Engineering License Process

Becoming a Professional Engineer:

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

• By reciprocity - You are an individual who is already licensed in another state.

• 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.
   • Application Instructions
   • Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Application (PDF - 911KB)

2. After receiving approval from the Board, register with ELSES.
   • ELSES 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
   • Principles & Practice of Engineering Exam Application (PDF - 911KB)

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

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

If you are licensed in another State or U.S. territory, 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 during or after 1972, you must have satisfactorily completed 16 hours of written NCEES examinations. If your first license was granted after July 1, 1983, in addition to the 16 hours of written examinations you must also have an accredited (EAC/ABET) engineering degree; Kentucky does not accept TAC/ABET technology degrees. Licensure prior to 1972 could be achieved under several methods. If you have specific questions about licensure prior to 1972, feel free to contact us.

Foreign degrees earned at institutions included in the Washington Accord are considered substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET degree and are acceptable. Institutions and degree programs included in the Washington Accord may be found at www.abet.org  All other foreign degrees must be evaluated by Center for Professional Engineering Education Services www.cpees.org.

Kentucky requires an NCEES Record as an application for reciprocal licensure. Information regarding obtaining a record can be found at http://www.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 the record from NCEES, 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 State Treasurer and include a letter with the payment indicating that it is your reciprocity 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.

Once we have the $150 payment from you, and the record from NCEES, your application for reciprocal licensure will be processed in two to three business days.

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 State Treasurer. All fees are non-refundable.  If you prefer to pay this fee with a credit card, please call our office.
     

2. Complete the Affidavit Regarding Engineering or Land Surveying.
   • Engineering Affidavit (PDF - 10KB)
   • 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?