Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Maryland Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Maryland.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Maryland 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

Maryland Engineering Company Licenses

Maryland Engineering Firm Permit

Agency:Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Board for Professional Engineers
Law:

Maryland Business Occupations and Professions Code § 14-401

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

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Maryland licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.

Professional Corporations:

  • All of the shareholders must be licensed in a professional service offered by the firm.
  • A majority of the directors and all of the officers of a Maryland PC, except the secretary and treasurer, must be licensed in a professional service offered by the firm.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Maryland licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Maryland licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Initial Registration

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

Filing Method:

File an application online then email a managing agent certification form to dloplprofessionalengineers-dllr@maryland.gov.

Agency Fee:

$0

Before you Apply:

Foreign Qualification - YES
Tax Registration - YES (send a screenshot of your good standing with the SDAT)
Certificate of Good Standing - No (send a screenshot of your good standing)
Name: Requires board approval if an assumed name is used
Ownership/ Entity:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Maryland licensed engineer, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.
  • Worker's Compensation number or confirmation of exemption

Qualified Party:

  • Name, Social Security number, and license number of the full-time employee, to be responsible for all engineering activities undertaken by the firm.
  • Must complete the Managing Agent/Responsible Charge Certification Form
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
  2. Obtain proof of the good standing of your business entity by searching for your entity and taking a screenshot of the View Business Details page (to be submitted with the licensee certification in step 4).
  3. Complete the online Firm Permit application with the Board for Professional Engineers.
  4. Email a completed Responsible Member Certification Form to dloplprofessionalengineers-dllr@maryland.gov.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
  2. Obtain proof of the good standing of your Maryland entity by searching for your entity and taking a screenshot of the View Business Details page (to be submitted with the licensee certification in step 4).
  3. Complete the online Firm Permit application with the Board for Professional Engineers.
  4. Email a completed Responsible Member Certification Form to dloplprofessionalengineers-dllr@maryland.gov.
Fact Checked:5/28/20

Registration Renewal

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:Biennially by the registration date.
Fact Checked:4/15/20

Amendment

Form:

Firm Name Change or Managing Agent Change Form and Affidavit of the Managing Agent

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

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

Maryland Geology Firm License

Not required



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

Maryland Land Surveying Firm Permit

Agency:Maryland Board for Professional Land Surveyors
Fact Checked:11/5/19

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

File an application online then email a managing agent certification form to dlopllandsurveyors-dllr@maryland.gov.

Agency Fee:

$135 (of which $35 is non-refundable application fee)

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:

Effective October 1, 2015, however, a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership that operates a business through which engineering is practiced shall be required to hold a permit issued by the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. This is a new requirement, as formerly there was no separate licensing scheme for the practice of engineering through a business entity.

Fact Checked:11/5/19

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By June 30 of odd-numbered years.

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

Individual Licenses

Maryland Individual Engineering Licenses

Maryland Engineer-in-Training License

Agency:Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Board for Professional Engineers
Fact Checked:7/3/18

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$15

Fact Checked:11/2/18

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Maryland Geologist License

Not required



Professional Geoscientist licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.

Maryland Professional Engineer License

Agency:Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Board for Professional Engineers
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

(1) A licensee who prepared or approved documents in accordance with the criteria set forth in this regulation shall place the licensee’s original signature and date of the signature on the documents required to be signed and sealed pursuant to Business Occupations and Professions Article, §14-4A-02, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, the term “original signature” means:

(a) A handwritten signature in permanent ink; or

(b) A digital signature, which satisfies the following requirements:

  1. It contains identification unique to a licensee using it, such as the licensee’s name and license number;
  2. It is under the exclusive control of the licensee using it;
  3. It cannot be repudiated and is independently verifiable; and
  4. It is linked to the document in such a manner that any subsequent modifications to the document after the digital signature was appended to it will result in the document no longer being prepared or approved by the licensee.

COMAR 09.23.03.09

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

See digital signing guidelines.

Fact Checked:5/13/21

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50 exam fee + $76 license fee.

Fact Checked:5/19/21

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$76

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Fact Checked:5/19/21

Maryland Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Maryland Board for Professional Land Surveyors
Fact Checked:6/4/19

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensure by Examination

Agency Fee:

$76

Fact Checked:6/3/19

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$76

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Fact Checked:6/3/19

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 24, 2021. Complete data last reviewed July 03, 2018.
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