Official State of Rhode Island website

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State of Rhode Island, Design Professionals , State Building Office

Professional Engineers

NCEES IS CURRENTLY SEEKING:

Licensed structural engineers to participate in a professional activities and knowledge study, or PAKS, for the PE Structural exam.  The survey will be open until March 10, 2025 and will take 50-60 minutes to complete.

Licensed control systems engineers to participate in a professional activities and knowledge study, or PAKS, for the PE Control Systems exam. This survey will be open until May 22, 2025 and will take 30-40 minutes to complete.

Click here, PE Control Systems Survey 2025.

NCEES is now accepting Applications for the scholarship program developed in conjunction with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Research Institute. 

Through this initiative, NCEES will provide scholarships to aspiring engineering and surveying students in each state and Washington, D.C. One of the main goals of the program is to help students understand the importance and value of licensure for engineers and surveyors in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

The ACEC Research Institute is uniquely positioned to assist NCEES in developing and executing this nationwide program. The Institute is leveraging its existing online scholarship application platform, review and scoring processes, and awards program.

The program is designed to award a $5,000 scholarship grant to one student from each state and Metro Washington, a total of 51 grants annually. Each recipient would also be invited to attend ACEC’s Fall Conference, which would include conference registration, airfare, and a one-night hotel stay.

We invite you to share this information and application link to any educators and/or students to register and apply.  

https://acecinstitute.awardspring.com/Home/ScholarshipDetails/334880 [publicaffairs.cmail20.com]

NOTICE:  Effective February 1, 2023, the RI PE Board no longer requires examinees to submit an application prior to registering with NCEES and scheduling a PE exam.

You may take the PE Exam PRIOR to obtaining the required experience.  You cannot apply until all of the requirements have been met.  The requirements are outlined below.
FE and PE Exam Candidates must apply directly to NCEES to take the exam. Board approval is not required.

TO BE LICENSED IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, you must meet at a minimum the requirements for one of the following categories:

If you do not meet these requirements, you are not eligible for registration in RI.

CATEGORY 1

  • ABET-EAC Four (4) year Engineering Degree
  • Minimum of Four (4) years’ experience working under the supervision of a registered PE (registered in any US jurisdiction)
  • Passing Score on the FE Exam
  • Passing Score on the PE Exam
  • NCEES Record

CATEGORY 2

  • ABET-EAC 4-year Engineering Degree
  • Minimum of Twelve (12) years’ experience working under the supervision of a registered PE (registered in any US jurisdiction)
  • FE Exam Waived
  • Passing Score on the PE Exam
  • NCEES Record

CATEGORY 3

  • ABET-ETAC 4-year Engineering Technology Degree
  • Minimum of Eight (8) years’ experience working under the supervision of a registered PE (registered in any US jurisdiction)
  • Passing Score on the FE Exam
  • Passing Score on the PE Exam
  • No Waiver for FE permitted
  • NCEES Record

CATEGORY 4

  • Non-Accredited 4-year  Engineering Degree or NCEES Education Equivalency Evaluation
  • Minimum of Six (6) years’ experience working under the supervision of a registered PE (registered in any US jurisdiction)
  • Passing Score on the FE Exam
  • Passing Score on the PE Exam
  • No Waiver for FE permitted
  • NCEES Record

CATEGORY 5

  • Non-accredited 4-year Math, Science or Engineering Technology Degree with Advanced Engineering Degree from an ABET-EAC program
  • Minimum of Six (6) years’ experience working under the supervision of a registered PE (registered in any US jurisdiction)
  • Passing Score on the FE Exam
  • Passing Score on the PE Exam
  • No Waiver for FE permitted
  • NCEES Record

COA REQUIRED — Individual Professional Engineer Registration Not Enough

Important Reminder to Registered Professional Engineers - Each entity that practices or offers to practice engineering in Rhode Island must hold a current Certificate of Authorization ("COA"). This required COA is in addition to the individual's registration stamp. Check to make sure that your firm (whether sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership or LLC) has a current COA. Contact the Board of Examination and Registration of Professional Engineers with any questions.

Design Professionals

State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers

Email: Dbr.designprof@dbr.ri.gov.