50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Alabama Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Alabama.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Alabama for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Alabama Engineering Company Licenses

Alabama Certificate of Authorization for Engineering

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Law:

Alabama Code § 34-11-9

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama licensed engineer.

Professional Corporations:

  • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama licensed engineer.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the principal members must be an Alabama licensed engineer.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the principal members must be an Alabama licensed engineer.

Partnerships:

  • At least one of the partners must be an Alabama licensed engineer.
Notes:

A firm shall designate a resident professional engineer or a resident professional land surveyor, as applicable, in each branch office in which engineering or land surveying services for the state are offered or provided.  The resident professional shall be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of that branch office.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • A firm shall designate a managing agent and a resident professional if offering or performing Alabama services in multiple offices.  The managing agent and the resident professional may be the same individual.
  • The following criteria shall apply to a firm’s designation of a managing agent:
    • A firm shall designate a professional engineer or a professional land surveyor to be a managing agent for the firm.
    • The managing agent is responsible for the engineering or land surveying work in the state and for projects within the state offered or provided by the firm.
    •  A licensee may not be designated as a managing agent for more than one firm unless the firms share a location.
    • A licensee who renders occasional, part-time, or consulting engineering or land surveying services to or for a firm may not be designated as a managing agent.
  • The managing agent's responsibilities include all of the following:
    • Renewal of the firm's certificate of authorization and notification to the board of any change in the managing agent.
    •  Overall administrative supervision of the firm's licensed and subordinate personnel providing the engineering or land surveying work in the state.
    • Ensuring that the policies of the firm are in accordance with the rules of professional conduct adopted by the board.

Initial Registration

This section applies to engineering firms that are applying for a license in Alabama for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

3-4 weeks

Notes:
  • If your company offers both engineering and land surveying services, you will need to have separate certificates of authorization for engineering and land surveying.
  • If your firm's name contains the word "engineering" (or any modification of that word), you must submit the certificate of authorization application to the Board before attempting to reserve the firm's name with the office
    of the Alabama Secretary of State
Before you Apply:
  • List all offices where engineering work is performed for projects in Alabama.
  • List the Alabama licensed PE physically located at each office.
    • The listed Alabama PE must be a full time employee of the firm and be in responsible charge of the engineering work performed for Alabama projects at that office
    • The managing agent must be the senior technical person that has a current Alabama PE license and make significant technical and/or contractual judgments on behalf of the firm.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Apply for name reservation through the Secretary of State. Entities whose name contains some form of 'engineer' must have their name approved by the Board of Engineers before reserving their name.
  2. Form your business entity with the Secretary of State and apply for a firm license through the Board of Engineers (these filings can be made concurrently).

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Apply for name reservation through the Secretary of State. Entities whose name contains some form of 'engineer' must have their name approved by the Board of Engineers before reserving their name.
  2. Foreign qualify your business entity with the Secretary of State (if required) and apply for a firm license through the Board of Engineers (these filings can be made concurrently).

Registration Renewal

This section applies to engineering firms that are already licensed in Alabama and need to renew their license.

Instructions:

How to Renew Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Required Attachments:
  • List of branch office locations including licensee in responsible charge

Amendment

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Any change to persons listed on the license application must be reported within 30 days of the change.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Required Attachments:

Attachments needed if you are adding a branch office or changing the person in charge for corporate, LLC, or LLP:

  • A completed CA application with the amended block checked and submit to the board office within 30 days of the change. 

Attachments needed if you are changing the name of corporate, LLP, or LLP :

  • A completed CA application with the amended block checked and submit to the board office within 30 days of the change. 
  • Contact the SoS's office to change the company name. 

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$350

Alabama Certificate of Authorization for Land Surveying

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Law:

Alabama Code Section 34-11-9 

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • Professional Corporations 
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Limited Liability Partnerships 

.

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Ownership Requirements:
  • Corporations
    • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama-licensed land surveyor.
  • Professional Corporations
    • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama-licensed land surveyor.
  • Limited Liability Companies
    • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama-licensed land surveyor.
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
    • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama-licensed land surveyor.
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
    • At least one of the principal officers must be an Alabama-licensed land surveyor.
Notes:

A firm shall designate a resident professional engineer or a resident professional land surveyor, as applicable, in each branch office in which engineering or land surveying services for the state are offered or provided.  The resident professional shall be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of that branch office.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • A firm shall designate a managing agent and a resident professional if offering or performing Alabama services in multiple offices.  The managing agent and the resident professional may be the same individual.
  • The following criteria shall apply to a firm’s designation of a managing agent:
    • A firm shall designate a professional engineer or a professional land surveyor to be a managing agent for the firm.
    • The managing agent is responsible for the engineering or land surveying work in the state and for projects within the state offered or provided by the firm.
    • A licensee may not be designated as a managing agent for more than one firm unless the firms share a location.
    • A licensee who renders occasional, part-time, or consulting engineering or land surveying services to or for a firm may not be designated as a managing agent.
  • The managing agent's responsibilities include all of the following:
    • Renewal of the firm's certificate of authorization and notification to the board of any change in the managing agent.
    • Overall administrative supervision of the firm's licensed and subordinate personnel providing the engineering or land surveying work in the state.
    • Ensuring that the policies of the firm are in accordance with the rules of professional conduct adopted by the board.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

3-4 weeks

Notes:

If your company offers both engineering and land surveying services, you will need to have separate certificates of authorization for engineering and land surveying. 

