50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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South Carolina Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in South Carolina.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in South Carolina 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

South Carolina Engineering Company Licenses

South Carolina Certification of Authorization (Engineering and/or Land Surveying)

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Law:

S.C. Code § 40-22-250

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

Business Corporations:

  • At least one or more of the corporate officers, one or more of the principal owners, or a full-time licensed employee must be designated as being responsible for the professional services performed by the firm.
  • If the company is a Business Corporation, Partnership, Professional Corporation, Limited Liability Company or Limited Liability Partnership, a Tax ID Number must be furnished or application cannot be processed

Professional Corporations:

  • All shareholders, at least 1/2 of the directors, and all of the officers (excluding the secretary and treasurer) must be licensed a in professional service performed by the firm.
  • If the company is a Business Corporation, Partnership, Professional Corporation, Limited Liability Company or Limited Liability Partnership, a Tax ID Number must be furnished or application cannot be processed

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one or more of the principal owners or a full-time licensed employee must be designated as being responsible for the professional services performed by the firm.
  • If the company is a Business Corporation, Partnership, Professional Corporation, Limited Liability Company or Limited Liability Partnership, a Tax ID Number must be furnished or application cannot be processed

Partnerships:

  • At least one or more of the principal owners or a full-time licensed employee must be designated as being responsible for the professional services performed by the firm.
  • If the company is a Business Corporation, Partnership, Professional Corporation, Limited Liability Company or Limited Liability Partnership, a Tax ID Number must be furnished or application cannot be processed
Notes:

If you are an out-of-state corporation, the Certificate of Authorization (COA) application must be accompanied by the Certificate of Authority issued by the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Authorization Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$115

Turnaround:

Temporary certification granted immediately upon receipt by mail, approved or nullified fully pending board review.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:
  • Qualified Individual
    • A professional engineer must supervise the engineering activities of each branch office and a professional surveyor must supervise the surveying activities of each branch office. The resident professional engineer or resident professional surveyor is considered in residence in only one place of business at a given time.
    • The resident professional engineer spends a majority of each normal workday in the principal or branch office.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a South Carolina licensed engineer and/or surveyor, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in South Carolina.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a South Carolina licensed engineer and/or surveyor, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in South Carolina.
  • 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 30 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State - Division of Business Filings.
  2. File a Certificate of Authorization Application with the South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State - Division of Business Filings.
  2. File a Certificate of Authorization Application and the secretary of state issued foreign qualification certificate with the South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.
Required Attachments:
  • Give business name, complete mailing address, email, telephone and fax.
  • List only branch offices that will offer engineering and/or surveying services in South Carolina
  • Furnish the name of the individual who is a SC PE or LS who will be the “Engineer or Surveyor in Responsible Charge”. Indicate location of the office where the individual is in charge, and the individual’s SC PE or LS License Number.
  • List the state and date of the firm’s original incorporation. Out-of-state or foreign entities must have a certificate of authority from the South Carolina Secretary of State, a copy of which must be attached to this COA application form. South Carolina entities must have a certificate of existence or certificate of good standing from the South Carolina Secretary of State, a copy of which must be attached to this COA application form
  • Complete the Affidavit Section and have it signed by an officer of the firm.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By March 31 of odd-numbered years.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Required Attachments:
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
  • List of branch office locations

Amendment

Form:

Amended Certificate of Authorization Application

Filing Method:

The board requests amendments be email from the company and rejects emails from Harbor Compliance.  They may accept if we copy the client on the email.

Agency Fee:

$0

Reinstatement

Form:

COA Reinstatement Application

Agency Fee:

$115

Individual Licenses

South Carolina Individual Engineering Licenses

South Carolina Engineer-in-Training Certification

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Instructions:

Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certification Instructions

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



South Carolina Geologist in Training Registration

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Registered Professional Geologist in Training

Instructions:

Geologist-in-Training Application Requirements and Instructions

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$75

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By June 30 of odd-numbered years.

South Carolina Professional Engineer License

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

Electronic signatures are acceptable between parties who agree to conduct transactions by electronic means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Rubber stamps or computer generated seals, identical in size, design and content with the approved impression seals may be used by the registrant where the use of an impression seal is not specifically required.

South Carolina Code of Regulations Ch. 49-207

Initial Registration

Form:

PE Application by Exam

Instructions:

PE Exam Application Instructions

Agency Fee:

$65

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

PE Application by Comity

Instructions:

PE Application by Comity

Agency Fee:

$75

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$70 (must be submitted or postmarked on or before June 30th)

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Penalties:
  • Renewals submitted or postmarked between August 1st and August 31st will have a late fee of $14
  • Renewals submitted or postmarked between September 1st and September 30th will have a late fee of $28

South Carolina Professional Geologist Registration

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for 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:

See digital sealing guidelines.

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

An electronic seal and signature are permitted to be used in lieu of an original seal and signature when the following criteria, and all other requirements of this section, are met:

  1. it is a unique identification of the professional;
  2. it is verifiable;
  3. it is under the professional’s direct and sole control;
  4. it is linked to a document in such a manner that changes are readily determined and visually displayed if any data contained in the document file was changed subsequent to the electronic seal and signature having been affixed to the document; and
  5. changes to the document after affixing the electronic seal and signature shall cause the electronic seal and signature to be removed or altered in such a way as to invalidate the electronic seal and signature;
  6. once applied, the document shall be available in a view only format if the document is to be electronically transmitted;
  7. the graphic image shall be readily available and produced in a manner consistent with Reg. 131–11.A and shall contain the same words and shall have substantially the same graphic appearance and size as required when the image of the electronically transmitted document is viewed at the same time as the document in its original form;
  8. the graphic display of the seal shall be in compliance with state law; and
  9. the electronic seal and signature must be acceptable to the receiving entity.

South Carolina Code of Regulations Ch. 131-11

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Registered Professional Geologist

Agency Fee:

$200 ($150 if submitted after April 1 of even-numbered years.)

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Geologist Reciprocity or Endorsement Application

Agency Fee:

$200 ($150 if submitted after April 1 of even-numbered years.)

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$300

Due:

By June 30 of odd-numbered years.

South Carolina Professional Surveyor License

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

LS Application Tier A by Exam

Instructions:

LS Application Instructions by Exam

Agency Fee:

$65

Notarize:Required

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

LS Application Tier A by Comity

Instructions:

LS Application Instructions by Comity

Agency Fee:

$75

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$70 (must be submitted or postmarked on or before June 30th)

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Penalties:
  • Renewals submitted or postmarked between August 1st and August 31st will have a late fee of $14
  • Renewals submitted or postmarked between September 1st and September 30th will have a late fee of $28

South Carolina Surveyor-in-Training Certification

Agency:South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) Certification

Agency Fee:

$0

Notarize:Required

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 February 20, 2023. Complete data last reviewed February 20, 2023.
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