50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Tennessee Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Tennessee.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Tennessee 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

Tennessee Engineering Company Licenses

Tennessee Corporation, Partnership and Firm Disclosure (Engineering)

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners
Law:

Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-2-601

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

Business Corporations:

  • Corporations must appoint a Tennessee licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm in Tennessee, and the responsible individual must either have the authority to make independent design decisions or be an officer of the firm.

Professional Corporations:

  • All shareholders (unless otherwise authorized by the board of engineers), officers (excluding secretary and treasurer), and at least 1/2 of the directors must be licensed in a professional service provided by the PC.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • LLCs must appoint a Tennessee licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm in Tennessee, and the responsible individual must either have the authority to make independent design decisions or be a manager of the firm.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All members (unless otherwise authorized by the board of engineers), managers (excluding secretary and treasurer), and at least 1/2 of the governors, if any, must be licensed in a professional service provided by the PLLC.

Partnerships:

  • Partnerships must appoint a Tennessee licensed engineer to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm in Tennessee, and the responsible individual must either have the authority to make independent design decisions or be a partner of the firm.

Initial Registration

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

Form:

Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure

Filing Method:

Mail, fax, or email to sundra.dunlap@tn.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

8-12 weeks

Notes:

Tennessee does not issue firm licenses, but engineering firms must file the Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure form.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

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

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Tennessee licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities in Tennessee.
  • 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 2 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services.
  2. File a Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure with the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services.
  2. File a Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure with the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.
Required Attachments:
  • List of officers and/or principals of the firm including titles, addresses, and Tennessee license numbers, if applicable

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Firm disclosures do not need to be renewed, however, firms must notify the board within 60 days if a change occurs to the information listed on the disclosure.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Notify the board in writing within 60 days of any changes in firm information.

Tennessee Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure (Land Surveying)

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
Notes:

Tennessee does not issue land surveyor firm licenses, however, a firm disclosure form must be submitted.

Initial Registration

Form:

Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Firm disclosures do not need to be renewed, however, firms must notify the board within 60 days if a change occurs to the information listed on the disclosure.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Notify the board in writing within 60 days of any changes in firm information.

Tennessee Geology Firm License

Not required



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

More information: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance - Professional Geologists Licensing Program

Tennessee Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation Disclosure (Soil Science)

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance - Soil Scientists Licensing Program

Initial Registration

Form:

Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation Disclosure Form

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



No renewal form is required, however, firms must notify the board if a change occurs to the information listed on the disclosure.

Individual Licenses

Tennessee Individual Engineering Licenses

Tennessee Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$15

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Tennessee Professional Engineer Registration

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Subject to the requirements of this rule, the registrant may affix an electronically generated signature and date of signature to documents. When used, electronic signatures and dates of signature shall be placed either across the face and beyond the circumference of the seal or adjacent to the seal. Documents that are signed using a digital signature must have an electronic authentication process attached to or logically associated with the electronic document. The digital signature must be:

  1. Unique to the individual using it;
  2. Capable of verification;
  3. Under the sole control of the individual using it; and
  4. Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.

Tennessee Rules and Regulations 0120-02-.08

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Subject to the requirements of this rule, rubber-stamp, embossed, transparent selfadhesive or electronically generated seals may be used. Such stamps or seals shall not include the registrant’s signature or date of signature.

Tennessee Rules and Regulations 0120-02-.08

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$30

Reciprocal Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$55

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$140

Due:

Biennially by the end of the month of initial licensure.

Tennessee Professional Geologist License

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance - Professional Geologists Licensing Program
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Subject to the requirements of this rule, the licensee may affix his or her electronicallygenerated signature and date of signature to plans, plats, drawings, reports, or other geologic papers or documents as long as the licensee utilizes a secure method of affixation, does not authorize any other person to affix his or her signature and date, and does not allow any other person to have access to his or her signature.

Tennessee Rules and Regulations 0780-5-7-.08

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Subject to the requirements of this rule, rubber-stamp, embossed, transparent self-adhesive or electronically-generated seals may be used by the licensee; however, such stamps or seals shall not include the licensee’s signature or date of signature.

Tennessee Rules and Regulations 0780-5-7-.08

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$115

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Tennessee Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200 application fee + $100 license fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$280

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Tennessee Professional Land Surveyor-in-Training Certification

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Tennessee Professional Soil Scientist License

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance - Soil Scientists Licensing Program

Initial Registration

Form:

New Soil Scientist Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$400

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$300

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

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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