50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Illinois Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Illinois.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Illinois 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

Illinois Engineering Company Licenses

Illinois Geology Firm License

Not required



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

More information: Illinois Board of Licensing for Professional Geologists

Illinois Professional Design Firm Registration

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Law:

225 ILCS 305/21; 225 ILCS 325/23; 225 ILCS 330/25; and 225 ILCS 340/19

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships (GP, LP, LLP)
  • Sole Proprietorship
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a director and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their board of directors licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.

Professional Corporations:

  • All of the directors, officers, and shareholders must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All of the managers and members must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.

Partnerships:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a partner and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their partners licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.
Notes:

The Illinois Secretary of State requires that all businesses organized as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and who plan to provide professional services which are regulated/licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, must register as a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) with the IL SOS or have an assumed name listed as a PLLC.

 

Sole Proprietorships: Registration is not required for a licensed sole proprietor who offers or provides design services in his or her individual name and is not employing other individuals to perform work for which professional licensure is required. However, any sole proprietorship conducting business as a design professional under an assumed name must register as a professional design firm. Any sole proprietorship not owned by an Illinois licensed design professional is prohibited from offering professional services to the public.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Managing Agent Requirement: The organization, through official Board Resolution of the organization's Board of Directors/Members/Partners, must appoint a Managing Agent who is licensed in Illinois for the profession(s) in which the organization plans to offer and who
    will be responsible for the respective profession(s) in Illinois.
    • The managing agent must be a full-time employee of the business organization. For the profession of architecture, the named Managing Agent must also be a director, member, or partner of the business organization. A Firm may appoint more than one managing agent for a profession if desired. 
    • An individual can only be named Managing Agent of a profession for one firm at a given time.
    • A Resolution must be made for each Managing Agent that is being appointed.
    • If the fi rm’s practice includes architecture, the licensee designated as the managing agent for architecture must be a member of the board of directors, full partner, or member of PLLC or LLP and stated as such in the resolution.
    • The engineering profession must be specifi ed as either Professional Engineering or Structural Engineering. 
Requirement Notes:

Special Requirement for the practice of Architecture: Two-thirds of the individuals who make up the business organization's Board of Directors/Members/Partners must be
licensed in any of the four applicable design professions (in Illinois or any U.S. State/territory), with one being licensed in Illinois as an architect who will function as the Managing Agent for the firm.

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Design Firm Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail your completed application, fee, and support documents to:


Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation,
Attn: Division of Professional Regulation, Design/PSS4
P.O. Box 7007
Springfield, Illinois 62791

Agency Fee:

$75

Turnaround:

~2 weeks. Confirmation will be sent to applicants via email.

Before you Apply:

Foreign Qualification - YES
Certificate of Good Standing - YES (from Illinois)
Certified Copy of Articles of Incorporation - YES, The Purpose Clause must note each profession your firm plans to offer. 
Annual Report - YES (a filed copy of the latest Annual Report with the Illinois Secretary of State identifying the current directors)
members, and partners.
Name: Requires board approval if an assumed name is used
Ownership/ Entity:

  • Business Corporations: The purpose clause must be specific to the profession(s) for which the design firm is seeking registration, (i.e. professional engineering).
  • Professional Corporations: All of the directors, officers, and shareholders must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies: All of the managers and members must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.
  • Partnerships: At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a partner and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm. Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their partners licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.
  • The firm must provide the name of each director, member or partner of the firm who is a licensed design professional, as well as their license number and state of licensure. If the individual is licensed in more than one jurisdiction, only a copy of the active license of main practice is required.
  • The firm must provide a list of all Illinois office locations.

Qualified Party:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a director and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Obtain a copy of a signed board resolution designating the Illinois licensed design professional(s) as the managing agent(s) of the firm (to be filed with license application). The resolution must include the licensee's name and Illinois license number, that the licensee is a full-time employee of the firm, the licensee's relationship to the firm, e.g. director (if applicable), and that the licensee has been designated as the managing agent in charge of that professional practice in Illinois.
     
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
  3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
  4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
  3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
  4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Required Attachments:
  • Articles of incorporation (or equivalent for any type of business entity)
  • Certificate of good standing with the Illinois Dept of State
  • Annual report identifying directors/members/partners designating licensed engineers
  • Resolution stating the designated licensed professionals and their license information
  • A filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the state approving the assumed name (if applicable)

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By April 30 of odd-numbered years. Renewals may be filed as early as 3 months prior to the expiration date.

Notes:

Renewal notices are mailed 2 months prior to the expiration date.

