$40

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By April 1 of odd-numbered years.

Notes:

There is no renewal application, simply submit the renewal fee during the renewal period.

Nebraska Professional Engineer License

Agency:Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Architects and professional engineers are responsible for providing adequate security over their seal and signature wherever it appears, regardless of whether the seal and signature is produced electronically or by other means.

110 NAC Ch. 6.1.8

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal used by an architect or professional engineer shall be legible, whether an embossing, computer generated, or other type of seal. In the absence of legibility, the seal is invalid.

No seal shall be valid unless signed across the face of the seal with the architect’s or professional engineer’s name and the date on which the material was signed.

110 NAC Ch. 6.1.3

Initial Registration

Form:

PE Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Before you Apply:
  • The requirements for initial licensure as a professional engineer in Nebraska are:
    • A degree from an EAC/ABET or CEAB-accredited engineering program OR meeting the NCEES Engineering Education Standard;
    • Passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam, including the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam;
    • At least four years of progressive engineering experience gained after a four-year engineering program or equivalent; and
    • Passage of an exam on the Nebraska E&A Act and Board's Rules and Regulations.
  • If you have passed the PE in another jurisdiction but are looking to obtain your initial license in Nebraska, you will need to submit an Engineer Initial Licensure Application after meeting the above requirements.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of your official transcripts or other documents issued directly by the granting institution of higher education, or its authorized agent, verifying your graduation from an EAC/ABET- or CEAB-accredited engineering program is required to be sent directly to the Board. Electronic transcripts may be sent to nbea.office@nebraska.gov
  • All references must complete an “Engineer Reference” form and submit it directly to the Board
  • Please attach any additional sheets for Description of Work section. Include your name, employment dates and position title on each additional sheet. 

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Engineer License Comity Application

Instructions:

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit all required applications, documents, and fees to the Board.

Complete and submit the Engineer License Application either online or by paper along with the applicable filing fee;

Have verification of your exam(s) passage, including the discipline of your PE Exam, and your current license sent directly to the Nebraska board from the issuing jurisdiction(s). The license verification may be submitted electronically. If not, a paper verification can be found here;

f the licensing jurisdiction does not license by discipline or have a record of the PE exam discipline, verification of discipline of practice may be provided by the affidavit of an individual with knowledge of the applicant’s discipline of practice. The affidavit cannot be used to verify practice in the structural discipline. An applicant must have taken sixteen hours of structural exams or have been licensed as a Professional Structural Engineer (not just a Professional Engineer practicing in the structural discipline) for at least fifteen years in order to qualify for a structural license. 

Have official verification of graduation from an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program sent directly to the Nebraska board from the granting institution. If you do not hold an EAC/ABET-accredited degree, have NCEES Credentials Evaluation send a copy of its report directly to the Nebraska Board.

Upon receipt of your application, an exam on the Nebraska E&A Act and Board’s Rules and Regulations will be sent to you. This must be sent back to the Board and successfully passed prior to your license being issued.

Any information requested on the application with respect to education, experience, or references may be provided by submitting an NCEES Council Record.

Once all the above has been received, your application will be reviewed. If you are designated as Model Law Engineer (MLE) on your NCEES Record, and there are no issues (i.e. disciplinary actions) that the Board must review first, you may be issued a conditional license administratively by Board staff pending formal Board approval. All other applications must go to the Board for its review and approval prior to the license being issued.

A conditional license may be withdrawn by the Board if it determines the applicant does not qualify for licensure for any reason.
If this occurs, the conditional license expires at 11:59 pm on the date the licensee is notified of such Board action.

In Nebraska, licenses are discipline-specific based on the PE exam discipline. However, licensees can practice in – and seal documents related to – any discipline of engineering in which the individual has the training, education, and experience.

Filing Method:

Mail or online 

Agency Fee:

$150

Required Attachments:
  • You must have your exam and current state of licensure verification(s) forwarded directly to the Nebraska Board. Use the Verification of Licensure and Examination of an Engineer attached to the end of this application. NCEES Account/Record holders do not need to complete this section if such verification is listed on your NCEES account. 
  • All references must complete an “Engineer Reference” form and submit it directly to the Board.
  • NCEES Record Holders: Provide all work history not included in your record, with your current at a minimum.
  • All other applicants: Record your complete work history, beginning after college graduation and concluding with your present employment. You must account for the entire time period from graduation until now, including periods of unemployment, volunteer work, non-engineering work, and military experience.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$80

Due:

Biennially by December 31. 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.

Nebraska Professional Geologist License

Agency:Nebraska Board of Geologists
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Professional geologists are responsible for providing adequate security over their seal and signature wherever it appears, regardless of whether the seal and signature is produced electronically or by other means.

171 NAC Ch. 6.1.8

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal used by a professional geologist shall be legible, whether an embossing, computer generated, or other type of seal. In the absence of legibility, the seal is invalid.

No seal shall be valid unless signed across the face of the seal with the professional geologist’s name and the date on which the material was signed.

171 NAC Ch. 6.1

Initial Registration

Form:

Practice of Geology (PG) Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$65

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Nebraska Surveyor-in-Training Registration

Agency:Nebraska Board of Examiners For Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Surveyor-in-Training Application

Agency Fee:

$40

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Surveyor-in-Training registrations do not expire.

Learn about engineering licensing in other states:

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.