50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Montana Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Montana.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Montana 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

Montana Engineering Company Licenses

Montana Certificate of Authorization

Agency:Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Law:

MT Code Ann. § 37-67-328

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional 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 Montana licensed individual, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for the firm's practice of engineering in Montana.

Professional Corporations:

  • At least 1/2 of the directors and officers, excluding the secretary and treasurer, must be licensed in a professional service performed by the firm.
  • All shareholders must be licensed individuals or similarly qualified entities.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Montana licensed individual, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for the firm's practice of engineering in Montana.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least 1/2 of the managers must be licensed in a professional service performed by the firm.
  • All members must be licensed individuals or similarly qualified entities.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Montana licensed individual, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for the firm's practice of engineering in Montana.

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Authorization Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

10-14 business days

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify a Montana licensed engineer to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's engineering practice for each office location in Montana.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Ensure that your Montana entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify a Montana licensed engineer to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's engineering practice for each office location in Montana.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents online with the Montana Secretary of State.
  2. Submit a Certificate of Authorization Application and proof of registration with the Secretary of State to the Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents online with the Montana Secretary of State.
  2. Submit a Certificate of Authorization Application and proof of registration with the Secretary of State to the Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Certificate of Authority Renewal

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Annually by October 1.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Required Attachments:
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
  • Disclosure of disciplinary actions taken against the firm (if applicable)

Amendment

Form:

Change of Engineer and or Land Surveyor in Responsible Charge

Filing Method:

Email written changes to dlibsdpels@mt.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of the effective date of the change.

Montana Geology Firm License

Not required



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

Individual Licenses

Montana Individual Engineering Licenses

Montana Engineer Intern Certification

Agency:Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Engineer Intern Certificate Application

Agency Fee:

$25

Registration Renewal

Form:

Engineer Intern Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Biennially by June 30. Licenses issued in odd-numbered years renew during odd-numbered years and licenses issued during even-numbered years renew during even-numbered years.

Montana Geologist License

Not required



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

Montana Land Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Land Surveyor Intern Application

Agency Fee:

$25

Registration Renewal

Form:

EI and LSI Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Biennially by June 30. Licenses issued in odd-numbered years renew during odd-numbered years and licenses issued during even-numbered years renew during even-numbered years.

Montana Professional Engineer License

Agency:Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?No
Digital Signature Guidelines:

(5) The title page of all plans and documents filed with public authorities must bear the seal and original signature of the licensee in responsible charge.

Montana Admin Rules Rule 24.183.511

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

(1) Individuals licensed as a Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor, or Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor may obtain a seal in the form of an embossing or rubber stamp or digital seal to be used for purposes of sealing printed drawings, specifications, and other documents prepared by or under the supervision of the licensee.

(2) A licensee's seal must contain the licensee's name, license number (such as #####PE, #####LS, or #####ES), and the applicable legend "Professional Engineer," "Professional Land Surveyor," or "Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor."

(3) Seals of the following commercial designated sizes and types are authorized: (a) 1 5/8" pocket seal; (b) 2" desk seal; and (c) 2" rubber stamp seal. (d) A digital seal may be reduced in size to one-half of the size of the original seal.

(4) The seal, digital seal, and the signature must be of sufficient print quality to legibly reproduce on all copies or prints of final original drawings to which they are applied.

(5) The title page of all plans and documents filed with public authorities must bear the seal and original signature of the licensee in responsible charge.

(6) Licensees may use a digital seal for stamping plans, specifications, survey documents, and reports.

Montana Admin Rules Rule 24.183.511

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Engineer Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Engineer by Comity Applicants Submitting an NCEES Record

Instructions:

Once you have completed the required fields and answered the required questions, you can skip the optional ASI pages of the application and proceed directly to payment of fees. This will open your application and get it before a processing specialist more quickly. You then can go back at your leisure to upload the Board's experience documents (which are required, even with the NCEES Record) and the Board's Laws and Rules Questionnaire, after you've completed them. If you're still unsure about this, open the "Contact Us" Quick Link at the right and e-mail the Board office.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Before you Apply:
  • Licensure or registration to engage in the practice of engineering in another jurisdiction 
  • Passage of the Principles & Practices of Engineering (PE) exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) 
  • Board-approved engineering education (separate pathways for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees)
  • For Bachelor’s and Master’s degree holders, passage of NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and certification as Engineer Intern (also known as “Engineer-in-Training” or “EIT” in many states.) This is not required of Ph.D. degree applicants 
  • Engineering experience (separate requirements based on each educational degree)
  • 5 references, 3 of which must be from U.S.-licensed Professional Engineers with knowledge of applicant’s work
  • Except for third party character references, hand-written documents from the applicant will not be accepted.
  • Practicing or offering to provide services as a professional engineer in Montana in any manner without an active Montana Professional Engineer license is considered unprofessional conduct.
  • The board recognizes degrees issued by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited institutions by rule
  • Applicants for PE licensure in Montana must meet one of the following set of requirements. "By comity" applicants must also demonstrate prior passage of the NCEES PE exam.
    • A Baccalaureate (B.S.) degree in a board-approved engineering or engineering technology program, passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination, certification as an engineer intern (or engineer-intraining), a specific record of at least four years of progressive experience under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer, and five character references, three of which must be from licensed Professional Engineers familiar with your work.
    • A Master’s (M.S.) degree in a board-approved engineering or engineering technology program, passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination, certification as an engineer intern (EI) or engineer-in-training, a specific record of at least four years of progressive experience under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer, and five character references, three of which must be from licensed Professional Engineers familiar with your work.
    • A Baccalaureate degree in an engineering, engineering technology, or other science curriculum not approved by
      the Board, passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, certification as an Engineer Intern (or
      Engineer-in-Training), and a specific record of 20 years of engineering experience, with at least 10 years under
      the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer, and five character references, three of which must be from
      licensed Professional Engineers familiar with your work.
    • A Doctoral degree in engineering from an institution with an engineering program approved by the board, passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, certification as an Engineer Intern (or Engineer-inTraining), a specific record of 2 years of progressive engineering experience acceptable to the Board, and 5 character references, 3 of which must be from licensed Professional Engineers familiar with your work.
    •  A Doctoral degree in engineering from an institution with an engineering program approved by the board, a specific record of four years of progressive engineering experience acceptable to the Board, and five character references, three of which must be from licensed Professional Engineers familiar with your work.
Required Attachments:
  • Licensure or registration to engage in the practice of engineering in another jurisdiction 
  • Passage of the Principles & Practices of Engineering (PE) exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) 
  • Board-approved engineering education (separate pathways for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees)
  • For Bachelor’s and Master’s degree holders, passage of NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and certification as Engineer Intern (also known as “Engineer-in-Training” or “EIT” in many states.) This is not required of Ph.D. degree applicants 
  • Engineering experience (separate requirements based on each educational degree)
  • 5 references, 3 of which must be from U.S.-licensed Professional Engineers with knowledge of applicant’s work
  • The Board’s PE Laws and Rules questionnaire
  • Contact NCEES to have your NCEES Record transmitted directly to the board office

Registration Renewal

Form:

Active Professional Engineer Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Montana Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveyor Application

Agency Fee:

$100 application fee + $100 exam fee.

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Form:

Active Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Learn about engineering licensing in other states:

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.