5 minute read
The Road to Becoming a Licensed Florida Professional Engineer Evolves
BY ZANA RAYBON
The Florida Engineers Management Corporation (FEMC) frequently speaks to university students about the process of becoming a professional engineer and why it is crucial for their careers. Florida has 17 universities with engineering programs accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission. That means we can stay busy visiting many of the schools to discuss licensure with engineering students.
We generally start our presentation by informing students of the advantages of becoming a licensed engineer and how certain titles or designations such as Professional Engineer (PE) are protected by section 471.013, Fla. Stat. We let them know that simply earning an engineering degree does not grant authority to sign and seal design documents or to qualify an engineering company.
After providing an overview of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE), which is the regulatory body appointed to oversee the practice of engineering, and FEMC, which is the nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation created in 1998 a private-public partnership with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, we provide information on the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
NCEES is a non-profit organization that develops, administers and scores the exams required for licensure in every U.S. state or territory. In addition to advancing licensure through exam development and establishing model laws and rules for the engineering profession, NCEES also provides a variety of services for licensed engineers and surveyors, including a centralized repository for licenses and credential evaluations for those seeking licensure who have a non-ABET degree.
To gain professional licensure as an engineer, an applicant must:
(1) HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEGREE FROM AN ETAC- OR ABET ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY - OR -
HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEGREE FROM AN ETAC- OR ABETACCREDITED AND BOARD APPROVED UNIVERSITY
(2) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE BOTH THE NCEES FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (FE) AND THE NCEES PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE EXAMINATION (PE)
(3) ATTAIN FOUR YEARS OF FULL-TIME PROGRESSIVE ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE VERIFIED BY LICENSED ENGINEERS - OR -
ATTAIN SIX YEARS OF FULL-TIME PROGRESSIVE ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE VERIFIED BY LICENSED
(4) HAVE THREE PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING REFERENCES PROVIDED BY CURRENT AND ACTIVE U.S. LICENSED ENGINEERS
(5) HAVE A U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD
One thing that has changed drastically in the past few years is the application process for obtaining a PE license. Prior to 2019, applicants were required to complete their education, pass the FE exam, and complete four years of experience before being approved to sit for the PE exam. No one with a technology degree was approved for licensure.
However, after recent statute changes, the requirements for engineering experience were separated or “decoupled” from the approval process for examination, allowing candidates to take the PE exam early. Candidates for licensure are now allowed to register for both the FE exam and PE exam directly with NCEES without applying to FBPE first. Additionally, applicants with an accredited B.S. in engineering technology can now become licensed, with two additional years of experience.
Once an applicant for licensure has graduated, passed both exams and completed four (or six) years of experience under the supervision of a PE, they can apply for a PE license. FEMC encourages applicants for licensure to consider creating an NCEES Record at ncees.org to streamline the licensure process. Once your NCEES Record is established, you may then have NCEES electronically transmit your Record to Florida, or to other states, to complete the PE licensure process. The Record is especially helpful to those seeking licensure in multiple states.
Some of the recent changes make for a more efficient process for potential licensees. It alleviates the timing issues when students graduate and then complete their required experience. Also, now that all NCEES exams are computer-based, applicants can schedule exams on demand at Pearson Vue Centers. This means they don’t have to wait six months for another exam administration. They also get their exam results in about one week.
Overall, the licensure landscape is a very different world from just 20 years ago when all exams were pencil-and-paper and waiting for exam results might take two months. Students today can reap the benefits of early examination and quick turn-around on exam results.
Zana Raybon serves as the President of the Florida Engineers Management Corporation and as the Executive Director for the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Zana started with FBPE in 2008 as the Assistant Director and has been involved in promoting professional licensure for the Board for 15 years. She also actively participates on task forces and committees for NCEES, the national council that develop the engineering examinations and promotes the engineering profession. She is a graduate of FSU with a B.S. degree in political science and also holds an A.S. degree in Legal Studies, having previously worked as a paralegal for over 12 years.
