Structural Engineering in Utah Guide
Learn all the requirements and processes of structural engineering in Utah. Discover how Harbor Compliance helps engineering firms manage licenses.
Structural Engineering in Utah—Individual and Firm Licensing
If you're looking to analyze the safety of any construction project in Utah, you'll need to meet certain criteria and get licensed first. From education to license requirements, there are multiple conditions that professionals and firms must meet to legally sign new projects.
To save you time looking for each step, we've covered all you need to know about structural engineering in Utah and explained how you can obtain and maintain the necessary license. This guide will show you how to secure and manage engineering firm licenses with the help of Harbor Compliance.
What Is a Structural Engineer?
By definition, structural engineers are professionals who review all the materials used in creating a house, building, or bridge. They ensure that every establishment can withstand different levels of stress and environmental factors. Apart from analyzing new projects, structural engineers also work to maintain/improve the strength of an existing property.
In either case, structural engineers are responsible for designing construction projects to ensure they can bear enough load from different angles and keep the people inside safe. Engineers must meet all their state regulations to legally practice and be licensed.
When it comes to Utah, structural engineers need to follow four main regulations and laws:
- Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Licensing Act
- Division Utah Administrative Procedures Act Rule
- General Rule of the Division of Professional Licensing
- Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Licensing Act
Structural Engineering in Utah—Licensing Requirements
This section will cover the different requirements for both structural engineer professionals and companies in the state of Utah. Once eligible, engineers can fill out the licensing form and submit it to the DOPL.
Individual License Requirements
Like any other state, Utah has certain restrictions that professionals must comply with in order to be eligible for a structural license:
- Education—Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an EAC/ABET- or CEAB-accredited engineering program. Foreign students must ensure that their degree's curriculum is reviewed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) credentials evaluations.
- Experience—Every candidate should have at least three years of work experience attained after graduation under a licensed structural engineer's supervision.
- Exam—Individuals must appear for and complete the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and 16-hour Structural Engineering (SE) exams.
While it may seem simple, structural engineers in Utah need very specific work hours to be eligible for a license. This primarily boils down to two kinds of job experience:
- Mandatory experience—Lists all areas candidates must have experience in to gain eligibility.
- Optional experience—Lists areas where candidates only need one type of experience to qualify.
Firm License Requirements
Structural engineering firms in Utah don't need a license to operate legally. However, they must ensure that all their activities are supervised by licensed structural engineers. Here's a list of all the types of businesses and their employee licensing requirements:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)—Workers don't need licenses but the firm must only practice in Utah under the observation of a structural licensed engineer.
- Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)—Every single person working for or holding a share in the company requires a structural engineering license.
- Professional Corporation—Every director, stakeholder, manager, and officer must hold a valid structural engineering license.
- Partnership—The partners of such a company don't need to be licensed, but all work must be under the supervision of a licensed structural engineer.
- Business Corporation—Directors and officers do not need a license. However, all engineering activities should be overseen by a licensed structural engineer.
Renewing a Structural Engineering License in Utah
All professional engineering and land surveying licenses in Utah expire after two years. On March 31st of every odd year, individuals must renew their licenses. 60 days before this date, the DOPL in Utah sends out reminder notices to all license holders.
Utah requires all its engineers and land surveyors to complete at least 30 hours of continuous education within this time frame. Here's how to renew a structural engineering license in Utah:
- Ensure they have 30 hours of continuous education.
- Fill out the official structural engineer license renewal form.
- Pay a $74 renewal fee via personal check or money order.
- Pay any surcharges ($30 to $50) if not renewed within the stipulated time frame.
It's important to report any address changes directly on the DOPL online portal to receive timely renewal notices. Failure to do so can result in not receiving notices on renewals or any changes in regulations.
This is why it's crucial for engineers to always stay updated on their current state requirements and for engineering firms to follow and keep track of their employee's licenses. A great way to do so is by partnering with Harbor Compliance and outsourcing the licensing work.
