Engineering License Process

Becoming a Professional Engineer:

• By examination - You are an individual who is not licensed in any state.

• By endorsement - You are an individual who is licensed in another state and has never been licensed in Kentucky. 

• By reinstatement - You were licensed in Kentucky and selected Inactive or Retired status or allowed your license to expire.
  

1. Apply for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination.
   • Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Application (Online Application)

2. After receiving approval from the Board, register with NCEES.
   • NCEES registration site.

3. Take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination.
   • Unacceptable behavior at the testing center - Please Read Carefully!
   • Fundamentals of Engineering Examination Specifications. 

4. Apply for the Principles & Practice of Engineering Examination.
   • Application Instructions Please read instructions before completing application!!!
   • Principles & Practice of Engineering Exam Application (PDF - 911KB) Please read instructions before completing application!!!

5. After receiving approval from the Board, register with NCEES.
   • NCEES registration site. 

6. Take the Principles & Practice of Engineering Examination.
   • Unacceptable behavior at the testing center - Please Read Carefully!
   • Principles & Practice of Engineering Examination Specifications. 
   • PE & PS Exam Reference Materials

If you are licensed in any state, territory, or possession of the United States, District of Columbia, or any foreign country, you are eligible for Kentucky licensure provided the requirements and qualifications supporting your license equals or exceeds Kentucky's requirements in effect on the date of issuance.

If your first license was granted after July 1, 1983,  you must have satisfactorily completed the Fundamentals of Engineering and the Principles & Practice of Engineering examinations; have an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree (Kentucky does not accept TAC/ABET technology degrees); and four years of progressive engineering experience. Licensure prior to July 1, 1983 could be achieved under several options, so please contact us with specific questions.

Canadian degrees accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board are acceptable. All other foreign degrees must be evaluated by NCEES Credentials Evaluations ncees.org.

Kentucky requires an NCEES Record as an application for endorsement licensure. Information regarding obtaining a record can be found at ncees.org/records.  Please follow the instructions at that website and contact the NCEES Records Department at 800-250-3196 if you encounter problems. The fee payable to NCEES for establishing the record is $150 if you have been licensed in the profession for one year or more and $100 if for less than one year.  You must request NCEES transmit the record to us; we cannot do this for you.

You must also send a $150 application fee to the Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors, 160 Democrat Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601.  Please make the check or money order for $150 payable to the Kentucky Board of Licensure and include a letter with the payment indicating that it is your endorsement application fee. There is no application to complete.  All fees are non-refundable.  If you prefer to pay this fee with a credit card, please call our office at 502.573.2680.  Be sure to submit the fee timely as we can only view your NCEES Record for 60 days and we will not begin the review process without receipt of the application fee.

Please be aware that your company will also need a Business Entity Permit unless you are practicing in your own name.

Application for reinstatement must be made by individuals who previously held a Kentucky license that has been expired for more than one year, or a licensee who has elected "inactive" or "retired" status and now wants to practice engineering.

Apply for reinstatement according to the instructions below:

1. Fill out the application form.
   • Reinstatement Application (PDF - 911KB)
   • Check the reinstatement box on page one.
   • The Experience Record need only be completed for the period from licensure in Kentucky to the date of this application.
   • Sign and date page four and include a check or money order for $500 made payable to the Kentucky Board of Licensure. All fees are non-refundable.  If you prefer to pay this fee with a credit card, please call our office at 502.573.2680.
   • Mail application and fee to the Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors, 160 Democrat Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601. 

   The applicant must also complete fifteen (15) professional development hours for each calendar year since license expiration, up to a maximum of sixty (60) hours.  See 201 KAR 18:196 for further information regarding continuing education requirements.

2. Complete the Engineering Affidavit.
   • Engineering Affidavit (PDF - 14KB)
   • Indicate whether or not you have practiced engineering since the expiration of your license. If you did practice, please describe such practice on a separate sheet and attach it to the affidavit.

3. Include a cover letter explaining the following:
   
   • Why did you allow your license to expire?
   • Why are you seeking reinstatement?
   • What do you intend to do with your license if reinstated?
   • What evidence of qualification for continued practice do you have as required by 201 KAR18:115?

Checklist for Engineering Reinstatement Application