2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 35 - Board of Examiners of Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects (§§ 681 — 711z) › § 711g - Requirements for granting licenses and certificates

Any person who applies to the Board for an engineer, architect, landscape architect, or surveyor license, and any person who applies for an associate engineer or surveyor certificate, or for an architect or landscape architect in training certificate, shall:
(1) Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(2) Enjoy good conduct and moral repute in the business and residential community.
(3) Present a certificate of good conduct from the Puerto Rico Police or from the police or authorized state official of the United States of America or the foreign country of origin.
(4) Provide the name, address and telephone number of three (3) engineers, surveyors, architects or landscape architects, duly licensed by the Board of his/her jurisdiction, with direct and personal knowledge of the moral repute and professional experience, if any, of the applicant.
(5) Present the evidence required below, according to the profession in question and as the case may be:
(a) Engineer in training.— Certifying evidence that the applicant has graduated from an engineering course or plan of studies of engineering, of at least four (4) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education, and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; and the [successful completion] of the written examinations on the basic subjects of the discipline of engineering.
(b) Associate engineer.— Certifying evidence that the applicant has graduated from an engineering course or plan of studies of at least four (4) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board, and the [successful completion] of the written examinations on the basic subjects of the discipline of engineering.
Attesting evidence of having practiced the profession legally as engineer in training, accruing experience for a minimum of four (4) years; or having practiced legally as engineer in training, accruing experience for a minimum of three (3) years and holding a Master’s Degree in Engineering from any university, college or institute, whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; or having accumulated experience for a minimum of two (2) years and holding a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Engineering from any university, college or institute, whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board.
Certifying evidence that the applicant took, at least once, during the period of his/her certification as engineer in training, the examination he/she lacks.
(c) Licensed engineer.— Attesting evidence that the applicant has graduated from an engineering curriculum or program of at least four (4) years, or its equivalent, from any university, college, or institution whose reputation or degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; has successfully passed the fundamentals of engineering and the principles and practice of engineering written examinations (licensure exam) and has at least two (2) years of experience; or has at least one year (1) and six (6) months of experience and holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from any university, college, or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; or has at least one (1) year of experience and holds a Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Engineering from any university, college, or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board.
(d) Architect in training.— Evidence that the applicant is a graduate of an architecture course or plan of studies of at least five (5) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation or degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education, and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board.
(e) Licensed architect.—
(1) Architect in training certificate duly issued by the Board pursuant to the provisions of §§ 711—711z of this title.
(2) Evidence that he/she has a minimum of two (2) years professional experience acquired after his/her certification as architect in training, according to the sworn statement of a licensed architect or engineer. This sworn statement shall give evidence, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant is qualified to practice the profession of architect with the degree of professional responsibility that justifies his/her licensing. When the evidence of the experience required above is not conclusive for the Board, or when, in the opinion of the Board, such evidence fails to show that there is sufficient guarantee and justification to license the applicant, he/she may be required to present further evidence on any part thereof.
(3) The [successful completion] of written examinations (revalidation) on professional subjects of architecture for which the license is being applied for.
(f) Surveyor in training.— Attesting evidence that the applicant has graduated from a surveying course or plan of studies of at least four (4) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education, and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board, and the [successful completion] of the written examinations on the basic subjects of the discipline of surveying.
(g) Associate surveyor.— Attesting evidence that the applicant has graduated from a surveying course or plan of studies of at least four (4) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education, and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board, and the [successful completion] of the written examinations on the basic subjects of the discipline of surveying.
Attesting evidence of having practiced the profession legally as surveyor in training, accumulating experience for a minimum of four (4) years; or having practiced legally as surveyor in training, accumulating experience for a minimum of three (3) years and holding a Master’s Degree in Surveying from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; or having accumulated experience for a minimum of two (2) years, and holding a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Surveying from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board.
Attesting evidence that the applicant took, at least once, during the period of his/her certification as surveyor in training, the revalidation examination he/she lacks.
(h) Licensed surveyor.— Attesting evidence that the applicant has graduated from a land surveying curriculum or program of at least four (4) years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; and has successfully passed the fundamentals of surveying and the principles and practice of surveying written examination (licensor exam); and provides attesting evidence of having at least two (2) years of professional experience acquired after his/her certification as surveyor in training or accredited, according to the sworn statement of a licensed surveyor or engineer authorized to practice the profession of surveying; or has at least (1) year and six (6) months of experience according to the sworn statement of a Licensed Surveyor or Engineer authorized to practice Surveying and holds a Master’s Degree in Surveying from any university, college, or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board; or has at least one (1) year of experience, according to the sworn statement of a licensed surveyor or engineer authorized to practice surveying and holds a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in surveying from any university, college, or institution whose reputation and degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, recognized by the Council on Higher Education; and in the case of foreign degrees, by the Board. This sworn statement shall provide evidence, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant is qualified to practice the profession of surveyor with the degree of professional responsibility that justifies his/her licensing. When the evidence of the experience required above is not conclusive for the Board, or when, in the opinion of the Board, such evidence fails to show that there is sufficient guarantee and justification to license the applicant, he/she may be required to present further evidence on any part thereof.
(i) Landscape architect in training.— Certifying evidence that the applicant has graduated from a landscape architecture course or plan of studies of at least four (4) academic years, or its equivalent, from any university, college or institution whose reputation or degree of excellence are, in the case of Puerto Rico, of those accepted by the Council on Higher Education, and by the Board, and in the case of institutions outside of Puerto Rico by the Landscape Architect Registration Examination Board (LARE), and the [successful completion] of the written examinations (revalidation) on the basic subjects of landscape architecture.
(j) Licensed landscape architect.— Evidence that he/she has a minimum of two (2) years professional experience acquired after his/her certification as landscape architect in training, according to the sworn statement of a licensed landscape architect, architect or engineer. This sworn statement shall give evidence, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant is qualified to practice the profession of landscape architect with the degree of professional responsibility that justifies his/her licensing. When the evidence of the experience required above is not conclusive for the Board, or when, in the opinion of the Board, such evidence fails to show that there is sufficient guarantee and justification to license the applicant, he/she may be required to present further evidence on any part thereof.
History —Aug. 12, 1988, No. 173, p. 797, § 9, renumbered as § 11 and amended on Dec. 26, 1997, No. 185, § 11; Jan. 14, 1999, No. 47, § 2; Dec. 7, 2007, No. 180, § 6, eff. Dec. 31, 2007; Aug. 20, 2012, No. 190, § 2.