2023 Tennessee Code › Title 62 - PROFESSIONS, BUSINESSES AND TRADES (§§ 62-1-101 — 62-76-203) › Chapter 2 - ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS (§§ 62-2-101 — 62-2-906) › Part 4 - QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION - ENGINEERS (§§ 62-2-401 — 62-2-406) › Section 62-2-401 - General provisions

(a)
The following is considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for registration as an engineer:
(1)
Graduation from Approved Engineering Curriculum, Experience, and Examination.
A graduate of an engineering curriculum of four (4) years or more, approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing, after passing an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying involving the fundamentals of engineering, must be admitted to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examination, and with a specific record of four (4) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified;
(2)
Long Established Practice.
A graduate of an approved engineering curriculum of four (4) years or more, with a specific record of twelve (12) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, must be admitted to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examination, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified;
(3)
Graduation from Approved Post-Graduate Engineering Curriculum, Experience, and Examination.
(A)
A graduate of a curriculum of four (4) years leading to a baccalaureate degree, approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing, accompanied with the completion of post-graduate coursework in engineering curriculum leading to a master's degree or higher in engineering approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing, after passing an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying involving the fundamentals of engineering, must be admitted to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examination, and with a specific record of eight (8) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified;
(B)
The board shall, in its discretion, set forth further criteria in rule specifying what constitutes an acceptable four (4) year undergraduate curriculum; and
(C)
The board may approve an applicant having less than eight (8) years of experience if the applicant's education and experience are that of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering; or
(4)
Graduation from Approved Engineering Technology Curriculum, Experience, and Examination.
A graduate of an ABET ETAC accredited engineering technology curriculum of four (4) years or more, approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing; and who holds a post-graduate degree in engineering from an institution with an ABET EAC accredited undergraduate engineering program approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing; and with a specific record of eight (8) years or more of experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering and acquired under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer; and who has passed an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying involving the fundamentals of engineering, must be admitted to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examination, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified.
(5)
(A)
Graduation from Engineering Technology Curriculum, Experience, and Examination.
A graduate of an unaccredited engineering technology curriculum of four (4) years or more, approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing; and with a specific record of twelve (12) years or more of experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering and acquired under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer; and who submits written employment references from three (3) engineers currently registered in this state who are in good standing with the board; and who has passed a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying involving the fundamentals of engineering; and who has passed a Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, must be admitted to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examinations, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified.
(B)
This subdivision (a)(5) is repealed on June 30, 2025.
(b)
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the board may in its discretion grant up to one (1) year of qualified experience obtained in an established cooperative education program that is carried out within the framework of an approved engineering curriculum and that has been approved by the board.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 706,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 904, s 3, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 348, s 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 226, s 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 180, s 1, eff. 4/23/2013.
Acts 1979, ch. 263, § 10; 1980, ch. 627, § 6; T.C.A., § 62-210; Acts 1990, ch. 1026, §§ 21, 22; 1993, ch. 132, §§ 3-5; 1995, ch. 113, § 1; 1997 , ch. 129, §§ 1, 2; 2007 , ch. 215, § 1.