Okla. Stat. tit. 59 § 475.12a

Current through Laws 2024, c. 453.

Section 475.12a - [Effective Until 11/1/2024] Licensure or certification as professional engineer

A. Certification or Enrollment as an Engineer Intern. The following shall be considered as minimum evidence that the applicant is qualified for certification as an engineer intern:

1. Graduating from an engineering program of four (4) years or more accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET), or the equivalent, or a related science degree program approved by the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, or an engineering master's degree program from an institution that offers EAC/ABET-accredited programs;

2. Passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination; and

3. Submitting three professional or character references.

B. Licensure as a Professional Engineer. To be eligible for licensure as a professional engineer, an individual shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. Satisfy the education and experience criteria set forth in this section;

2. Pass the applicable examinations set forth in this section; and

3. Submit five references acceptable to the Board, three of which shall be professional engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience.

C. Comity Licensure for a Professional Engineer. The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure by comity as a professional engineer:

1. An individual holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of engineering issued by a proper authority of any state or jurisdiction, based on requirements that do not conflict with the provisions of Section 475.1 et seq. of this title and possessing credentials that are, in the judgment of the Board, of a standard not lower than that specified in the applicable licensure act in effect in Oklahoma at the time such certificate was issued may, upon application, be licensed without further examination except as required to examine the applicant's knowledge of statutes, rules and other requirements unique to this state. If the requirements that were met were of a standard lower than that specified in the applicable licensure act in effect in this state at the time such certificate was issued but, in the judgement of the Board, the standard was a reasonable standard at the time the original license was issued, the individual may, upon application, be considered by the Board according to the provisions in the Board rules; or

2. An individual holding an active Council Record with NCEES whose qualifications as evidenced by the Council Record meet the requirements of Section 475.1 et seq. of this title may, upon application, be licensed without further examination except as required to examine the applicant's knowledge of statutes, rules and other requirements unique to Oklahoma.

D. Initial Licensure as a Professional Engineer. An applicant who presents evidence of meeting the applicable education, examination and experience requirements pursuant to this subsection shall be eligible for licensure as a professional engineer.

1. Education Requirements. An individual seeking licensure as a professional engineer shall possess one or more of the following education qualifications:

a. a bachelor's degree in engineering from an EAC/ABET-accredited program, or the equivalent,

b. a bachelor's degree in a Board-approved related science degree program,

c. a master's degree in engineering from an institution that offers EAC/ABET-accredited programs,

d. a master's degree in engineering from an EAC/M-ABET-accredited program, or

e. an earned doctoral degree in engineering acceptable to the Board.

2. Non-U.S., non-EAC/ABET-accredited degrees which are not approved by the Board may be considered following a degree evaluation by an evaluation service approved by the Board. The maximum equivalency granted for degrees found not to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET degree shall be that of a related science degree. Deficiencies outlined in the degree evaluation may be corrected with further education approved by the Board which may allow the applicant's education to be advanced to an equivalent status. Non-U.S., non-EAC/ABET-accredited degrees approved by the Board may be considered without a degree evaluation. The maximum equivalency granted for these Board-approved degrees shall be that of an equivalent degree.

3. Examination Requirements. An individual seeking licensure as a professional engineer shall take and pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination and the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination as follows:

a. the FE examination may be taken at any time according to NCEES examination policy and procedures, but is recommended to be taken during the student's senior year of college,

b. the PE examination may be taken by a graduate of an approved degree program pursuant to this section, or

c. the Board may waive the FE examination requirement for the issuance of a license if the applicant possesses, at a minimum, fifteen (15) years of progressive experience on engineering projects which indicate to the Board the applicant may be competent to practice engineering. The Board shall evaluate all elements of the application, according to Board rules, to assess waiver requests.

4. Experience Requirements. An individual seeking licensure as a professional engineer shall present evidence of a specific record of progressive engineering experience satisfying one of the following. This experience should be progressive and of a grade and character that indicate to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering:

a. an individual with a bachelor's degree in engineering pursuant to subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of this subsection: four (4) years of experience after the bachelor's degree is conferred,

b. an individual with a bachelor's degree in a Board-approved related science degree program pursuant to subparagraph b of paragraph 1 of this subsection: six (6) years of experience after the bachelor's degree is conferred,

c. an individual with a master's degree in engineering pursuant to subparagraph c or d of paragraph 1 of this subsection: three (3) years of experience after the master's degree is conferred, or

d. an individual with an earned doctoral degree acceptable to the Board: two (2) years of experience after the doctoral degree is conferred.

5. Partial experience credit may be awarded for experience earned prior to conferment of the qualifying degree, at the discretion of the Board, as described in Board rules. In no case shall the experience credit exceed one-half (1/2) of that required for approved qualifying experience. The experience credit shall not be claimed if the applicant is also claiming the experience time as experience credit for a cooperative education program.

6. EAC/ABET-accredited engineering cooperative education programs may be considered as experience credit earned prior to the qualifying degree if the program meets the experience requirement pursuant to this subsection. Otherwise, a maximum of six (6) months experience may be claimed. Experience credit for a cooperative education program shall not be claimed if the applicant also claims the experience time as experience credit earned prior to the degree.

Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 475.12a

Amended by Laws 2019 , c. 363, s. 17, eff. 11/1/2019.

Added by Laws 2017 , c. 259, s. 9, eff. 11/1/2017.

This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.