State licensing requirements for professional engineers
A Professional Engineer (PE) license is an optional credential that signifies an engineer’s competency, expertise and continuing education and allows them to provide engineering services to the public. Many engineers do not seek PE licenses as they are able to build successful careers as members of engineering teams providing services privately to their employer or as part of a team lead by a Professional Engineer. You may consider seeking a PE license if you wish to consult on public or private projects, serve as a lead engineer, or start your own engineering firm.
The requirements for obtaining a PE license vary by state, but typically include:
- graduating from a 4-year ABET-accredited program,
- passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam,
- becoming a certified Engineer Intern or Engineer-in-Training (not required in all states),
- gaining several years of professional experience,
- passing the Principles of Engineering (PE) exam, and
- applying for a license in the state(s) in which you wish to practice. States may also have additional requirements, such as specific courses or other training, identity verification, background checks, professional references, and payment of fees.
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering majors with sufficient electrical engineering experience may be able to seek licensing as electrical engineers. The following determinations are based on educational requirements for licensure for Professional Electrical Engineers.
| State | Does the program meet the educational requirements for Certification as an Engineer Intern/In-Training?* | Does the program meet the educational requirements for Licensure as a Professional Engineer? | State Licensing Agency | Contact Number |
| Alabama | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (334) 242-5568 |
| Alaska | No Certification Process** | Yes | Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors | (907) 465-2550 |
| Arizona | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Arizona Board of Technical Registration | (602) 364-4930 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors | (501) 682-2824 |
| California | Yes | Yes | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists | (916) 999-3600 |
| Colorado | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations | (303) 894-7800 |
| Connecticut | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (860) 713-6100 |
| Delaware | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Delaware Association of Professional Engineers | (302) 323-4588 |
| District of Columbia | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | District of Columbia, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs | (202) 442-4320 |
| Florida | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Florida Board of Professional Engineers | (850) 521-0500 |
| Georgia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Georgia Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (844) 753-7825 |
| Guam | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Guam Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors | (671) 646-3115 |
| Hawaii | No Certification Process** | No | Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects | (808) 586-3000 |
| Idaho | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors | (208) 373-7210 |
| Illinois | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation | 1 (888) 473-4858 |
| Indiana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (317) 234-3022 |
| Iowa | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board | (515) 725-9022 |
| Kansas | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Kansas State Board of Technical Professions | (785) 296-3053 |
| Kentucky | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Kentucky Board of Engineers & Land Surveyors | (502) 573-2680 |
| Louisiana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board | (225) 925-6291 |
| Maine | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers | (207) 287-3236 |
| Maryland | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Maryland Board for Professional Engineers | (410) 230-6010 |
| Massachusetts | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (617) 701-8801 |
| Michigan | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | (517) 241-0199 |
| Minnesota | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design | (651) 296-2388 |
| Mississippi | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Surveyors | (601) 359-6160 |
| Missouri | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Missouri Board For Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects | (573) 751-0047 |
| Montana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors | (406) 444-6880 |
| Nebraska | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects | (402) 471-2021 |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | Nevada Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (775) 688-1231 |
| New Hampshire | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure & Certification, Board of Professional Engineers | (603) 271-2152 |
| New Jersey | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (973) 504-6460 |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Professional Surveyors | (505) 476-4565 |
| New York | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New York State Education Department | (518) 474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 570 (voice) |
| North Carolina | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors | (919) 791-2000 |
| North Dakota | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (701) 258-0786 |
| Ohio | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Surveyors | (877) 644-6364 |
| Oklahoma | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (405) 521-2874 |
| Oregon | No Certification Process** | Yes | Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering & Land Surveying | (503) 362-2666 |
| Pennsylvania | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists | (717) 783-7049 |
| Puerto Rico | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Departmento de Estado | (787) 722-2121 |
| Rhode Island | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Rhode Island Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (401) 889-5446 |
| South Carolina | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors | (803) 896-4422 |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | South Dakota Board of Technical Professions | (605) 394-2510 |
| Tennessee | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners | (615) 741-2241 |
| Texas | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (512) 440-7723 |
| Utah | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing | (801) 530-6628 |
| Vermont | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation | (802) 828-1505 |
| Virgin Islands | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs | (340) 713-3522 (St. Croix) (340) 714-3522 (St. Thomas) |
| Virginia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects | (804) 367-8506 |
| Washington | No certification process** | Yes | Washington Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (360) 664-1575 |
| West Virginia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | West Virginia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (304) 558-3554 |
| Wisconsin | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services | (608) 266-2112 |
| Wyoming | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors | (307) 777-6155 |
*Certification as an Engineer-in-Training/Intern is optional in many states and may not be a required step in becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Reach out to the licensing agency of the state in which you plan to seek licensure for more information.
