50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Oklahoma Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Oklahoma.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Oklahoma 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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Oklahoma Engineering Company Licenses

Oklahoma Certificate of Authorization for Engineering and/or Surveying

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Law:

OK Stat. § 59-475.21

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

Business Corporations:

  • At least one of the officers, directors, principals, or shareholders must be an Oklahoma licensed professional.

Professional Corporations:

  • All incorporators and shareholders must be licensed in a professional service provided by the firm.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the members must be an Oklahoma licensed professional.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All members and managers must be licensed in a professional service provided by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • At least 1/2 of the partners must be Oklahoma licensed professionals.

Professional Limited Partnerships:

  • All partners must be licensed in a professional service provided by the firm.

Note: A licensee who is a full-time employee of a firm and holds a position of recognized authority within the firm, but does not hold one of the above stated titles may request Board approval to be named the Managing Agent by submitting a letter to the Board on firm letterhead signed by a person within the firm holding one of the above stated titles, describing the circumstances surrounding the request and the extent of authority this employee holds regarding engineering decisions.

Notes:
  • A "Firm" is defined as any form of business entity, other than an individual operating as a sole proprietorship under his or her name. 

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Authorization Application

Instructions:

Mail to: 

  • Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
     220 N.E. 28th Street, Suite 120
     Oklahoma City, OK 73105-2802 
Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$200

Turnaround:

Documents will be reviewed within a few weeks of submission and applicants will receive confirmation by email and mail if additional information is needed. Final decisions are made at the quarterly board meeting. 

Notes:
  • Managing Agent
    • A firm offering either engineering or surveying services shall designate an engineer or land surveyor, respectively, to be the managing agent for the firm.  A firm offering both engineering and land surveying services must have a licensed professional engineer and licensed professional land surveyor listed as a managing agent. 
    • A licensee may not be designated as a managing agent for more than one firm without prior Board approval.  The managing agent must hold a position of recognized authority within the firm to be designated as the managing agent.  
    • The managing agent is required to spend a majority of normal business hours at one or more branch offices located in Oklahoma.
    • The intent of the law shall not be met if an unlicensed person independently performs engineering work, to then be reviewed, signed and sealed by a professional engineer. An unlicensed person may only perform engineering work if the professional engineer is personally directing the unlicensed person and the work is performed concurrent with the supervision.
    • A Consultant may not be listed as being in responsible charge of work for a firm.
    • In the case of a corporation, a licensee must be an officer, principal, director, or shareholder of the firm to be designated as the managing agent.  
    • In the case of a limited liability company or limited liability partnership, the licensee must be a member of the firm to be designated as the managing agent.  
    • In the case of a limited partnership, the licensee must be a general partner of the firm to be designated as the managing agent.  
    • In the case of a partnership, the licensee must be an owner of the firm to be designated as the managing agent.  
    • If the ownership is less than fifty percent (50%) ownership, an explanation must be included as to the extent of authority this partner holds regarding engineering or surveying decisions, respectively, as it pertains to paragraphs 1 through 3 of this subsection.  
    • A licensee who is a full-time employee of a firm and holds a position of recognized authority within the firm but does not hold one of the above-stated titles may request Board approval to be named the managing agent by submitting a letter to the Board on firm letterhead signed by a person within the firm holding one of the above-stated titles, describing the special circumstances surrounding the requested exception and the extent of authority this employee holds regarding engineering or surveying decisions.
    • A licensee who is self-employed, an independent contractor or who renders consulting engineering or surveying services to, or for, a firm cannot not be designated as a managing agent. 
    • The managing agent’s responsibilities include:
              1.  Renewal of the firm’s certificate of authorization and notification to the Board of any change in managing agent or firm’s contact information;
              2.  Overall administrative supervision of the firm’s licensed and subordinate personnel performing engineering or surveying work in Oklahoma; and
              3.  Institution and adherence of policies of the firm that are in accordance with Section 475.1 et seq. of this title, Section 3.116 et seq. of Title 65 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Rules of this Board.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify an Oklahoma licensed engineer to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Oklahoma.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Ensure that your Oklahoma entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify an Oklahoma licensed architect to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Oklahoma.
  • 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.
    Obtain a copy of your home state entity formation documents to submit with the license application.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "engineer" or "surveyor", first obtain a letter of name approval from the Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Oklahoma Secretary of State - Business Filing Department.
  3. File a Certificate of Authorization Application with the Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Oklahoma. If not required, skip to number 4.
  2. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "engineer" or "surveyor", first obtain a letter of name approval from the Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
  3. File foreign qualification documents with the Oklahoma Secretary of State - Business Filing Department.
  4. File a Certificate of Authorization Application with the Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Biennially by June 30. Firms whose name begins with letters A-G renew during even-numbered years and firms with H-Z names renew during odd-numbered years.

