SB 6048 — Professional engineers

Summary

Concerning the professional engineers' registration act.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 14 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 18.43.020; RCW 18.43.030; RCW 18.43.033; RCW 18.43.035; RCW 18.43.040; RCW 18.43.050.

• RCW 18.43.020

  executive "Engineer" means a professional engineer as defined in this section. (4) (5) (6) "Land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor. (7) (8) himself or herself he or she is himself or herself (9) (10) his or her (11) (12) → amended to read as follows: The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Board" means the state board of registration for professional engineers and professional land surveyors, provided for by this chapter. (2) "Director" means the director of the Washington state board of registration for professional engineers and professional land surveyors. (3) fundamental engineering subjects; and (c) is enrolled by the board as an engineer-in-training. (4) "Engineering" means the "practice of engineering" as defined in this section. (5) "Land-surveyor-in-trai g" means e who: (a) Has satisfied the experience req ments i 3.040 for registration; (b) successfully p es the in the fundamental land surveying subjects; d (c) is the board as a land-surveyor-in-training. (6)(a) "Practice of eng ering" m ofessional service or creative work requiring ineering training, and experience and the applicatio of spec e of the mathematical, physical, and engineer science ofessional services or creative work as consult on, inve valuation, planning, design, and supervision o nstructi purpose of assuring compliance with specifica s and connection with any public or private ut ies, s buildings, machines, equipment, processes, work r projec (b) A person shall be construed practic o practice engineering, within the meaning a intent pter, who practices any branch of the profes n of en r who, by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, erhead, any other way represents ⟦INS⟧themself ofessional engineer, or throu at they are themself eri ser ate y iti en ) pra ril rfo ent (7) ing maps and accurate records thereof, w the proper manc f such services requires technical knowle and skill. (8) "Professional engineer" means a son who, by of ( )) the person's special kn edge of the atic and physical sciences and the principles d methods of erin nalysis and design, acquired by profess al education ract l experience, is qualified to practice gineering as d in his section, as attested by ⟦INS⟧the person's regi ation as a professional enginee (9) "Profession l land surveyor of ( )) the person's s atic and physical s ces and pri surv ng, which is ired by pr cal erie ce, is qua ied to pract ed t by ( the person's sion land (10) (c) Structures exceeding one hundred feet in height above average ground level; (d) Buildings that are customarily occupied by human beings and are five stories or more above average ground level; (e) Bridges having a total span of more than two hundred feet and piers having a surface area greater than ten thousand square feet; and (f) Buildings and other structures where more than three hundred people congregate in one area.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.030

  After July 9, 1986, the The terms of board members in office on June 11, 1986, shall not be affected. The first additional member shall be appointed for a four-year term and the second additional member shall be appointed for a three-year term. and shall have qualified ten his or her → read as follows: A state board of registration for professional engineers and professional land surveyors is hereby created which shall exercise all of the powers and perform all of the duties conferred upon it by this chapter. The board shall consist of seven members, who shall be appointed by the governor and shall have the qualifications as hereinafter required. On the expirati member, the governor shall appoint a success years to take the place of the member whose te bout to expire. However, no member shall ser utive terms on the board. Each member shall hol iration of the term for which such member is a cessor qualified as described in this chapter appointed . Five members be registered professional engineers licens of this chapter. Two members shall be registe surveyors licensed under this chapter. Each of oard shall have been actively engaged in the p or land surveying for at least 10 years ion, five of which shall have been immediately ent to the board. Each member ( t of this s for at least the member's Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance with travel expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. The governor may remove any member of the board for misconduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor as hereinabove provided.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.033

