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

  1. graduating from a 4-year ABET-accredited program,
  2. passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam,
  3. becoming a certified Engineer Intern or Engineer-in-Training (not required in all states),
  4. gaining several years of professional experience,
  5. passing the Principles of Engineering (PE) exam, and
  6. 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. The programs listed below are ABET-accredited and may meet the educational requirements for licensure in several states. If you are interested in seeking a PE license during your engineering career, select your program for more information about state licensing requirements.

IMPORTANT: The University has made the determinations listed on the pages linked above to the best of its ability. These determinations relate only to the basic educational requirements for licensure and are not guarantees of students’ performance on professional examinations or that applicants will be granted licenses by any state. Licensure is a complex process and licenses are granted at the discretion of state licensing agencies. Please contact the appropriate licensing agency for the state in which you plan to seek licensure about licensing requirements before applying for a license.

Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering