2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 59. Professions and Occupations
§59-475.12. Qualifications for licensure or certification.

A. Engineer

To be eligible for consideration for licensure as a professional engineer, or certification as an engineer intern, an applicant must be of good character and reputation and shall submit five references with application for licensure as a professional engineer, three of which shall be professional engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience, or, in the case of an application for certification as an engineer intern, by three character references.

One of the following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional engineer, or for certification as an engineer intern, respectively:

1. As a professional engineer:

a.Licensure by Comity or Endorsement - A person holding a certificate of registration or licensure to engage in the practice of engineering issued by a proper authority of a jurisdiction or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, based on requirements that do not conflict with the provisions of Section 475.1 et seq. of this title and possessing credentials that are, in the judgment of the Board, of a standard not lower than that specified in the applicable licensure act in effect in this state at the time such certificate was issued, may, upon application, be licensed without further examination except as required to present evidence of knowledge of statutes, rules and design requirements unique to this state.

b.Graduation, Experience and Examination - A graduate of an engineering program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing, and following the date of degree, a specific record of an additional four (4) 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, who has also passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering as provided in subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of this subsection, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing such examinations, as well as an examination in knowledge of statutes, rules and design requirements unique to this state, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice engineering in this state, if otherwise qualified. The Board may waive the fundamentals of engineering examination requirement for the issuance of a license if the applicant possesses sufficient progressive experience on engineering projects to indicate to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering. The Board shall evaluate all elements of the application, according to Board rules, to assess waiver requests.

c.Alternative Graduation, Experience and Education - A graduate of an engineering or related science program of four (4) years or more, other than the ones approved by the Board and following the date of degree, a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a character and grade which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering who has also passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering as provided in subparagraph b of paragraph 2 of this subsection, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing such examination, as well as an examination in knowledge of statutes, rules and design requirements unique to this state, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice engineering in this state, if otherwise qualified. The Board may waive the fundamentals of engineering examination requirement for the issuance of a license if the applicant possesses sufficient progressive experience on engineering projects to indicate to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering. The Board shall evaluate all elements of the application, according to Board rules, to assess waiver requests.

d.A four-year degree in a science not considered a related science degree by the Board must be followed by a Masters Degree in engineering from an institution with a comparable EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering program before being considered for approval as a related science degree by the Board. Foreign degrees not determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree may be considered following a degree evaluation by an evaluation service approved by the Board. The maximum equivalency granted for all foreign degrees, except those determined to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree, shall be that of a related science degree.

2. As an engineer intern:

The following shall be considered as minimum evidence that the applicant is qualified for certification as an engineer intern:

a.Graduation and Examination - A graduate of an engineering program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board, or an applicant who has completed ninety (90) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as an engineer intern, if otherwise qualified.

b.Alternative Graduation, Experience and Examination - A graduate of an engineering or related science curriculum of four (4) years or more, other than the ones approved by the Board or an applicant who has completed ninety (90) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering. Upon passing such examination, providing proof of graduation and providing proof of a specific record of one (1) year or more of progressive engineering experience in engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as an engineer intern, if otherwise qualified.

c.A four-year degree in a science not considered a related science degree by the Board must be followed by a Masters Degree in engineering from an institution with a comparable EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering program before being considered for approval as a related science degree by the Board. Foreign degrees not determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree may be considered following a degree evaluation by an evaluation service approved by the Board. The maximum equivalency granted for all foreign degrees, except those determined to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree, shall be that of a related science degree.

B. Land Surveyor

To be eligible for consideration for licensure as a professional land surveyor or certification as a land surveyor intern, an applicant must be of good character and reputation and shall submit five references with application for licensure as a professional land surveyor, three of which shall be licensed land surveyors having personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience; or in the case of an applicant for certification as a land surveyor intern, by three character references.

The evaluation of a professional land surveyor applicant's qualifications shall include consideration of the applicant's education, technical and land surveying experience, and recommendations by references.

One of the following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional land surveyor or for certification as a land surveyor intern, respectively.

1. As a land surveyor:

a.Licensure by Comity or Endorsement - A person holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of land surveying issued by a proper authority of a jurisdiction or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, based on comparable qualifications satisfactory to the Board, will be given comity consideration. However, the person may be required to take such examinations as the Board deems necessary to determine the person's qualifications, but in any event, the person shall be required to pass a written examination of such duration as established by the Board, which shall include questions on laws, procedures and practices pertaining to land surveying in this state.

b.Graduation, Experience and Examination -

(1)A graduate of a surveying program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board and a specific record of four (4) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, of which no less than two (2) years experience must be following the date of the degree, who has also passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying as provided in subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of this subsection, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and a Board-approved Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.

(2)A graduate of a surveying program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying and who has also passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying as provided in subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of this subsection shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and a Board-approved Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.

c.Alternative Graduation, Experience and Examination -

(1)A graduate of other academic programs of two (2) years or more, approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved core curriculum in surveying and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying who has passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying, as provided in division (1) of subparagraph b of paragraph 2 of this subsection shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and a Board-approved Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.

(2)An applicant who provides proof of completion of sixty (60) credit hours, approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved core curriculum in surveying, and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, who has also passed a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying as provided in division (2) of subparagraph b of paragraph 2 of this subsection, shall be admitted to a Board-approved examination in the principles and practice of surveying and a Board-approved Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.

d.Long Established Practice and Examination - An applicant with a specific record of nine (9) years or more of practice in land surveying of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of land surveying, and, if passed, then shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and a Board-approved Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified. Provided, after July 1, 2014, “Long Established Practice and Examination”, as specified in this paragraph, shall not be considered by the Board as minimum evidence that an applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional land surveyor.

2. As a land surveyor intern:

a.Graduation and Examination -

(1)A graduate of a surveying program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board, or an applicant who has completed sixty (60) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as a land surveyor intern, if otherwise qualified.

(2)A graduate of a surveying program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation from a two-year surveying program approved by the Board shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as a land surveyor intern, if otherwise qualified.

b.Alternative Graduation, Experience and Examination -

(1)A graduate of other academic programs of two (2) years or more approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved core curriculum in surveying, or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, including twenty-one (21) semester hours or more of the core curriculum, from another academic program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination, providing proof of graduation and providing proof of a specific record of one (1) year or more of progressive experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as a land surveyor intern, if otherwise qualified.

(2)An applicant who provides proof of completion of sixty (60) credit hours approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved core curriculum in surveying, or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, including twenty-one (21) semester hours or more of the core curriculum, shall be admitted to a Board-approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of a specific record of one (1) year or more of progressive experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, the applicant shall be certified or enrolled as a land surveyor intern, if otherwise qualified.

Added by Laws 1968, c. 245, § 12, emerg. eff. April 26, 1968. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 297, § 12; Laws 1992, c. 165, § 10, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 2005, c. 115, § 11, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 312, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2012, c. 139, § 4.