50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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New York Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in New York.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in New York 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

New York Engineering Company Licenses

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Engineering Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering
Law:

NY EDN Law § 7210

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

Professional Corporations:

  • For domestic PCs, all of the shareholders, officers, and directors must be engineers licensed in New York.
  • For foreign PCs, all of the members and managers must be engineers licensed in New York.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • For domestic PLLCs, all of the members and managers must be engineers licensed in New York.
  • For foreign PLLCs, all of the members and managers must be engineers licensed in New York.

Design Professional Corporations:

  • Greater than 75% of the outstanding shares of stock of the DPC must be owned by design professionals
  • Greater than 75% of the directors must be design professionals
  • Greater than 75% of the of the officers must be design professionals
  • The president, the chairperson of the board of directors and the chief executive officer or officers must be design professionals
  • An ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), either in part or in its entirety, may not constitute part of the greater than 75% owned by design professionals

Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • All of the partners must be engineers licensed in New York.

Limited Partnerships:

  • All of the partners must be engineers licensed in New York.
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

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

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$125

Turnaround:

At least 12 weeks. Applicants will be notified and certificate sent via mail.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Entities:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Entities:

  • Ensure that your New York entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process).
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents, a contact information form, and the required fee with the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the entity formation documents and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved entity formation documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to form your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity formation document and the required fee to the Education Department.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents; a contact information form; entity formation documents from home state; an affidavit listing all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof of licensure for all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof that at least one shareholder, director, officer, or member or manager of the entity is licensed in New York; and the required fee to the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the document and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved foreign qualification documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to foreign qualify your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity qualification document from the Department of State and the required fee to the Education Department.

Registration Renewal

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

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially by the date of issuance.

Penalties:

Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

Amendment

Form:

Address or Name Change form

Filing Method:

Email letter to opcorp@nysed.gov for processing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Notes:

Notify the board in writing with any changes.

Before you Apply:
  • A letter on company letterhead must be submitted to update the members/officers/directors/Responsible-in-Charge needs to be updated
    • The letter must include the following information and be signed by an officer:
      • First and Last Name of Person being added
      • Home Address
      • License Number
      • Date Joined/Appointed.If a person is being removed, the same information is needed (Date Joined/Appointed is changed to Date Removed).

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Geology Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Geology
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$125

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially

Penalties:

Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Land Surveying Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Land Surveying
Law:

Licensing Statute – N.Y. Education Law, Article 145, Engineering et. seq. (“Ed. Law”)

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Design Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Ownership Requirements:
  • Professional Corporations:
    • For domestic PCs, all of the shareholders, officers, and directors must be land surveyors licensed in New York.
    • For foreign PCs, at least one of the shareholders must be a New York licensed land surveyor and all of the shareholders, officers, and directors must be land surveyors  licensed in any state.
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies:
    • For domestic PLLCs, all of the members and managers must be land surveyors  licensed in New York.
    • For foreign PLLCs, at least one of the members or managers must be a New York licensed land surveyor and all of the members and managers must be land surveyors  licensed in any state.
  • Design Professional Corporations:
    • Greater than 75% of the outstanding shares of stock of the DPC must be owned by design professionals
    • Greater than 75% of the directors must be design professionals
    • Greater than 75% of the of the officers must be design professionals
    • The president, the chairperson of the board of directors and the chief executive officer or officers must be design professionals
    • An ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), either in part or in its entirety, may not constitute part of the greater than 75% owned by design professionals
  • Limited Liability Partnerships:
    • All of the partners must be land surveyors  licensed in New York.
  • Limited Partnerships:
    • All of the partners must be land surveyors  licensed in New York
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$125

Turnaround:

At least 12 weeks. Applicants will be notified and certificate sent via mail.

Notes:
  • All shareholders, directors, and officers must be licensed surveyors. Foreign entities must have at least one New York licensed surveyor.
  • Notify the Education Department within 30 days of a change of address or name.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents, a contact information form, and the required fee with the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the entity formation documents and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved entity formation documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to form your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity formation document and the required fee to the Education Department.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents; a contact information form; entity formation documents from home state; an affidavit listing all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof of licensure for all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof that at least one shareholder, director, officer, or member or manager of the entity is licensed in New York; and the required fee to the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the document and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved foreign qualification documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to foreign qualify your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity qualification document from the Department of State and the required fee to the Education Department

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Agency Fee:

$75. Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

Due:

Triennially

Individual Licenses

New York Individual Engineering Licenses

New York Intern Engineer Certificate

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 1IE: Application for Intern Engineer Certificate

Agency Fee:

$70

Required Attachments:

or

  • Your New York State school has submitted your education utilizing a Form 20F. You need to check with your New York State school to verify if they utilize and have submitted a Form 20F.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



New York Land Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Land Surveying
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$70

Renewal Not Required

Not required



New York Land Surveyor License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Land Surveying
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$377

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Online Form 1 and Form 3 Verification of Out-of-State Licensure

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$377

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$287

Due:

Triennially by the end of the licensee's month of birth.

New York Professional Engineer License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

New York State allows the use of an electronic signature with the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand. An electronic signature is an electronically generated identifier that is unique to the person using it. The Electronic Signature and Records Act (ESRA) defines what constitutes an electronic signature in New York State and describes its specific uses and limitations.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Section 7209 of Article 145 of the State Education Law requires every professional engineer to have a seal. It does not specify the type of seal to be used, with an embossing seal, rubber stamp or electronic version all being acceptable to the Department and the State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$377

Reciprocal Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$377

Notes:

You must submit full documentation of compliance with all other New York State licensure requirements including professional education and satisfactory professional experience, among other requirements, as part of your application for licensure by endorsement. New York State does not have a reciprocity/comity agreement with any jurisdiction; if you are applying with an NCEES Record, you would need to submit Form1 and request NCEES to have your current NCEES Record transmitted to the board for review.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$287

Due:

Triennially by the end of the licensee's month of birth.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

New York Professional Geologist License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Geology
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

New York State allows the use of an electronic signature with the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand. An electronic signature is an electronically generated identifier that is unique to the person using it. The Electronic Signature and Records Act (ESRA) defines what constitutes an electronic signature in New York State and describes its specific uses and limitations.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Section 7209 of Article 145 of the State Education Law requires every professional engineer to have a seal. It does not specify the type of seal to be used, with an embossing seal, rubber stamp or electronic version all being acceptable to the Department and the State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$430

Reciprocal Registration

Form:
  • Form 1 and $430 fee
  • Form 2 – send a form 2 to each post-secondary educational institution that has granted you a degree. Ask them to complete the form and send it directly to NYSED at the address on the bottom of the form. Please also request they send an official transcript for any degrees you wish to submit for evaluation. Please be sure to pay any fees for the transcript required by the educational institution.
  • Form 3 – Please send a form 3 to the jurisdiction that is your primary place of practice. If this jurisdiction does not license geologists, then send the form to the jurisdiction of your original licensure. In addition please send this form to the jurisdiction(s) where you took the licensure exams or to ASBOG and request they verify that you took and passed the examination(s) listed. They need to return the form 3 directly to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form.
  • Form 4 – Please list each endorser to whom you will send a request for endorsement of your work experience
  • Form 4A – Please describe your work experience in detail and then send to your endorser. The endorser is to read, complete, sign and date the endorsement form and send it directly back to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form. This form must be submitted by the endorser. It will not be accepted if submitted by the applicant. Note: A separate form 4A must be submitted for each endorser you list on Form 4.
Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$430

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially

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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