Professional Engineer Licensure Guide

The purpose of the Professional Engineer Guide is to provide transparency, inform applicants of expected timelines for receiving your license, and outline steps you can take to reduce mistakes and mitigate delays. To provide the greatest clarity on the licensing process from start to finish, we will break it down into three phases, providing estimated times for each stage of the process, and recommendations for how to reduce processing times.

A Professional Engineer (PE) is an individual licensed by the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists whom:

• Applies mathematical and physical sciences in the design of public or private buildings, structures, machines, equipment, processes, works or engineering systems
  
• Consults, investigates, evaluates, conducts engineering surveys, performs construction management, planning and inspection of public or private buildings, structures, machines, equipment, processes, works or engineering systems
• Performs acts and services related to engineering such as municipal planning, teaching, construction, maintenance and research.

Two of the primary ways to receive a Professional Engineer license in PA are by examination or by comity/endorsement

Professional Engineer License By Examination

Obtaining a professional engineer license by examination means you have:

• completed at least 4 years of progressive engineering experience earned under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer, or similarly qualified individual
• passed the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) and Principles and Practice Examination (PE).
  

Applicants must have an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Accredited Bachelor of Science degree.

Tips for reducing processing time for Professional Engineer License By Examination

1. All Professional Engineer applicants must have successfully passed the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination (FE) and obtained their Engineer in Training Certificate (EIT).

• In addition to the background check from your current state of residence, you will need to submit official state CHRCs from every state where you have lived, worked, or completed training during the last 5 years. An FBI background check can be submitted in lieu of state checks where you previously lived, worked or trained. No record checks can be dated more than 90 days prior to the date you submit your application.
  

Three references must be a licensed Professional Engineer.

The other two may be a licensed Professional Geologist, licensed Professional Land Surveyor, or unlicensed engineers who, through education and experience, possess an equivalent level of expertise as that of a professional engineer.

A reference that is not a professional engineer licensed in the United States is required to submit a curriculum vitae. All work experience must be supported by a Reference Information Form submitted by the licensed professional engineer who supervised the work experience.

Your references may email their forms directly to the Board of Engineering at st-engineer@Pa.gov.

• clearly describe the supervised engineering work/design that you personally performed;
• delineate your role in any group engineering activity;
  
• provide an overall description of the nature of work/design you personally performed,
  specifically indicate how your engineering skills and responsibilities have progressively increased during your years of experience, and
  
• must demonstrate conclusively the years of progressive professional experience you have obtained (including detailed examples of how engineering knowledge and engineering principles, including the principles of math and science, were actually employed) in engineering work/design of a grade and character to fit you to assume responsible charge of the work involved in the practice of engineering.
  

Please do not attach a resume or curriculum vitae in lieu of an Amplified Record.

Do not list more than one year of work experience per page of the amplified record; however, you may use as many pages as necessary to accurately describe each year of experience.

Please upload your amplified record to the Board through your PALS account using the “Amplified Record” checklist item.

Professional Engineer License By Comity/Endorsement

Obtaining a professional engineer license by comity/endorsement means you have already obtained a professional engineer license in another state or jurisdiction. A person is eligible for licensure by comity/endorsement if they are currently licensed in another state, territory or country whose licensure requirements either were equal to those in effect in Pennsylvania at the time of initial registration, or are now substantially equivalent to those in effect in Pennsylvania.

Tips for reducing processing time for Professional Engineer License By Comity/Endorsement

1. Professional Engineer by comity/endorsement applications are processed in the order they are received. Please submit your application as soon as possible.

In addition to the background check from your current state of residence, you will need to submit official state CHRCs from every state where you have lived, worked, or completed training during the last 5 years. An FBI background check can be submitted in lieu of state checks where you previously lived, worked or trained. No record checks can be dated more than 180 days prior to the date you submit your application.