Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide

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Florida Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Florida.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Florida 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

Florida Engineering Company Licenses

Florida Certificate of Authorization (Land Surveying)

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Fact Checked:11/5/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Land Surveying Certificate of Authorization Application

Agency Fee:

$255 for a regular license or $180 for a temporary certificate.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Fact Checked:11/5/19

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$355 ($350 renewal fee and $5 unlicensed activity fee).

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Penalties:

The late renewal penalty is $150.

Fact Checked:11/5/19

Florida Engineering Business Registration

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
Law:

Fla. Stat. § 471.023

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

Business Corporations:

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

Professional Corporations:

  • Shareholders of Florida PCs must be either licensed individuals, a professional corporation, or a professional limited liability company.

Limited Liability Companies:

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

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • Shareholders of Florida PLLCs must be either licensed individuals, a professional corporation, or a professional limited liability company.

Partnerships:

  • At least one of the partners must be an engineer licensed in Florida.
Notes:
  • A qualifying agent who leaves an engineering firm must notify the Board within 24 hours.
  • If the qualifying agent leaves the firm and was the only qualifying engineer for the business, the firm may no longer provide engineering services in Florida and must be qualified by another Professional Engineer within 60 days if it wishes to resume offering engineering services.
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Florida licensed engineer to act as the qualifying agent for your firm.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Florida licensed engineer to act as the qualifying agent for your firm.
  • Ensure that your Florida entity meets 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 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File formation documents to form a Florida business entity with the Department of State.
  2. File a fictitious name application to register your entity's doing business as name with the Department of State.
  3. Follow the instructions on this page to register your firm with the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File a foreign entity qualification application to foreign qualify your entity with the Department of State.
  2. File a fictitious name application to your entity's doing business as name with the Department of State.
  3. Follow the instructions on this page to register your firm with the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Business registrations do not need to be renewed.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

The qualifying agent of a firm must notify the Board within 30 days of any changes to information in the firm’s initial registration application.

Fact Checked:1/10/20

Florida Engineering Certificate of Authorization

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
Law:

Fla. Stat. Ch. 471 

Eligible Entity Types:

Florida allows engineering firms to practice under most entity types, including corporations, professional corporations, LLCs, professional LLCs, partnerships, and LLPs.

Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least one of the principal officers must be a Florida licensed engineer.

Professional Corporations:

  • At least one of the principal officers must be a Florida licensed engineer.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the principal members must be a Florida licensed engineer.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the principal members must be a Florida licensed engineer.

Partnerships:

  • At least one of the partners must be a Florida licensed engineer.
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Initial Registration

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

Form:

Certificate of Authorization Application

Agency Fee:

$230 for a regular license or $180 for a temporary certificate.

Turnaround:

About 60 days.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:
  • At least one of the principal officers of the business organization, or at least one of the partners of a partnership must hold a valid professional engineer license.
  • If the title of the principal officer is not President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer, the firm must provide additional documentation including the title of the officer and proof that the officer is empowered to bind the entity.
How to Apply:
  1. Department of State: Application for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida
  2. Board of Engineers: Application for Authorization Engineering Business
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Registration Renewal

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$98.75

Due:

Biennially by February 28.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Fact Checked:4/15/20

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

The qualifying agent of a firm must notify the Board within 30 days of any changes to information in the firm’s initial registration application.

Fact Checked:11/5/19

Florida Geology Business Certificate of Authorization

Agency:Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation - Board of Professional Geologists
Fact Checked:8/20/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Geology Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$350

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$350

Due:

By July 31 of even-numbered years.

Individual Licenses

Florida Individual Engineering Licenses

Florida Geologist In Training Registration

Agency:Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation - Board of Professional Geologists
Fact Checked:8/20/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Geoligist in Training

Agency Fee:

$190

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Florida Professional Engineer License

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
Fact Checked:7/3/18

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensure as a Professional Engineer

Agency Fee:

$230

Fact Checked:11/2/18

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$99

Due:

By February 28th of odd-numbered years.

Fact Checked:11/2/18

Florida Professional Geologist License

Agency:Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation - Board of Professional Geologists
Fact Checked:8/20/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Initial License by Examination

Agency Fee:

$500

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$125

Due:

By July 31 of even-numbered years.

Florida Surveyor and Mapper License

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Fact Checked:6/4/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Surveyor and Mapper - Initial Licensure by Examination or Endorsement

Agency Fee:

$255

Fact Checked:6/3/19

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$255

Due:

By February 28 of odd-numbered years.

Fact Checked:6/3/19

Florida Surveyor in Training License

Agency:Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Fact Checked:6/4/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensure as Surveyor in Training

Agency Fee:

$0

Fact Checked:6/3/19

Renewal Not Required

Not required



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 May 28, 2020. Complete data last reviewed July 03, 2018.
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