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 (R‑04898)

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 the 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 land surveying to reflect changes by NCEES to the examination structure and content;
• Allow for direct registration for the geoscience examinations;
• Allow comity/reciprocal applicants to be substantially equivalent to Minnesota’s licensure/certification standard at the time of their initial licensure/certification if they have met all other requirements other than the timing requirements; and
• Make housekeeping modifications.

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 for more on the rulemaking process. 

Documents Pertinent to This Rulemaking

Request for Comments

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.

 

Recent Projects

Rules Governing Requirements for Licensure and Certification and Housekeeping Updates. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1800 (R‑04764)

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
• update definitions.

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.)

Revisor: MN Rules 1800