50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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Minnesota Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in Minnesota.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in Minnesota 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

Minnesota Engineering Company Licenses

Minnesota Professional Firm Registration

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design
Law:

MN St. § 326.14

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

All Entity Types:

  • Ownership interest in the corporation can be held only by licensed design professionals, other entities authorized to provide at least one of the same professional services, a voting trust if all voting trustees are licensed design professionals, or an employee stock ownership plan where all voting trustees are design professionals.
Notes:
  • This registration is only issued to professional entities and does not apply to standard business entities.
  • Minnesota does not issue a license number. Firm registrations are listed by name only and can be verified by contacting the board by phone or email.

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

Non-professional entities such as business corporations and LLCs are generally exempt from this registration requirement.

Agency Fee:

$0

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Firm Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

7 to 10 business days after successful filing and payment

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Minnesota licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional design activities in the state.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Minnesota licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional design activities in the state.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  2. Obtain a copy of your approved entity formation documents to file with the firm registration application.
  3. File a Professional Firm Registration Application with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  2. Obtain a copy of your approved foreign qualification documents to file with the firm registration application.
  3. File a Professional Firm Registration Application with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of your Articles of Incorporation or your Certificate of Authority (after foreign qualifying)
  • A list of owners and individuals with "governance authority" 
    • Someone who determines important policies for the firm
    • Someone who oversees the firm's overall operations
    • Someone who maintains the general, active management of and ultimate control over matters involving professional judgment

Registration Renewal

Form:

Professional Firm Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Required Attachments:
  • List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses (only required if there were changes)
  • Updated copy of articles of incorporation or certificate of authority (if changes have occurred)

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Notify the board of changes via phone or email.

Reinstatement

Form:

Professional Firm Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$25 for each year expired.

Notes:

Licenses that have been expired for longer than 4 years cannot be reinstated and the licensee should instead apply for a new license.

Individual Licenses

Minnesota Individual Engineering Licenses

Minnesota Geologist-in-Training Certificate

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Fundamentals of Geology

Agency Fee:

$25 application fee + $200 exam fee.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Minnesota Land Surveyor License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Exam Application

Form:

Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) and Minnesota Land Surveying Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$75

Notes:

There are separate fees for the exams.

Initial Registration

Agency Fee:

$120

Notes:

After passing all 3 exams, applicants are notified by mail how to apply for a license.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Land Surveyor-in-Training Certificate

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$25

Notes:

There is a separate fee for the fundamentals exam.

Registration Renewal

Not required



Surveyor-in-Training certificates do not expire.

Minnesota Professional Engineer License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

A stamp, printed signature, or electronically created signature has the same force and effect as an actual signature if it creates an accurate depiction of the licensed or certified professional's actual signature.

MN Stat. § 326.12

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The certification and signature may be electronic, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 325L.02, paragraph (h); facsimile; or digital.

Minnesota Admin Rules 1800.4200

Initial Registration

Form:

Principles & Practice of Engineering Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$75 exam fee + $120 license fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Professional Geologist License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

A stamp, printed signature, or electronically created signature has the same force and effect as an actual signature if it creates an accurate depiction of the licensed or certified professional's actual signature.

MN Stat. § 326.12

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

The certification and signature may be electronic, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 325L.02, paragraph (h); facsimile; or digital.

Minnesota Admin Rules 1800.4200

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Professional Geologist

Agency Fee:

$75 application fee + $250 exam fee + $120 license fee due after approval of application.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Professional Soil Scientist License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Practice of Soil Science Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$75 application fee + $195 exam fee + $120 license fee due after approval of application.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Soil Scientist-in-Training Certificate

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Fundamentals of Soil Science Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$25 application fee + $195 exam fee.

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 October 18, 2021. Complete data last reviewed January 16, 2019.
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