Required Attachments:
  • List of updated branch office locations (if changes were made)
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services (if changes were made)
  • List of licensees employed by the firm (if changes were made)

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$100 for name change and $0 for other company information updates.

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Notes:

Contact the board for an application to change the name of the firm. For other information updates, email tanderson@pels.ok.gov with the details of the change.

How to Apply:

If the Federal ID number is changing :

  • The firm will need to apply for a new COA for Oklahoma in the new name. 
  • If the FEI changes, the firm is considered a new entity and must file a new CA application in the new name. 

If the name on the CA is changing but not the FEI :

  • Email tanderson@pels.ok.gov for the Name Change Application (not found online). 
  • The board will proccess the name change and issue a new certificate with the new name with a Letter of Good Standing. 
  • File Letter of Good Standing with the Oklahoma Secretary of State Office. 

Oklahoma Geology Firm License

Not required



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

Individual Licenses

Oklahoma Individual Engineering Licenses

Oklahoma Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Oklahoma Geologist License

Not required



Professional Geoscientist licensure is not required on the State level in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Land Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Land Surveyor Intern Application

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Prior to applying for a certificate, applicants must pass the fundamentals of surveying exam.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Intern certifications do not expire.

Oklahoma Professional Engineer License

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

(l) Drawings, reports, or documents that require a signature may be signed using a digital signature. The digital signature must be:

  1. Unique to the person using it;
  2. Capable of verification; and
  3. Under the sole responsibility and control of the licensee affixing it.
(A) A scanned image or other reproduction of an original signature may be used in lieu of an original signature or digital signature if accompanied by an original handwritten date.

(B) A digital signature having an electronic authentication process attached to or logically associated with the electronic document may also be used and does not need to include the handwritten date, but must be dated. In this instance, the digital signature shall be linked to a document in such a manner that the data in the document can be verified as being unaltered since the time that the digital signature was affixed.

OAC 245:15-17-2

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal required shall be of a type which will make an image on the surface of original documents and duplications of original documents. The use of a rubber stamp or electronic digitization which produces an accurate and legible image of the seal is permissible.

OAC 245:15-17-1

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Professional Engineer Licensing

Agency Fee:

$150

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Biennially by the end of the expiration month. The expiration month depends on the first letter of the licensee's last name.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required

Oklahoma Professional Engineer License with Structural Engineering Designation

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

(l) Drawings, reports, or documents that require a signature may be signed using a digital signature. The digital signature must be:

  1. Unique to the person using it;
  2. Capable of verification; and
  3. Under the sole responsibility and control of the licensee affixing it.
(A) A scanned image or other reproduction of an original signature may be used in lieu of an original signature or digital signature if accompanied by an original handwritten date.

(B) A digital signature having an electronic authentication process attached to or logically associated with the electronic document may also be used and does not need to include the handwritten date, but must be dated. In this instance, the digital signature shall be linked to a document in such a manner that the data in the document can be verified as being unaltered since the time that the digital signature was affixed.

OAC 245:15-17-2

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal required shall be of a type which will make an image on the surface of original documents and duplications of original documents. The use of a rubber stamp or electronic digitization which produces an accurate and legible image of the seal is permissible.

OAC 245:15-17-1

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Professional Engineer Licensing

Agency Fee:

$150

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Biennially by the end of the expiration month. The expiration month depends on the first letter of the licensee's last name.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required

Oklahoma Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Oklahoma Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Form C - Initial Licensure Applicants

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:

Submit this form after passing all exams to complete the licensure process.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Biennially by the end of the expiration month. The expiration month depends on the first letter of the licensee's last name.

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.