Manage Your Firm's Engineering Licenses With Harbor Compliance
Outsourcing the responsibility of tracking licensing requirements to a commercial provider like Harbor Compliance can save you time, effort, and money, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your work.
We are dedicated to simplifying the complexities of state government paperwork, including entity, licensing, tax registration, and corporate records management for our clients. Our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions are created to help the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals obtain crucial licenses like:
Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance's Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions
Harbor Compliance is the multistate compliance provider of choice. With access to our Software Suite, powered by our proprietary Compliance Core™ algorithm, you can enjoy the following modules:
| Module | Value |
|---|---|
| Entity Manager |
It allows full visibility of your entities and compliance status and helps:
|
| License Manager | This module enables seamless license management, research, and renewal, eliminating the need for spreadsheets to track state requirements. |
| Tax Manager | This module efficiently monitors federal, state, and local tax registrations, and it reduces the time spent gaining insights into key tax account information. |
| Records Manager | It helps you store the organizational documents specific to your type of entity. Records Manager also lets you track ownership and leadership, as well as customize meeting notifications. |
| Requirements Research Engine |
This module enables clients to research licensing requirements for their organizations prior to expanding into new states/markets. It's a searchable window into the proprietary reference database called "LicenseIQTM," which contains detailed information about license requirements, including:
|
The Process of Ordering Harbor Compliance's Service
Here's how to order Harbor Compliance's service today:
- Go to the Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions service page.
- Click Contact Us.
- Fill out the form.
- Hit the Let’s talk button.
We offer three flexible service options, enabling you to define the extent to which you want to delegate your licensing workload:
- Self-managed—This option is designed for individuals who prefer a hands-on approach to their licensing process but require support in navigating changing requirements. You gain access to our proprietary software, which has a vast database with information on over 800 AEC licenses across the U.S.
- Fully managed—With this option, you outsource most of the licensing process, such as researching requirements, document filings, and tracking renewal deadlines, to our team of experts. However, this service option only applies to company licenses.
- Hybrid—With the hybrid option, you benefit from a balanced blend of self-managed and fully managed services. You'll gain access to our portfolio management software and receive guidance and support from our expert team to facilitate your licensing journey.
Additional Services by Harbor Compliance
The following table outlines some of the other services from our vast portfolio:
| Service Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Entity lifecycle management | |
| Registered agent service | |
| Business licensing support | |
| Document filing and retrieval | |
| Beneficial ownership information reporting | |
| Nonprofit formation | |
| Tax services |
Structural Engineering in Utah FAQs
Below, we'll answer a few questions regarding structural engineering in Utah. Explore our Information Center for more information.
Professional engineering is the umbrella term that includes all engineering disciplines, and structural engineering is one of its subdivisions.
Structural engineers can design an establishment's structural plan and ensure that it can withstand reasonable horizontal and vertical loads. Conversely, professional engineers can perform a range of activities, such as evaluating construction plans and consulting clients.
The distinction between professional and structural engineering at the state level is highly variable. Most states, including Utah, only offer a professional engineering license and do not differentiate between disciplines at the licensing level.
No. To practice structural engineering in Utah, you need to obtain a PE and take the structural engineering exam. Other than that, the state of Utah requires licensed engineers to accumulate a total of 30 continuous education hours.
No. Residents based outside of Utah have to either apply online or fill out a physical licensing form. There are different state requirements for out-of-state professionals who apply with an endorsement. These can be found on Utah's DOPL page.
Outsource Your License Management to Harbor Compliance
Keeping track of the changing requirements and processes can be a drag, especially when you're running a company. That's why outsourcing such tasks to professionals is a smart idea.
When you order our range of Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions, we do all the legwork for you and automatically send updates when you need to renew your license. Entrust your licensing needs to a team of experts who will keep you one step ahead of all regulations.
Quickly access your compliance status with our free Harbor Compliance Score™ and identify areas for improvement. Want a better regulation score? Schedule a free software demo with us today!
Need information on engineering license requirements and regulations across the U.S.? Check out the table below:
