Professional Engineering

Requirements

Education Overview

In general, applicants must hold an EAC-ABET accredited engineering degree or its equivalent. For those whose degree is not EAC-ABET accredited, they will need their education evaluated prior to applying to the Board.

Examination Overview

 Applicants must first pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam or the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam in order to be considered for licensure (although the FE Exam can be waived under certain conditions). Both exams are administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Applicants who successfully pass the FE Exam and graduate may choose to apply for the Engineer-In-Training, or EIT, designation.

Experience Overview

Applicants must provide evidence of completing qualifying experience. Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, nonrepetitive, practical experience at engineering work, developing the ability to apply the theoretical knowledge gained during academic training in making sound judgments in solving engineering problems. 

The amount of experience needed depends upon the type of education earned. Supervisors do not need to be a licensed engineer in order to sign off on experience.

When applicants apply for the PE Exam, they may provide evidence that they meet the qualifying experience requirements or defer providing that information until later in their application process.

For Additional Information

Please visit each tab – FE/EIT, Initial License (PE), and License (Comity/EEE) – for complete details on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements.

FE/EIT

Initial License (PE)

Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam

Application Process

If you wish to sit for any discipline of the PE Exam as a Minnesota candidate, you must:

• hold an EAC-ABET accredited engineering degree or its equivalent;
• pass the FE Exam before taking the PE Exam (the FE Exam can be waived under certain conditions—see MN Rule 1800.2800);
• apply to the Board and obtain approval to sit before you register with NCEES (MN Rule 1800.2900 Subp. 5);

Currently, all PE discipline exams are computer-based tests (CBT). Most CBT exams are administered year-round. A few are offered in either April or October each year. The breadth sections of the Structural exam are offered year-round while the depth sections are offered just twice a year, in April and October

See the NCEES website for details.

NOTE: Minnesota is not a discipline-specific state. Those applying to sit for any discipline of the PE Exam – including Structural – should use the online application. Follow the instructions in the online application to provide all required additional information. Incomplete applications expire six (6) months after receipt.

See the Instructions Overview for more information on how to apply online.

Application Deadlines

• For single-day (CBT) exams, your application is for the specific exam administration that is open at the time of your application (see deadlines below) and expires with that exam administration.
• For year-round CBT exams, once the Board approves your application, you have three years in which to register with NCEES and take the exam before your application to the Board expires. (Note, however, that NCEES registrations expire after one year.) If your application expires, if you do not pass the exam, or if you are a "no show," for the exam, you must reapply to the Board before you can re-register for another exam administration.

CBT exam seats and locations are first-come, first-served. You are advised to apply to the Board as early as possible so that you can then register through NCEES for your preferred test date and location.

See the table below for general deadlines.

Application and Examination Fees

The Board Application Fee is $75. This fee is to determine if you meet the requirements to sit for the exam (and, once you pass the exam and submit your experience, are eligible for licensure). Note: If applying for CBT single-day exams, this fee covers only the particular exam administration that is open at the time of your application (see deadlines above).

The NCEES Examination Fee is set by and paid directly to NCEES with each exam registration. Questions regarding the payment of this fee, as well as potential refunds due to rescheduling an exam, must be addressed directly to NCEES.

Experience Overview

When you apply for the PE Exam, you may provide evidence that you meet the qualifying experience requirements or defer providing that information until later in your application process.

IMPORTANT! Applicants – including those who have been approved by the Board to sit for the PE exam early (prior to providing their experience) – have three years from their original application date to submit evidence of meeting the experience requirements or their application will expire and they will need to reapply to be considered for licensure.

Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, nonrepetitive, practical experience at engineering work, developing the ability to apply the theoretical knowledge gained during academic training in making sound judgments in solving engineering problems. See MN Rule 1800.2500, Subp. 4 and MN Rule 1800.2805 for full details.

How much experience you need depends upon the type of education you have earned. See MN Rule 1800.2500 Subp. 4 for details. Your supervisor does not need to be a licensed engineer in order to sign off on your experience.

Complete the “Experience” Section of the online application.

• If you are selecting the NCEES "PE/PS Exam Docs" option for providing your experience, be sure to request via your MyNCEES account that "PE/PS Exam Docs" be sent to Minnesota.
• If you are not using the MyNCEES option, you must download the customized Experience References Forms created in the "Documents" section of the online application and send the relevant copy to the appropriate supervisor (be sure to include the instructions page). The supervisor must complete the "Supervisor" portion of the form and send it directly to the Board; it cannot be submitted by the applicant. Follow this link for an Experience Reference Form sample.

Next Steps After the Exam

Need to Retake an Exam?

See the exam application instructions for how to reapply.

After Passing the PE Exam

The Board will notify you by mail once you pass the PE Exam. If you have not already done so, you will need to submit your experience by one of the two methods described above. You have three years from your original application date to submit them or you will need to reapply as an EEE applicant. See MN Rule 1800.2900 Subp. 7.

Licensure

Once you have submitted your experience and the Board has determined that you meet the requirements, you will be sent a License Fee Letter. To obtain your professional license once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the license fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the license fee.

Once the Board receives your license fee, a license number will be generated, and a license card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not licensed and cannot practice or hold out as licensed until the Board processes your license and issues your license number.

