G.S. 89C-13

§ 89C-13. General requirements for licensure.

(a) Engineer Intern. - To be certified as an engineer intern, an applicant shall (i) pass the fundamentals of engineering examination and make application to the Board, (ii) be of good character and reputation, (iii) submit three character references to the Board, one of whom is a professional engineer, (iv) comply with the requirements of this Chapter, and (v) meet one of the following requirements:

(1) Education. - Be a graduate of an EAC/ABET accredited engineering curriculum or of a related science curriculum which has been approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing.

(2) Education and experience. - Be a graduate of an engineering curriculum or related science curriculum of four years or more, other than curriculums approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing in subdivision (1) of this subsection, and possess engineering experience satisfactory to the Board with a specific record of four or more years of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board.

(a1) Engineer Applicant. - To be licensed as a professional engineer, an applicant (i) shall be of good character and reputation, (ii) submit five character references to the Board, three of whom are professional engineers or individuals acceptable to the Board with personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience, (iii) comply with the requirements of this Chapter, and (iv) meet the requirements related to education, examination, and experience set forth in this subsection. An applicant seeking licensure as a professional engineer shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Education requirement. - Possess one or more of the following educational qualifications:

a. A bachelor's degree in engineering from an EAC/ABET accredited program or in a related science curriculum which has been approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing.

b. A bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum or related science curriculum of four years or more, other than curriculums approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision.

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

d. An earned doctoral degree in engineering from an institution that offers EAC/ABET accredited programs and in which the degree requirements are approved by the Board.

(2) Examination requirements. - Take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. Take and pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination as provided by G.S. 89C-15, after having met the education requirement set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3) Experience requirement. - Present evidence satisfactory to the Board of a specific record of progressive engineering experience that is of a grade and character that indicates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice engineering. The Board may adopt rules to specify the years of experience required based on educational attainment, provided the experience requirement for an applicant who qualifies under sub-subdivision (1)a. of this subsection shall be no less than four years and for an applicant who qualifies under sub-subdivision (1)b. of this subsection, no less than eight years.

For purposes of this subsection, the term "EAC/ABET" means the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

(a2) Licensure by Comity or Endorsement. - A person holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of engineering, on the basis of comparable qualifications, issued to the person by a proper authority of a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of any foreign country possessing credentials that, based on verifiable evidence, in the opinion of the Board, of a standard not lower than that in effect in this State at the time the certificate was issued, may upon application, be licensed without further examination, except as required to examine the applicant's knowledge of laws, rules, and requirements unique to North Carolina.

(a3) Long-Established Practice. - A person with a specific record of 20 years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering shall be admitted to the Principles and Practice of Engineering examination. Upon passing the examination, the person shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice professional engineering in this State, provided the person is otherwise qualified.

(a4) Exceptions. - The following persons may apply for and be granted waiver of the fundamentals of engineering examination and admission to the principles and practice of engineering examination:

(1) A full-time engineering faculty member who teaches in an approved engineering program offering a four-year or more degree approved by the Board. The faculty member applicant shall document that the degree meets the Board's requirements.

(2) A person possessing an earned doctoral degree in engineering from an institution in which the same discipline undergraduate engineering program has been accredited by EAC/ABET. The doctoral degree applicant shall document that the degree meets the Board's requirements.

(b) Land Surveyor Applicant. - The evaluation of a land surveyor applicant's qualifications shall involve a consideration of the applicant's education, technical, and land surveying experience, exhibits of land surveying projects with which the applicant has been associated, and recommendations by references. The land surveyor applicant's qualifications may be reviewed at an interview if the Board determines it necessary. Educational credit for institute courses, correspondence courses, or other courses shall be determined by the Board.

The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional land surveyor:

(1) Repealed by Session Laws 2022-1, s. 1(b), effective July 1, 2022, and applicable to applications for licensure on or after that date.

(1a) To be licensed as a professional land surveyor, an applicant shall (i) be of good character and reputation, (ii) submit five character references to the Board, three of whom are professional land surveyors or individuals acceptable to the Board, with personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience, (iii) comply with the requirements of this Chapter, and (iv) meet one of the following requirements:

a. Rightful possession of a bachelor of science degree in surveying or other equivalent curricula, all approved by the Board and a record satisfactory to the Board of two years or more of progressive practical experience under a practicing professional land surveyor. Upon passing the first examination (Fundamentals of Land Surveying) and the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying) and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, an applicant who successfully completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.

b. Rightful possession of an associate degree in surveying technology approved by the Board and a record satisfactory to the Board of five years or more of progressive practical experience under a practicing professional land surveyor. Upon passing the first examination (Fundamentals of Land Surveying) and the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying) and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, an applicant who successfully completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.

c. Repealed by Session Laws 1998-118, s. 11.