Required Attachments:
  • List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
  • List of branch office locations including licensee in responsible charge

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

If the managing agent status changes, the professional design firm must notify the Department by mail within 10 business days and notify within 30 days of the name and license number of the newly designated managing agent by submitting a Resolution of the board/members/partners and the seal and signature of the new managing agent.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Reinstatement

Form:

Professional Design Firm Reinstatement Request

Agency Fee:

$75 for each renewal period missed + $50 late fee

Notes:

If the license has been expired for 5 or more years, the license holder should apply for a new license.

Required Attachments:
  • Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State. Not required for partnerships or sole proprietors
    using their SSN.
  • A Board resolution appointing the Managing Agent for each profession that the firm offers. For an Architect Managing Agent, the individual must be a Director/Member/Partner of the Firm, pursuant to the Architecture Act that 2/3rds of the Board members are licensed design professionals in a U.S. jurisdiction.
  • A list of the current Board of Directors/Members/Partners with their applicable professional license numbers.

Individual Licenses

Illinois Individual Engineering Licenses

Illinois Engineer Intern License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Engineer Intern enrollment - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$20

Notes:

Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Illinois Professional Engineer License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

The licensee may provide, at his or her sole discretion, an original signature in the licensee's handwriting, a scanned copy of the document bearing an original signature, or a signature generated by a computer.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Every licensed professional engineer shall have a reproducible seal or facsimile, which may be computer generated, the impression of which shall contain the name, the license number of the professional engineer, and the words "Licensed Professional Engineer of Illinois". A professional engineer shall seal all documents prepared by or under the direct supervision and control of the professional engineer. Any document that bears the name of a professional design firm, rather than bearing the name of the individual licensed professional engineer responsible for the document, shall be deemed an invalid seal. The individual licensee's written signature and date of signing, along with the date of license expiration, shall be placed adjacent to the seal.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for PE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:

Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Application for PE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:
  • Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.
  • Applicants submitting an NCEES Record as supplemental documentation to the application are not required to submit exam or license certifi cations, offi cial transcript(s) or complete the VE-PNG form as long as the information is included in the record.
  • NCEES record holders should request their record be sent to the Illinois PE Board prior to applying for their license as it may take NCEES up to four weeks to transmit the record.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of odd-numbered years.

Illinois Professional Geologist License

Agency:Illinois Board of Licensing 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:

The board generally allows for the use of electronic signatures although no official rules regarding their use have been published.

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The board generally allows the use of digital seals although no official rules regarding their use have been published.

Initial Registration

Form:

Geologist Examination Application

Agency Fee:

$250

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Geologist Endorsement

Agency Fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

By March 31 of odd-numbered years.

Illinois Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveying Examination/License - Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveying Examination/License - Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:
  • An official state certification/verification for proof of active licensure/registration in the current state/territory must be submitted through the NCEES system to the Illinois PLS Board OR via email from the state board to: FPR.DesignUnit@illinois.gov
  • If not submitting an NCEES Record, the Board allows for self-verification of land surveying experience under the applicant’s own license. Complete the VE-LSR form as your own supervisor.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of even-numbered years.

Illinois Professional Land Surveyor-in-Training License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveying Examination/License - Application

Agency Fee:

$70

Renewal Not Required

Not required



A license for a Land Surveyor-in-Training is valid for 10 years and may not be renewed.

Illinois Structural Engineer Intern License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Structural Engineering Examination/License Application

Agency Fee:

$50

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Illinois Structural Engineer License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

The licensee may provide, at his or her sole discretion, an original signature in the licensee's handwriting, a scanned copy of the document bearing an original signature, or a signature generated by a computer.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Every licensed professional engineer shall have a reproducible seal or facsimile, which may be computer generated, the impression of which shall contain the name, the license number of the professional engineer, and the words "Licensed Professional Engineer of Illinois". A professional engineer shall seal all documents prepared by or under the direct supervision and control of the professional engineer. Any document that bears the name of a professional design firm, rather than bearing the name of the individual licensed professional engineer responsible for the document, shall be deemed an invalid seal. The individual licensee's written signature and date of signing, along with the date of license expiration, shall be placed adjacent to the seal.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for SE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:

Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Application for SE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:
  • Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.
  • NCEES record holders should request their record be sent to the Illinois Board prior to applying for their license as it may take NCEES up to four weeks to transmit the record.
  • If not submitting an NCEES Record, the Board allows for self-verification of land surveying experience under the applicant’s own license. Complete the VE-SEG form as your own supervisor

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of even-numbered years.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize: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 February 20, 2023. Complete data last reviewed February 20, 2023.
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