  and with approval of the director, the board chair shall appoint up to two individuals to serve as pro tem members of the board. The appointments are limited, as defined by the board chair, for the purpose of participating as a temporary member of the board on any combination of one or more committees or formal disciplinary hearing panels. An appointed individual must meet the same qualifications as a regular member of the board one hundred eighty → read as follows: Upon request of the board, the director shall select a candidate for a pro tem board member position and upon approval of the board, the board chair shall make the appointment. Up to three individuals may serve as pro tem board members. A pro tem board member will be participating as a temporary member of the board and perform services as needed and determined by the director, including ensuring sufficient case reviewers, forming a quorum at a board meeting, serving on any combination of one or more committees, or participating as needed at formal disciplinary hearings. An appointed individual must be registered under this chapter or licensed under chapter 18.210 RCW for a minimum of five years immediately prior to the appointment ard member pro te an and immunities of reg the same compensat , i 18.43.030. A te 180

  amended

• RCW 18.43.035

  places of business → meetings, maintenance of books and records, publication of reports, code of ethics, and rosters, and adoption and use of a seal. (2) Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of any business of the board. (3) The board shall appoint its director, who must hold a valid Washington license as a professional engineer or professional land surveyor. (4) The board may employ such persons as are necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter. (5) It may adopt rules reasonably necessary to administer the provisions of this chapter. The board shall submit to the governor periodic reports as may be required. A roster, showing the names and mailing addresses of all registered professional engineers and professional land surveyors may be published for distribution, upon request, to professional engineers and professional land surveyors registered under this chapter and to the public.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.040

  (1) engineer-in-training , respectively: (a)(i) As a professional engineer: indicating ; and successfully passing a written or oral examination, or both, in engineering as prescribed by the board. (ii) Graduation in an approved engineering curriculum of four years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing shall be considered equivalent to four years of such required experience. The satisfactory completion of each year of p. 6 SB 6048 such an approved engineering course without graduation shall be considered as equivalent to a year of such required experience. Graduation in a curriculum other than engineering from a school or college approved by the board shall be considered as equivalent to two years of such required experience. However, no applicant shall receive credit for more than four years of experience because of undergraduate educational qualifications. The board may, at its discretion, give credit as experience not in excess of one year, for satisfactory postgraduate study in engineering. (iii) Structural engineering is recognized as a specialized branch of professional engineering. To receive a certificate of registration in structural engineering, an applicant must hold a current registration in this state in engineering and have . An applicant for registration as a structural engineer must also pass an additional examination as prescribed by the board. (iv) An engineer must be registered as a structural engineer in order to provide structural engineering services for significant structures. The board may waive the requirements of this subsection (1)(a)(iv) until December 31, 2010, if: (A) On January 1, 2007, the engineer is registered with the board as a professional engineer; and (B) Within two years of January 1, 2007, the engineer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that the engineer has sufficient experience in the duties typically provided by a professional structural engineer regarding significant structures. (b)(i) As an engineer-in-training: An applicant for registration as a professional engineer shall take the prescribed examination in two stages. The first stage of the examination may be taken upon submission of his or her application for registration as an engineer- in-training and payment of the application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050 at any time after the applicant has completed four years of the required engineering experience, as defined in this section, or has achieved senior standing in a school or college approved by the board. The first stage of the examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of appropriate fundamentals of engineering subjects, including mathematics and the basic sciences. (ii) At any time after the completion of the required eight years of engineering experience, as defined in this section, the applicant may take the second stage of the examination upon submission of an application for registration and payment of the application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050. This stage of the examination shall test the applicant's ability, upon the basis of his or her greater experience, to apply his or her knowledge and experience in the field of his or her specific training and qualifications. (c)(i) As a professional land surveyor: A specific record of eight years or more of experience in land surveying work of a p. 8 SB 6048 character satisfactory to the board and indicating that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, and successfully passing a written or oral examination, or both, in surveying as prescribed by the board. (ii) Graduation from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, including the completion of an approved course in surveying, shall be considered equivalent to four years of the required experience. Postgraduate college courses approved by the board shall be considered for up to one additional year of the required experience. (d)(i) As a land-surveyor-in-training: An a → read as follows: The following requirements will be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for registration as a professional engineer, structural engineer, professional land surveyor, engineer-in- training, or land-surveyor-in-training . (1) PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. To be licensed as a professional engineer, an applicant must meet the examination and experience requirements delineated in this subsection (1). (a) Examination requirements. An applicant must have received passing scores on examinations required by the board in rule. (b) Experience requirements. A specific record of eight years or more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the board and showing that the applicant is competent to practice engineering . (i) The experience must be broad based and progressive to include gaining knowledge and comprehension of engineering subjects and applying engineering principles. (ii) Education or teaching at a college or university may constitute a portion of the required experience as follows: (A) An undergraduate degree, or its equivalent, in an engineering program approved by the board will be considered the equivalent of four years of experience; (B) Satisfactory completion of each year of an engineering program may be considered the equivalent of one year of experience at the discretion of the board; (C) An undergraduate degree in a nonengineering program may be considered the equivalent of engineering experience at the discretion of the board; (D) No more than four years of experience may be granted for undergraduate education; and (E) Experience may be granted for teaching and postgraduate education as further defined by, and at the discretion of, the board. (iii) The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a professional engineer, or the supervision of the construction of such work as a foreman or superintendent may not be deemed to be the practice of engineering. (2) STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. Structural engineering is recognized as a specialized branch of professional engineering. A professional engineer must be registered as a structural engineer to provide structural engineering services for significant structures. To become licensed as a structural engineer, an applicant must meet the following requirements: (a) Hold a current registration as a professional engineer in this state; (b) Have at least two years of structural engineering experience, of a character satisfactory to the board, in addition to the eight years' experience required for registration as a professional engineer ; and (c) Pass additional examinations as prescribed by the board. (3) PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR. To be licensed as a professional land surveyor, an applicant must meet the examination and experience requirements delineated in this subsection (3). (a) Examination requirements. An applicant must have received passing scores on examinations required by the board in rule. (b) Experience requirements. A specific record of eight years or more of experience in land surveying work of a character satisfactory to the board and showing that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying. (i) The experience must be broad based and progressive to include gaining knowledge and comprehension of land surveying subjects and applying land surveying principles. (ii) Education or teaching at a college or university may constitute a portion of the required experience as follows: (A) An undergraduate degree, or its equivalent, in a land surveying program approved by the board is considered the equivalent of four years of experience; (B) Satisfactory completion of each year of a land surveying program may be considered the equivalent of one year of experience at the discretion of the board; (C) An undergraduate degree in a nonland surveying program may be considered the equivalent of land surveying experience at the discretion of the board; (D) No more than four years of exp

