Rulemaking
Rulemaking Docket
A Rulemaking Docket is a summary document showing active (current), past recent, and potential future rulemaking packages and their status.
About the Request for Comments Stage in Rulemaking
The “Request for Comments” stage of the rulemaking process is the very beginning of the formal rulemaking process in which the Board solicits comments from the public on issues coming before various national councils and in discussion at the state level (including local professional societies) related to the professions regulated by the Board.
At this stage in the process, draft rules may not yet exist. That is the case, as of February 2026, for this current package. See the "What Are Rules" section below for more on the rulemaking process.
If you would like the Board to add you to its rulemaking mailing list and receive updates as they become available, please e-mail the Rules Coordinator.
Current Projects
Rules Governing Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Landscape Architects, Geoscientists, and Certified Interior Designers Licensure/Certification Requirements; and Housekeeping Updates. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1800 (R04898)
The Board requests comments on possible amendments to the rules governing architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, geoscientists, and certified interior designers licensure/certification requirements, and housekeeping items. The Board published an updated request for comments on February 2, 2026.
The Board is considering rule amendments to:
- Allow for direct registration for both the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering examinations, with individuals applying to the Board for licensure after completion of the education, examination, and experience requirements;
- Allow for direct registration for the land surveying examinations taken through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES);
- Modify the professional examination requirements for licensure as a land surveyor to reflect changes by NCEES to the exam structure and content;
- Allow for direct registration for the professional geoscience examinations, with individuals applying to the Board for licensure after completion of the education, examination, and experience requirements;
- Allow for comity/reciprocal applicants across all professions who do not meet the order in which licensure requirements were obtained to continue the licensure process; and
- Make housekeeping modifications.
Recent Projects
Rules Governing Requirements for Licensure and Certification and Housekeeping Updates. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1800 (R04764)
The Board published in the November 27, 2023, issue of the State Register Adopted Permanent Rules, Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1800
The rules became effective December 4, 2023.
The adopted rules:
- clarify the education evaluation process for foreign degrees;
- allow direct registration for the Fundamentals of Soil Science exam;
- modify the education and experience requirements for landscape architects to provide more paths to licensure;
- update and clarify the general description of information required for applications to the Board;
- clarify the certification statements to which applicants must agree when applying for licensure/certification or renewing or reinstating a license/certificate;
- clarify the validity of applications and application expiration; and
They include housekeeping updates, such as repealing obsolete rules and plain language changes.
For the authoritative version of Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1800, see the Revisor's website. (Note: There may be a delay before the rule changes are live.)
What Are Rules?
An administrative rule is a general statement adopted by an agency or board to make the law it enforces or administers more specific or to govern the agency's organization or procedure.
An agency or board may adopt a rule only after the legislature has enacted a law granting this authority to the agency. An agency rule adopted under the rulemaking provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 14, has the force and effect of law. Rulemaking in Minnesota: A Guide explains each step of the rulemaking process in Minnesota.
Administrative rulemaking follows a very specific and transparent process, which the Rulemaking Progress Chart outlines.
Meeting & Minutes
Meeting Location and Times:
Unless noted, Committee, Section, and Board meetings are conducted in Suite 295 of the Golden Rule Building, located at 85 E. 7th Place, Saint Paul, MN 55101. Any meetings conducted remotely under Chapter 13D.015 will be noted below; a Board member will be present at the meeting location for the duration of the meeting, and the public will be able to participate. All meetings (except for Complaint Committee) are open to the public. Please note that any Special Meetings are limited to the stated agenda items only.
Executive Committee meets from 8:15 to 8:45 AM.
ALACID and ELSGEO Sections meet from 9:00 to 10:00 and 10:00 to 11:00 AM on an alternating basis (i.e. ALACID from 9:00-10:00 and ELSGEO from 10:00-11:00 one meeting, and then ELSGEO from 9:00-10:00 and ALACID from 10:00-11:00 the next meeting).
The full Board meets from 11:00 AM until the end of business is concluded.
Credentialing and Rules Committees meet on an as-needed basis, usually 3-4 times per year, often in the months when the full Board does not meet. Check back here for updated schedules.
Please email the Board office if you wish to receive email notifications of upcoming meetings.
2026 Meeting Calendar (with order of meetings):
Agendas for each meeting are available one week prior to the scheduled meeting date. Click on each link to view the agenda with enclosures for that meeting.
- Tuesday, May 12 – Executive Committee, ALACID, ELSGEO, and full Board
- Tuesday, July 14 – Executive Committee, ELSGEO, ALACID, and full Board
- Tuesday, September 15 – Executive Committee, ALACID, ELSGEO, and full Board
- Tuesday, November 10 – Executive Committee, ELSGEO, ALACID, and full Board
Minutes:
All approved minutes can be found on the Archived Minutes page [link to new page]