**As of the time of publishing, the University has determined to the best of its ability that this state does not have a certification process for Engineers-in-Training/Interns. If you intend to practice in this state, please reach out to the appropriate state agency for more information on occupational regulations.
Reviewed: October, 2021
Electrical engineering
| State | Does the program meet the educational requirements for Certification as an Engineer Intern/In-Training?* | Does the program meet the educational requirements for Licensure as a Professional Engineer? | State Licensing Agency | Contact Number |
| Alabama | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (334) 242-5568 |
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors | (907) 465-2550 |
| Arizona | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Arizona Board of Technical Registration | (602) 364-4930 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors | (501) 682-2824 |
| California | Yes | Yes | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists | (916) 999-3600 |
| Colorado | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations | (303) 894-7800 |
| Connecticut | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (860) 713-6100 |
| Delaware | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Delaware Association of Professional Engineers | (302) 323-4588 |
| District of Columbia | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | District of Columbia, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs | (202) 442-4320 |
| Florida | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Florida Board of Professional Engineers | (850) 521-0500 |
| Georgia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Georgia Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (844) 753-7825 |
| Guam | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Guam Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors | (671) 646-3115 |
| Hawaii | No Certification Process** | Yes | Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects | (808) 586-3000 |
| Idaho | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors | (208) 373-7210 |
| Illinois | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation | 1 (888) 473-4858 |
| Indiana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (317) 234-3022 |
| Iowa | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board | (515) 725-9022 |
| Kansas | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Kansas State Board of Technical Professions | (785) 296-3053 |
| Kentucky | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Kentucky Board of Engineers & Land Surveyors | (502) 573-2680 |
| Louisiana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board | (225) 925-6291 |
| Maine | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers | (207) 287-3236 |
| Maryland | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Maryland Board for Professional Engineers | (410) 230-6010 |
| Massachusetts | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (617) 701-8801 |
| Michigan | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | (517) 241-0199 |
| Minnesota | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design | (651) 296-2388 |
| Mississippi | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Surveyors | (601) 359-6160 |
| Missouri | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Missouri Board For Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects | (573) 751-0047 |
| Montana | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors | (406) 444-6880 |
| Nebraska | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects | (402) 471-2021 |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | Nevada Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (775) 688-1231 |
| New Hampshire | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure & Certification, Board of Professional Engineers | (603) 271-2152 |
| New Jersey | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (973) 504-6460 |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Professional Surveyors | (505) 476-4565 |
| New York | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | New York State Education Department | (518) 474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 570 (voice) |
| North Carolina | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors | (919) 791-2000 |
| North Dakota | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (701) 258-0786 |
| Ohio | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Surveyors | (877) 644-6364 |
| Oklahoma | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (405) 521-2874 |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering & Land Surveying | (503) 362-2666 |
| Pennsylvania | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists | (717) 783-7049 |
| Puerto Rico | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Departmento de Estado | (787) 722-2121 |
| Rhode Island | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Rhode Island Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (401) 889-5446 |
| South Carolina | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors | (803) 896-4422 |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | South Dakota Board of Technical Professions | (605) 394-2510 |
| Tennessee | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners | (615) 741-2241 |
| Texas | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | (512) 440-7723 |
| Utah | No Certification Process** | Has not been determined | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing | (801) 530-6628 |
| Vermont | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation | (802) 828-1505 |
| Virgin Islands | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs | (340) 713-3522 (St. Croix) (340) 714-3522 (St. Thomas) |
| Virginia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects | (804) 367-8506 |
| Washington | No certification process** | Yes | Washington Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors | (360) 664-1575 |
| West Virginia | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | West Virginia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers | (304) 558-3554 |
| Wisconsin | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services | (608) 266-2112 |
| Wyoming | Has not been determined | Has not been determined | Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors | (307) 777-6155 |
*Certification as an Engineer-in-Training/Intern is optional in many states and may not be a required step in becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Reach out to the licensing agency of the state in which you plan to seek licensure for more information.
**As of the time of publishing, the University has determined to the best of its ability that this state does not have a certification process for Engineers-in-Training/Interns. If you intend to practice in this state, please reach out to the appropriate state agency for more information on occupational regulations.
Reviewed: September, 2022