50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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New York Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in New York.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in New York 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

New York Engineering Company Licenses

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Engineering Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology
Law:

NY EDN Law § 7210

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Design Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Partnerships
Ownership Requirements:

Professional Corporations:

  • For domestic PCs, all of the shareholders, officers, and directors must be engineers licensed in New York.
  • For foreign PCs, at least one of the shareholders must be a New York licensed engineer and all of the shareholders, officers, and directors must be engineers licensed in any state.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • For domestic PLLCs, all of the members and managers must be engineers licensed in New York.
  • For foreign PLLCs, at least one of the members or managers must be a New York licensed engineer and all of the members and managers must be engineers licensed in any state.

Design Professional Corporations:

  • Greater than 75% of the outstanding shares of stock of the DPC must be owned by design professionals
  • Greater than 75% of the directors must be design professionals
  • Greater than 75% of the of the officers must be design professionals
  • The president, the chairperson of the board of directors and the chief executive officer or officers must be design professionals
  • An ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), either in part or in its entirety, may not constitute part of the greater than 75% owned by design professionals

Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • All of the partners must be engineers licensed in New York.

Limited Partnerships:

  • All of the partners must be engineers licensed in New York.

Initial Registration

This section applies to engineering firms that are applying for a license in New York for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$125

Turnaround:

At least 12 weeks. Applicants will be notified and certificate sent via mail.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Entities:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Entities:

  • Ensure that your New York entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process).
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents, a contact information form, and the required fee with the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the entity formation documents and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved entity formation documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to form your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity formation document and the required fee to the Education Department.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents; a contact information form; entity formation documents from home state; an affidavit listing all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof of licensure for all shareholders, directors, officers, or members and managers of the entity; proof that at least one shareholder, director, officer, or member or manager of the entity is licensed in New York; and the required fee to the Professional Corporations Unit.
  2. The Professional Corporations Unit will approve the document and send a Certificate of Authority back to the applicant.
  3. File the approved foreign qualification documents and the Certificate of Authority with the Department of State to foreign qualify your business entity.
  4. Submit a certified copy of the entity qualification document from the Department of State and the required fee to the Education Department.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to engineering firms that are already licensed in New York and need to renew their license.

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially by the date of issuance.

Penalties:

Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Notes:

Notify the board in writing with any changes.

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Geology Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$125

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially

Penalties:

Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

New York Certificate of Authorization to Provide Land Surveying Services

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology
Law:

Licensing Statute – N.Y. Education Law, Article 145, Engineering et. seq. (“Ed. Law”)

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Certificate of Authorization

Agency Fee:

$125

Notes:
  • All shareholders, directors, and officers must be licensed surveyors. Foreign entities must have at least one New York licensed surveyor.
  • Notify the Education Department within 30 days of a change of address or name.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal applications are sent in the mail.

Agency Fee:

$75. Late fees are $10 per month of uncertified practice.

Due:

Triennially

Individual Licenses

New York Individual Engineering Licenses

New York Intern Engineer Certificate

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 1IE: Application for Intern Engineer Certificate

Agency Fee:

$70

Renewal Not Required

Not required



New York Land Surveyor Intern Certification

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 1 - Application for Licensure

Agency Fee:

$70

Renewal Not Required

Not required



New York Land Surveyor License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 1 - Application for Licensure

Agency Fee:

$377

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$287

Due:

Triennially by the end of the licensee's month of birth.

New York Professional Engineer License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

New York State allows the use of an electronic signature with the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand. An electronic signature is an electronically generated identifier that is unique to the person using it. The Electronic Signature and Records Act (ESRA) defines what constitutes an electronic signature in New York State and describes its specific uses and limitations.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Section 7209 of Article 145 of the State Education Law requires every professional engineer to have a seal. It does not specify the type of seal to be used, with an embossing seal, rubber stamp or electronic version all being acceptable to the Department and the State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 1: Application for Licensure and First Registration

Agency Fee:

$377

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$287

Due:

Triennially by the end of the licensee's month of birth.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

New York Professional Geologist License

Agency:New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying, and Geology
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

New York State allows the use of an electronic signature with the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand. An electronic signature is an electronically generated identifier that is unique to the person using it. The Electronic Signature and Records Act (ESRA) defines what constitutes an electronic signature in New York State and describes its specific uses and limitations.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Section 7209 of Article 145 of the State Education Law requires every professional engineer to have a seal. It does not specify the type of seal to be used, with an embossing seal, rubber stamp or electronic version all being acceptable to the Department and the State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying.

Guideline 3: Professional Seals and Signatures

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensure

Agency Fee:

$70 exam fee + $430 license fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Triennially

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 July 03, 2018.
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