How to Apply:

A firm required to be qualified by the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office to do business in Alabama may file such qualification documents concurrently with an Engineering Certificate of Authorization application.
Exception: If the firm name contains the word “surveying” (or any derivation of the word), then Board approval must be gained before registering with the Secretary of State

Registration Renewal

Instructions:

How to Renew Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Notes:

If your company offers both engineering and land surveying services, you will need to have separate certificates of authorization for engineering and land surveying. 

Amendment

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Any change to the officers, partners, or individuals in responsible charge of your firm must be reported within 30 days of the change.

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$350

Alabama Geology Firm License

Not required



Geoscience Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Alabama.

More information: Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists

Individual Licenses

Alabama Individual Engineering Licenses

Alabama Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Notes:

Applicants can qualify for certification in one of four ways:

  • 4 Yr ABET Engineering Degree + FE Exam
  • 4 Yr Unaccredited Engineering Degree + 2 Yrs Experience + FE Exam
  • 4 Yr TAC Engineering Technology Degree w/ABET + MS Engineering Degree + 2 Yrs Experience + FE Exam
  • 4 Yr Related Science Degree w/ABET + MS Engineering Degree + 2 Yrs Experience + FE Exam
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Alabama Geologist License

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Electronic signatures may be used as long as all involved parties agree to their use.

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The seal, signature, and serial number of a licensee on a document constitute a certification that the document was prepared by the licensee or under his/her direct supervision or that he/she has reviewed the document in sufficient depth to fully coordinate and assume responsibility for plans prepared by another geologist. A geological report, document, or illustration cannot be submitted in the name of a corporation, company, or partnership without the signature and seal of the licensed geologist accepting the responsibility for the work described. Geological documents include any document, illustration, or paper (including those electronically or photostatically reproduced), resulting from professional services or supervision of professional services, where such services requires the application of geological principles or data. When appropriate, use of electronic or digital reproduction of the seal or stamp is allowed, provided the reproduction is in accordance with 364-X-11-.02 and 364-X-11-.03(3).

AL Admin Code ch. 364-x-11-.03(1)

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensing as a Geologist

Agency Fee:

$150 application fee + $150 license fee.

Notarize:Required

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Biennially by the end of the month of initial registration.

Alabama Geologist-in-Training Certification

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensing as a Geologist

Agency Fee:

$150 application fee + $75 license fee.

Notarize:Required

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Biennially by the end of the month of initial registration.

Alabama Land Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Notes:

Applicants can qualify for certification in one of four ways:

  • BS Surveying Degree + FS Exam
  • BSCE degree including 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours Surveying courses + FS Exam
  • BS Related to Surveying Degree including 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours Surveying Courses + 1 year experience + FS Exam
  • BS Related Science Degree (math or other program related to surveying) + 2 years experience + FS Exam
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Interns are not longer required to renew their certificates.

Alabama Professional Engineer License

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Drawings, plans, specifications, plats, reports, and other documents considered work product issued by a licensee must be sealed, signed, and dated in accordance with rules of the board, thereby certifying that he or she is competent in the subject matter and is responsible for the work product. A digital signature may be used in lieu of a handwritten signature.

Code of Alabama § 34-11-7

Drawings, reports, or documents that are signed using a digital signature, as defined in 330-X-.02(10), shall contain authentication procedures.

AL Admin Code ch. 330-x-11-.02(5)

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Rubber stamps and computer generated seals identical in size, design and content with the approved seals may be used by the licensee.

AL Admin Code ch. 330-x-11-.02(4)

A computer generated seal or facsimile is acceptable only when the signature of the professional engineer or professional land surveyor and the date the document was signed are on or adjacent to the computer generated or facsimile seal. Any variation from this procedure must be submitted to and approved by the Board. Drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or documents which do not require certification may be transmitted electronically but shall have the generated seal, if any, removed before transmitting and shall have the following inserted in lieu of the signature and date: “This document originally issued and sealed by (name of licensee), P.E. #______/P.L.S.#______ on (date of sealing). This document should not be considered a certified document.”

AL Admin Code ch. 330-x-11-.03(8)

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Professional Engineer License

Agency Fee:

$125

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Alabama Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Profesional Land Surveyor Licensure

Agency Fee:

$125

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Learn about engineering licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Design Firm - Engineering firm registration is sometimes grouped with architecture and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

EI (Engineering Intern) - A term also used to describe an Engineer in Training.

EIT (Engineer in Training) - A professional designation granted upon having completed at least 3 years of school at an ABET-accredited university and having passed the FE exam.

FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) - An exam testing on basic engineering principles that is required to become an engineer in training.

PE (Professional Engineer or 'Principles and Practice in Engineering') - Means either Professional Engineer or refers to the Principles and Practice in Engineering exam that is a prerequisite for an engineering license.

Reciprocity - When a licensed engineer in one state can provide documentation (often an NCEES Record) to more easily apply for a license in another jurisdiction.

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Accrediting board that sets standards for university programs in a variety of applied science disciplines.

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Engineering, architecture, and land surveying advocacy group.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Organization that provides continuing education, professional conferences, and advocacy efforts to the civil engineering community.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Mechanical engineering organization that focuses on education and professional development.

Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC)
Reviews accreditation requirements and makes final decisions regarding the accreditation process.

National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES)
Develops, administers, and scores the exams used for engineering licenses.

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
NSPE is an advocacy group for professional engineers.

Revised November 10, 2022. Complete data last reviewed June 04, 2019.
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