North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Mailing address:
4601 Six Forks Rd., Suite 310
Raleigh, NC 27609

Phone: (919) 791-2000
Fax: (919) 791-2012

Web: Home Name search Forms File online

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other reference data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

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North Carolina Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



North Carolina Firm License (Engineering and/or Land Surveying)

Agency:North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors
Law:

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 89C-24

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Professional Corporations:

  • At least 2/3 of the shares of ownership must be held by licensed design professionals.
  • At least one director and one officer who is a shareholder must be a North Carolina licensee.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least 2/3 of the owners must be licensed design professionals.
  • At least one member and manager must be licensed in North Carolina.
  • No company may be an owner of the Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a North Carolina licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in North Carolina.

Initial Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • A licensee that wishes to operate as a sole proprietor using a name other than their signature name as reflected in the Board records must apply for Firm Licensure as a Non-Exempt Sole Proprietorship. A sole member LLC or corporation is not a proprietorship. Refer to the Business Firm Chart on the Board web site (www.ncbels.org) for more information. 
Form:

Application for Licensure

Filing Method:

Mail or email the Business Firm Application to the address on the application cover sheet or to firms@ncbels.org

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

5-7 business days. Applicants will be notified by mail/email.

Original Ink:Required
Notarize:Required
Notes:
  • This application may only be used for Non-Exempt Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Business Corporations or Limited Liability Companies that meet the exception in NCGS 55B-15(a)(1).
  • If the Corporation or Limited Liability Company was formed after June 5, 1969, it does not qualify for this exception and the firm should not use this application. Refer to the Business Firm Chart on the Board web site (www.ncbels.org) for more information.
  • Only Corporations and Limited Liability Company’s formed prior to June 5, 1969, may qualify as Business Corporations or Limited Liability Company’s. All others must qualify as Professional Corporations or Professional Limited Liability Company’s and use the Professional Corporation Application or Professional Limited Liability Company Application per North Carolina General Statue 55B (Professional Corporation Act).
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Ensure that your North Carolina entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 6 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Email an Application for Licensure and entity formation documents to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors at firms@ncbels.org.
  2. Once approved by the board, file the approved entity formation documents with the North Carolina Secretary of State - Business Registration Division.
  3. After Secretary of State approved, email proof of entity formation with the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors at firms@ncbels.org.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Email an Application for Licensure and foreign qualification documents to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors at firms@ncbels.org.
  2. Once approved by the board, file the approved foreign qualification documents with the North Carolina Secretary of State - Business Registration Division.
  3. After Secretary of State approved, email proof of foreign qualification with the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors at firms@ncbels.org.
Required Attachments:
  • All entities
    • A copy of Form B-09 
    • The original firm Articles dating prior to June 5, 1969, must indicate that the firm was practicing engineering/land surveying at time of Incorporation/Organization. If they do not then evidence that the firm was performing engineering/land surveying prior to June 5, 1969, must be submitted
    • Each location of the firm that is or may be offering services should be listed
  • Foreign PLLC's:
    • Certificate of good standing from domestic jurisdiction (less than 6 months old)
    • Certified copy of Articles of Organization and any amendments to present (original, not a photocopy)
    • A copy of the firm's Operating Agreement and any amendments to present. 
  • Domestic Entities:
    • A copy of the firms original North Carolina Articles and any amendments to present. 
    • If the firm has already submitted and obtained a NC Certificate of Authority, a copy must be provided with the application. 
  • Foreign Entities
    • a copy of the corporations' original Articles of Incorporation and any Amendments to present from its State of formation, a copy of a Certificate of Existence less than (6) months old and a copy of the proposed North Carolina Certificate of Authority (Form B-09)
    • *If the firm has already submitted and obtained a NC Certificate of Authority, a copy must be provided with the application. 
  • Partnerhsips 
    • List all Partner(s) and corresponding ownership. All Partners must be individuals. A firm may only be a Partner if that entity is also licensed with the NC Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.
    • If filing as a Domestic Partnership, along with the application, submit a copy of the recorded Secretary of State Registration. If the firm is not currently registered with the NC Secretary of State, submit a copy of the proposed Registration.
    • If filing as a Foreign Partnership (Non-North Carolina Entity), submit a copy of the original Registration from the firm’s home state of registration and any amendments to present. Also submit a copy of a Certificate of Existence less than (6) months old.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$175

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Penalties:
  • If the business firm does not apply for renewal of the Firm License within thirty (30) days after the date of the expiration of such license. In that case, the Firm License shall be automatically suspended. The Firm License may be reinstated within one year upon receipt of the renewal application and payment of the required renewal fee plus the reinstatement fee. 
  • Failure of a business firm to renew the license for a period of one (1) year shall require the business firm to submit a new application and meet all other requirements in effect for licensure
Required Attachments:
  • List of license holders who have stock ownership
  • List of non-licensed employees who have stock ownership
  • List of branch office locations including licensee in responsible charge
  • Disclosure of disciplinary actions taken against North Carolina licensees (if applicable)

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

The Board of Examiners must be notified within 30 days of any change in personnel status, locations, etc. contained in the license.

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$175

Notes:

File for renewal online and then email the board at firms@ncbels.org to let them know that the late renewal was filed online.

North Carolina Professional Engineer License

Agency:North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Electronically Transmitted Documents. Documents, including drawings, specifications and reports, that are transmitted electronically beyond the direct control of the licensee shall have the computer-generated seal removed from the original file, unless signed with a digital signature as defined in Paragraph (e) of this Rule. After removal of the seal the electronic media shall have the following inserted in lieu of the signature and date: "This document originally issued and sealed by (name of sealer), (license number), on (Date of sealing). This medium shall not be considered a certified document." Hardcopy documents containing the original seal, signature and date of the licensee may be duplicated by photocopy or electronic scanning processes and distributed either in hardcopy or electronic medium. The scanned digital files of certified documents are not subject to the requirements of this Paragraph. The electronic transmission beyond the direct control of the licensee of CAD, vector or other files subject to easy editing are subject to the requirements of this paragraph. Easy editing is based on the file consisting of separate elements that can be individually modified or deleted. Documents that are excepted from certification by a statement meeting the requirements of Subparagraphs (c)(1) through (c)(5) of this Rule are not subject to the requirements of this Paragraph.

(e) Documents to be electronically transmitted beyond the direct control of the licensee that are signed using a digital signature, shall contain the authentication procedure in a secure mode and a list of the hardware, software and parameters used to prepare the document(s). Secure mode means that the authentication procedure has protective measures to prevent alteration or overriding of the authentication procedure. The term "digital signature" shall be an electronic authentication process that is attached to or logically associated with an electronic document. The digital signature shall be:

  1. Unique to the licensee using it;
  2. Capable of verification;
  3. Under the sole control of the licensee; and
  4. Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.

(f) A digital signature process may be submitted to the Board for approval that it meets the criteria set forth in Subparagraphs (e)(1) through (4) of this Rule. The licensee shall confirm that if another process is used, that it meets the criteria.

21 NCAC 56 .1103

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal may be a rubber stamp, embossed seal, computer-generated seal, or other facsimile that becomes a permanent addition to a plan sheet or map;

21 NCAC 56 .1103

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Annually by December 31.

North Carolina Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveyor Application for Licensure

Agency Fee:

$100 application fee + $275 exam fee.

Notarize:Required

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Annually by December 31.

North Carolina Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certification as a Surveyor Intern

Agency Fee:

$0

Notarize:Required

Renewal Not Required

Not required



The surveyor intern certificate does not expire and, therefore, does not have to be renewed.

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