California Engineering Industry Licensing
Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in California.
This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in California 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.
Company Licenses
California Engineering Company Licenses
California Organization Record
Initial Registration
| Form: | Organization Record Form for Businesses Whose Principal Office is in California or Organization Record Form for Businesses Whose Principal Office is Located Outside of California |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Turnaround: | 5-10 business days |
| How to Apply: | In California, entity registration with the Secretary of State and an Organizational Record Form with the Board for Engineers can be applied for concurrently. |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Registrations do not expire, but firms must notify the board when entity information changes.
Amendment
| Form: | |
| Instructions: |
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| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Due: | Within 30 days after a change in the reported information. |
| Notes: | A new Organization Record Form must be submitted to the board if any of the originally reported information changes. |
Individual Licenses
California Individual Engineering Licenses
California Civil Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
California Engineer-in-Training Certification (EIT)
| Agency: | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Not Set |
| Exam Required? | Not Set |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Not Set |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $75 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
California Engineering Geologist Certification
Initial Registration
| Form: | Application for Licensure as a Certified Engineering Geologist or Certified Hydrogeologist |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the certificate holder's birth month. |
California Fire Protection Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
Reciprocal Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
| Notes: |
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Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the assigned renewal date (not the issue date). |
California Geologist-in-Training Certification
| Agency: | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Not Set |
| Exam Required? | Not Set |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Not Set |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $75 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
The certificate shall become invalid when the holder has qualified as a professional geologist.
California Geotechnical Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | Instructions on How to Apply for a Geotechnical Engineer License |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Reciprocal Registration
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | Instructions on How to Apply for a Geotechnical Engineer License |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
California Hydrogeologist Certification
| Agency: | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Not Set |
| Exam Required? | Not Set |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Not Set |
Initial Registration
| Form: | Application for Licensure as a Certified Engineering Geologist or Certified Hydrogeologist |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the certificate holder's birth month. |
California Land Surveyor-in-Training Certification (LSIT)
| Agency: | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Not Set |
| Exam Required? | Not Set |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Not Set |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $75 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
California Professional Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
Reciprocal Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
| Notes: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
California Professional Geologist License
Initial Registration
| Form: | Application for Licensure as a Professional Geologist or Geophysicist |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the licensee's birth month. |
California Professional Geophysicist License
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the licensee's birth month. |
California Professional Land Surveyor License
| Agency: | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Not Set |
| Exam Required? | Not Set |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Not Set |
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
Reciprocal Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 application fee + $175 exam fee |
| Notes: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
California Structural Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | Instructions on How to Apply for a Structural Engineer License |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
Reciprocal Registration
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | Instructions on How to Apply for a Structural Engineer License |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
| Notes: | Applicants that have been licensed and practicing in another state may apply prior to 3 years after obtaining their license as a Civil Engineer in California under certain circumstances. The Board will consider an application submitted sooner than 3 years after licensure as a Civil Engineer in California by a person who meets any of the following requirements:
The Board will accept an applicant under any one of the above conditions provided that the conditions occurred prior to the time that the applicant arrived in California, provided that the applicant has six (6) years of qualifying experience that can be counted toward the application for licensure as a Civil Engineer and at least three (3) additional years of experience in structural engineering work in excess of those six (6) years required for the civil engineering license, and further provided that an applicant who wishes to be considered under any of these provisions so indicates to the Board at the time of filing of his or her application, and files the application at least six (6) months prior to the announced final filing date for the examination for which the applicant is applying. |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
California Traffic Engineer License
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
Reciprocal Registration
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $175 |
| Notes: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $180 |
| Due: | Biennially by the end of the assigned quarterly renewal period. |
Learn about engineering licensing in other states:
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.
