An Act To Amend Licensing Requirements for Professional Engineers
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1313
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: KATZ, BECK, FLOOD, LACHOWICZ, FOWLE, HICKMAN, LONGSTAFF
Amends: 32 MRSA §1251, 32 MRSA §1352-A, 32 MRSA §1353, 32 MRSA §1354, 32 MRSA §1357, 32 MRSA §1361

Legislative Document 
No. 1313 
S.P. 456 
In Senate, April 2, 2013 
An Act To Amend Licensing Requirements for Professional 
Engineers 
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator KATZ of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative BECK of Waterville and 
Senators: FLOOD of Kennebec, LACHOWICZ of Kennebec, Representatives: FOWLE of 
Vassalboro, HICKMAN of Winthrop, LONGSTAFF of Waterville. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §1251, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §2, is further amended 
to read: 
§1251.  Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: 
otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 
1.  Board.  "Board" means the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers.  
1-A.  Accreditation board.  "Accreditation board" means the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology. 
1-B.  Engineering accreditation commission.  "Engineering accreditation 
commission" means the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board. 
2.  Engineer-intern. The term "engineer-intern" "Engineer-intern" means a person 
who has been certified as such an engineer-intern by the board and whose name has been 
entered in the register of engineer-interns.  
2-A.  National council.  "National council" means the National Council of 
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. 
3.  Practice of professional engineering.  The term "practice "Practice of 
professional engineering" shall be held to mean means any professional service, such as 
consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design or responsible supervision of 
construction in connection with any public or private utilities, structures, buildings, 
machines, equipment, processes, works or projects, wherein the public welfare or the 
safeguarding of life, health or property is concerned or involved, when such professional 
service requires the application of engineering principles and data.  
4.  Professional engineer.  The term "professional "Professional engineer" means a 
person who, by reason of a knowledge of mathematics, the physical sciences and the 
principles of engineering, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is 
qualified to engage in engineering practice as defined. 
5.  Technology accreditation commission.  "Technology accreditation commission" 
means the technology accreditation commission of the accreditation board. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §1352-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §20, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Professional engineer.  Minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the 
applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional engineer includes the following. 
A.  An applicant for licensure by endorsement or comity who provides proof that the 
applicant is a licensed professional engineer, in good standing, in another state, 
territory or possession of the United States, District of Columbia or any foreign 
country and whose qualifications meet the requirements of this chapter upon 
application may be licensed without further examination.  To seek licensure under 
this paragraph, the applicant must be a graduate of an engineering curriculum 
approved by the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology or of an equivalent engineering curriculum and have not 
less than 4 years of acceptable engineering experience after graduation and have been 
licensed by passing 16 hours of written examinations the national council principles 
and practice of engineering examination and the fundamentals of engineering 
examination. 
B.  A person holding a certificate of record verification issued by the National 
Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying national council whose 
qualifications meet the requirements of this chapter upon application may be licensed 
without further examination. 
C.  An applicant who provides proof of graduation from an engineering curriculum 
approved by the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology or of an equivalent engineering curriculum of 4 years or 
more; has passed an 8-hour written the national council examination in the 
fundamentals of engineering; has a record of an additional 4 years or more of 
progressive engineering experience, after graduation, of a grade and character that 
indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice and has 
experienced increased engineering responsibilities; and has passed an 8-hour written 
the national council examination in the principles and practice of engineering may be 
licensed as a professional engineer.  An applicant for licensure may not sit for the 
principles and practice of engineering examination until the applicant has passed the 
fundamentals of engineering examination. 
D.  An applicant who provides proof of graduation from an engineering technology 
curriculum approved by the technology accreditation commission of the accreditation 
board for engineering and technology or of an equivalent engineering technology 
curriculum of 4 years or more; has passed an 8-hour written the national council 
examination in the fundamentals of engineering; has a record of an additional 4 years 
or more of progressive engineering experience, after graduation, of a grade and 
character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice 
and has experienced increased engineering responsibilities; and has passed an 8-hour 
written the national council examination in the principles and practice of engineering 
may be licensed as a professional engineer.  An applicant for licensure may not sit for 
the principles and practice of engineering examination until the applicant has passed 
the fundamentals of engineering examination. 
E.  An applicant who has a baccalaureate from an engineering or engineering 
technology curriculum that has not been approved by the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology or from an allied science curriculum of 4 years or more; 
has passed an 8-hour written the national council written examination in the 
fundamentals of engineering; has a record of an additional 8 years or more of 
progressive engineering experience, after graduation, of a grade and character that 
indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice and has 
experienced increased engineering responsibilities; and has passed an 8-hour written 
the national council examination in the principles and practice of engineering may be 
licensed as a professional engineer.  An applicant for licensure may not sit for the 
principles and practice of engineering examination until the applicant has passed the 
fundamentals of engineering examination. 
G.  An applicant with a record of at least 15 years of experience in engineering work, 
of which at least 10 years has been in responsible jobs of engineering work and of a 
grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to 
practice engineering, who has a license to engage in the practice of engineering on 
the basis of experience or a non-National Council of Examiners for Engineering and 
Surveying examination issued by a proper authority of a state, territory or possession 
of the United States, the District of Columbia or any foreign country and who in the 
opinion of the board meets the requirements of this chapter based on verified 
evidence may be licensed upon application by passing an oral examination conducted 
by the board or by a board committee. 