Regardless of when it is obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.

License (Comity/EEE)

Licensure by Comity (Reciprocity) or EEE

If you already hold a license in another jurisdiction or took the required exams in another jurisdiction, use Online Services to apply for a license in Minnesota. Follow the instructions in the online application to provide all required additional information. Incomplete applications expire six (6) months after receipt.

There are two means by which to apply; select your choice within Online Services.

• Comity applications are reviewed based on the Education, Examination and Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota at the time of your original licensure. (For example: If you were originally licensed in 1998, your credentials will be evaluated based on the Education, Examination and Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota in 1998). If your initial PE license was obtained prior to March 2020, your required experience must have been obtained prior to passing the PE Exam and it must be verified by whomever was your supervisor at that time.

• EEE (Education, Examination, and Experience) applications are reviewed based on licensure requirements currently in place in Minnesota. This application method is for the following:

• Those who did not obtain all their experience prior to passing the PE exam or who are unable to verify experience obtained prior to the exam. Applicants may submit verified experience that was obtained after passing the PE Exam to meet the minimum experience requirement;

• Those who took the PE exam in another jurisdiction but are applying for initial licensure in Minnesota;

• Those who are licensed in another jurisdiction but do not meet the Minnesota comity requirements from the year of their initial licensure;

• Note: Those who received their initial license prior to March 2020 must meet the experience requirement with experience that was gained prior to taking the PE Exam.

• Those who wish to request a waiver of the FE exam.

To document that you have met all requirements, you can either submit an NCEES Record or complete the "Education" and "Experience" sections of the online application.

If you choose not to send an NCEES Record:

• Once you submit payment, you will see additional forms to complete and instructions to follow in the "Documents" section of the online application, including Experience Reference Forms that you must sign and send to the appropriate supervisor(s). The completed Experience Reference Form must be sent by the supervisor directly to the Board; it cannot be submitted by the applicant. See an Experience Reference Form sample.

• You will also need to have your exam scores, proof of licensure in another state, and evidence of meeting the education requirements (transcripts or an education evaluation sent directly to the Board by the relevant provider). Again, see the "Documents" section.

Whether or not you submit an NCEES Record, refer to the "Documents" section of the online application for additional instructions and updates on the status of your application.

See MN Rules 1800.0850 for more information on licensure by comity/EEE.

See the Instructions Overview for more information on how to apply online.

License Application Fee

The comity/EEE application fee is $75, payable via credit card at the time you submit the online application.

Licensure

Once the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for licensure, you will be sent a License Fee Letter. To obtain your professional license once you are approved, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the license fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the license fee.

Once the Board receives your license fee, a license number will be generated, and a license card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not licensed and cannot practice or hold out as licensed until the Board processes your license and issues your license number.

Regardless of when it is obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.

Temporary Permit

What Is a Temporary Permit?

MN Rule 1800.0900, Subpart 7 and MN Statute 326.13, clause (1) define the conditions under which you may seek a temporary permit and the permit application requirements. Temporary permits are only granted to individuals who meet the requirements for application by comity/EEE in Minnesota and who demonstrate need.

A temporary permit allows a qualified individual to accept and undertake a project in the state when the time between the offer of work and the commencement of work is so short that, following the regular license application process, a license may not be approved by the Board in time.

Temporary permits are project specific. A temporary permit does not grant the individual the right to undertake (or solicit) any other project than the one listed on the permit application until full licensure is granted.

IMPORTANT! Pre-Notification to the Board When Soliciting Work in Minnesota

Please be aware that those licensed in another jurisdiction but not in Minnesota may not solicit work in Minnesota without first notifying the Board in writing. They are further required to deliver a copy of that notice to every potential client for whom they are seeking to provide services, and they must apply for licensure/certification within ten days if selected as the design professional for a project in this state. See MN Statute 326.13, clause (2) for details.

Requesting a temporary permit neither negates nor replaces this notification requirement.

Who Can Apply

Individuals licensed or certified in a jurisdiction recognized by the Board and who would otherwise qualify for licensure by comity/EEE may apply for a temporary permit, if circumstances require one and if their profession is one of the following:

• Architect
• Professional Engineer
• Professional Geologist
• Professional Soil Scientist
• Certified Interior Designer

NOTE: Professional Engineers who are designated as a “Model Law Engineer (MLE)” in their MyNCEES records are often already expedited through the licensing process. Check your My NCEES record to confirm your status. If you hold this qualification, you may prefer to submit just the Application for Licensure as a Professional Engineer by Comity or EEE and forego applying for a temporary permit, as your license, if approved, could be issued in nearly the same time frame as would the temporary permit.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit BOTH the paper Application for Temporary Permit (and $120 license fee) as well as the online Application for Licensure as a Professional Engineer by Comity or EEE (and $75 application fee). In the event that your application is denied, only the $120 license fee will be refunded.

About the Permit

If your temporary permit is approved, the Board will issue you a permit which you must sign and return to the Board within five days. Retain a signed copy for your records. Temporary permits expire 60 days from the date listed on the permit, or as soon as you receive your license number and license card – whichever comes first. Temporary permits cannot be renewed. As noted above, temporary permits are project specific. Holding a permit does not allow you to undertake or solicit additional projects.

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