d. Graduation from a high school or the completion of a high school equivalency certificate and a record satisfactory to the Board of nine years or more of progressive practical experience under a practicing professional land surveyor. Upon passing the first examination (Fundamentals of Land Surveying) and the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying) and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, an applicant who successfully completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.

d1. Graduation from a high school or the completion of a high school equivalency certificate, completion of a Land Surveyor Apprenticeship, and a record satisfactory to the Board of seven years or more of progressive practical experience under a practicing professional land surveyor. Upon passing the first examination (Fundamentals of Land Surveying) and the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying) and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, an applicant who successfully completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.

e. Repealed by Session Laws 1985 (Regular Session, 1986), c. 977, s. 7.

f. Licensure by Comity or Endorsement. - A person holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of land surveying issued on comparable qualifications from a state, territory, or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, possessing credentials that, based on verifiable evidence, in the opinion of the Board, of a standard not lower than that in effect in this State at the time the certificate was issued, may upon application, be licensed without further examination, except to take any examinations as the Board requires to determine the applicant's qualifications, but in any event, the applicant shall be required to pass an examination which shall include questions on laws, procedures, and practices pertaining to the practice of land surveying in North Carolina.

g. A licensed professional engineer who can satisfactorily demonstrate to the Board that the professional engineer's formal academic training in acquiring a degree and field experience in engineering includes land surveying, to the extent necessary to reasonably qualify the applicant in the practice of land surveying, may apply for and may be granted permission to take the principles and practice of land surveying examination and the fundamentals of land surveying examination. Upon satisfactorily passing the examinations, the applicant shall be granted a license to practice land surveying in the State of North Carolina.

h. Professional Engineers in Land Surveying. - Any person presently licensed to practice professional engineering under this Chapter shall upon application be licensed to practice land surveying, providing a written application is filed with the Board within one year next after June 19, 1975.

i. Photogrammetrists. - Any person presently practicing photogrammetry with at least seven years of experience in the profession, two or more of which shall have been in responsible charge of photogrammetric mapping projects meeting National Map Accuracy Standards shall, upon application, be licensed to practice land surveying, provided:

1. The applicant submit certified proof of graduation from high school, high school equivalency, or higher degree;

2. The applicant submit proof of employment in responsible charge as a photogrammetrist practicing within the State of North Carolina to include itemized reports detailing methods, procedures, amount of applicant's personal involvement and the name, address, and telephone numbers of the client for five projects completed by the applicant with the State. A final map for one of the five projects shall also be submitted;

3. Five references to the applicant's character and quality of work, three of which shall be from professional land surveyors, are submitted to the Board; and

4. The application is submitted to the Board by July 1, 1999. After July 1, 1999, no photogrammetrist shall be licensed without meeting the same requirements as to education, length of experience, and testing required of all land surveying applicants.

j. Any person performing activities described in G.S. 89C-3(7)a.2. and 7. with at least seven years of experience in performing mapping science surveys, two or more of which have been in responsible charge of mapping science projects that meet the requirements of 21 NCAC 56.1608, shall, upon application, be licensed to practice surveying in their area of competence (mapping science) provided all of the following requirements are met:

1. The applicant submits certified proof of graduation from high school, high school equivalency, or higher degree.

2. The applicant submits proof of employment in responsible charge of mapping science projects within the State of North Carolina, including itemized reports detailing methods, procedures, amount of applicant's personal involvement, and the name, address, and telephone numbers of the client for five projects completed by the applicant within the State. The applicant shall also submit a final map, report, or digital product for one of the five projects.

3. Five references as to the applicant's character and quality of work, three of which shall be from professional land surveyors, are submitted to the Board.

4. The application is submitted to the Board by July 1, 2014. After July 1, 2014, no individual performing surveys described in 21 NCAC 56.1608 shall be licensed without meeting the same requirements as to education, length of experience, and testing required of all land surveying applications.

(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-98, s. 2 effective June 12, 2013.

Land surveying encompasses a number of disciplines including geodetic surveying, hydrographic surveying, cadastral surveying, engineering surveying, route surveying, photogrammetric (aerial) surveying, and topographic surveying. A professional land surveyor shall practice only within the surveyor's area of expertise.

The Board shall require an applicant to submit exhibits, drawings, plats, or other tangible evidence of land surveying work executed by the applicant under proper supervision and which the applicant has personally accomplished or supervised. (1921, c. 1, s. 9; C.S., s. 6055(j); 1951, c. 1084, s. 1; 1953, c. 999, s. 2; 1957, c. 1060, ss. 2, 3; 1975, c. 681, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 977, ss. 1-15; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 671, s. 2; 1995, c. 509, s. 36.1; 1998-118, s. 11; 1998-217, s. 41; 2005-296, s. 1; 2011-304, s. 4; 2013-98, s. 2; 2016-105, s. 1; 2022-1, s. 1(b).)