Professional licensure

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. 
 

Mechanical 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 Yes 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) 465-2540
Arizona Yes Yes Arizona Board of Technical Registration (602) 364-4930
Arkansas Yes Has not been determined 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 Yes Yes Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations (303) 894-7800
Connecticut Yes 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 Yes Yes Florida Board of Professional Engineers (850) 521-0500
Georgia Yes Has not been determined Georgia Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors (844) 753-7825
Guam Yes Has not been determined Guam Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors (671) 646-3115
Hawaii Yes Yes Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects (808) 586-3000
Idaho Yes Yes Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (208) 373-7210
Illinois Yes Has not been determined State of Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation 1 (888) 473-4858
Indiana Yes Has not been determined State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers (317) 234-3022
Iowa Yes Has not been determined Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board (515) 725-9022
Kansas Yes Has not been determined Kansas State Board of Technical Professions (785) 296-3053
Kentucky Yes Has not been determined Kentucky Board of Engineers & Land Surveyors (502) 573-2680
Louisiana Yes Has not been determined Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board (225) 925-6291
Maine Yes Has not been determined Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers (207) 287-3236
Maryland Yes Has not been determined Maryland Board for Professional Engineers (410) 230-6010
Massachusetts Yes Has not been determined Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (617) 701-8801
Michigan Yes Yes Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (517) 241-0199
Minnesota Yes Has not been determined Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (651) 296-2388
Mississippi Yes Has not been determined Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Surveyors (601) 359-6160
Missouri Yes Has not been determined Missouri Board For Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects (573) 751-0047
Montana Yes Has not been determined Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (406) 841-2360
Nebraska Yes 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 Yes Has not been determined New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure & Certification, Board of Professional Engineers (603) 271-2152
New Jersey Yes Yes New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (973) 504-6460
New Mexico Yes Has not been determined New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Professional Surveyors (505) 476-4565
New York Yes Has not been determined New York State Education Department (518) 474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 570 (voice)
North Carolina Yes Has not been determined The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors (919) 791-2000 
North Dakota Yes Has not been determined North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (701) 258-0786
Ohio Yes Has not been determined Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Surveyors (877) 644-6364
Oklahoma Yes 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 Yes Has not been determined State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists  (717) 783-7049
Puerto Rico Yes Has not been determined Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Departmento de Estado (787) 722-2121
Rhode Island Yes Has not been determined Rhode Island Board of Registration for Professional Engineers (401) 889-5487
South Carolina Yes Has not been determined South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (803) 896-4422
South Dakota Yes Has not been determined South Dakota Board of Technical Professions (605) 394-2510
Tennessee Yes Has not been determined Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners (615) 741-2241
Texas Yes Yes 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 Yes Has not been determined Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (802) 828-1505
Virgin Islands Yes Has not been determined Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (340) 713-3522 (St. Croix)
(340) 714-3522 (St. Thomas)
Virginia Yes Has not been determined Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (804) 367-8506
Washington Yes Yes Washington Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors (360) 664-1575
West Virginia Yes Has not been determined West Virginia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers (304) 558-3554
Wisconsin Yes Has not been determined State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (608) 266-2112
Wyoming Yes 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