H.  An applicant with a record of less than 15 years of experience in engineering 
work, who has a license to engage in the practice of engineering on the basis of 
experience or a non-National Council of Examiners of Engineering and Surveying 
examination issued by a proper authority of a state, territory or possession of the 
United States, the District of Columbia or any foreign country, may be licensed upon 
application by passing an 8-hour examination in the principles and practice of 
engineering. 
Engineering teaching experience of 4 years or more in a college or university offering an 
engineering or engineering technology curriculum approved by the accreditation board 
for engineering and technology may be considered as engineering experience. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §1352-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §20, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Engineer-intern.  Minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant 
is qualified for certification as an engineer-intern includes the following. 
A.  An applicant for certification as an engineer-intern is eligible to sit for the 
fundamentals of engineering examination during the applicant's senior year of college 
before graduation from a program approved by the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology.  Certification as an engineer-intern may not take place 
until verification of graduation is received. 
B.  An applicant who provides proof of graduation from an engineering curriculum 
approved by the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for 
engineering and technology or of an equivalent engineering curriculum of 4 years or 
more and has passed an 8-hour written the national council examination in the 
fundamentals of engineering may be certified as an engineer-intern. 
C.  An applicant who provides proof of graduation from an engineering technology 
curriculum approved by the technology accreditation commission of the accreditation 
board for engineering and technology of 4 years or more and has passed an 8-hour 
written the national council examination in the fundamentals of engineering may be 
certified as an engineer-intern. 
D.  An applicant who is a graduate of an engineering curriculum not approved by the 
accreditation board for engineering and technology or an allied science curriculum of 
years or more and who has submitted a transcript showing the completion of the 
minimum number or engineering science and design credits as required in a 
curriculum approved by the accreditation board for engineering and technology and 
who has passed an 8-hour written the national council examination in the 
fundamentals of engineering may be certified as an engineer-intern. 
Certification as an engineer-intern is valid for an indefinite period. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §1353, first ¶, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §21, is further 
amended to read: 
Application for licensure as a professional engineer or certification as an engineer-
intern is must be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the board; contains, contain 
statements made under oath, showing the applicant's education and a detailed summary of 
the applicant's technical experience, and contains contain references as set forth in section 
1352-A, none of which may be from members of the board.  An application fee and an 
examination fee may be established by rule by the board in amounts an amount that are is 
reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes its purpose. 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §1354, as amended by PL 1999, c. 186, §8, is further amended 
to read: 
§1354.  Examinations 
Examinations must be held at such times and places as the board determines.  
Examinations required on fundamental engineering subjects may be taken as provided in 
section 1352-A.  The principles and practices of engineering examinations may not be 
taken until the applicant has completed a period of engineering experience as set forth in 
section 1352-A. 
The passing grade on any examination is established by the board.  If an applicant 
receives a failing grade on the principles and practices of engineering examination, that 
applicant may be readmitted to 2 subsequent examinations upon payment of an 
examination fee.  An applicant who fails to complete the application process within 5 
years, or who fails the principles and practices of engineering examination a 3rd time 
must reapply to the board, meet qualification requirements that are in effect at the time of 
the new application and present 3 new references and new documentation for each 
subsequent request for reexamination satisfactory to the board that the applicant has 
acquired additional education and experience and is prepared to retake the examination.  
Upon approval by the board and payment of the examination fee, that applicant may be 
permitted to retake the examination. 
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §1357, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §24, is further amended 
to read: 
§1357.  Expiration and renewals 
Licenses expire on the last day of December of odd-numbered years following their 
issuance or renewal and become invalid on that date unless renewed.  The board shall 
notify every person licensed under this chapter of the date of the expiration of that 
person's license and the amount of the fee that is required for its renewal for a 2-year 
period, except when the applicant has become licensed during the first year of the 2-year 
period, then the renewal fee is for the remaining one year of that 2-year period.  The 
notice must be mailed provided at least one month in advance of the date of the expiration 
of the license.  Renewal may be effected at any time after completion of continuing 
education requirements and after receipt of notice by the payment of a fee established by 
rule by the board, which may not exceed $50 annually.  Licenses may be renewed up to 
days after the date of expiration upon payment of a late fee of $10 in addition to the 
renewal fee.  Any person who submits an application for renewal more than 90 days after 
the license renewal date is subject to all requirements governing new applicants under 
this chapter, except that the board may in its discretion, giving due consideration to the 
protection of the public, waive examination if the renewal application is made within 3 
years from the date of the expiration. 
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §1361, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 2005, c. 315, §26, is further 
amended to read: 
A retired licensee may retain but not use the seal and may not practice engineering.  
The board shall reissue a license to a retired licensee who pays all application fees, meets 
all current requirements for licensure renewal and demonstrates to the board's satisfaction 
that, for 2 years preceding the application for licensure, the A retired licensee met the 
requirements for maintaining professional competence established under the may apply 
for reinstatement to active status in accordance with section 1357 and after completing 
continuing education requirements according to board rules. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing the licensing of 
professional engineers. 
1.  It adds defined terms for various accreditation and licensing entities. 
2.  It removes references to the form and length of examinations. 
3.  It removes provisions that provide alternative methods of licensure, including 
licensure by oral examination. 
4.  It removes references to examination fees and removes the requirement that 
examinations be held at such times and places as the State Board of Licensure for 
Professional Engineers determines.  It amends the laws governing the reexamination of a 
person who fails an examination. 
5.  It removes the requirement that a notice of the expiration of a license be mailed. 
6.  It changes the provisions regarding the process for a retired licensee to be 
reinstated to active status.