  amended

• RCW 18.43.050

  , shall contain statements made under oath, showing the applicant's education and detail summary of his or her technical work and shall contain verification of the technical work from professional engineers that supervised the applicant's technical work and have personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience examination examination examination examination → read as follows: Application for registration shall be on forms prescribed by the board and furnished by the director . The registration fee for professional engineers shall rmined by the board, which shall accompany the application l include the cost of application processing ance of certificate. The fee for engineer-in-training shal rmined by the board, which shall accompany the application l include the cost of application processing ance of certificate. The registration fee for professional land surveyors shal rmined by the board, which shall accompany the application l include the cost of application processing ance of certificate. The fee for land-surveyor-in-training s etermined by the board, which shall accompany the application l include the cost of application processing ance of certificate. All registration fees are nonrefundable.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.060

  engineering his or her so as to insure A candidate failing an examination may apply for reexamination. Subsequent examinations will be granted upon payment of a fee to be determined by the board. → When oral or written examinations are required, they shall be held at such time and place as the board shall determine. If examinations are required on fundamental engineering subjects (such as ordinarily given in college curricula) the applicant shall be permitted to take this part of the professional examination prior to his or her completion of the requisite years of experience in engineering work. The board shall issue to each applicant upon successfully passing the examination in fundamental engineering or land surveying subjects a certificate stating that the applicant has passed the examination in fundamental subjects and that the applicant's name has been recorded as an engineer-in-training or land-surveyor-in-training. The scope of the examination and the methods of procedure shall be prescribed by the board with special reference to the applicant's ability to design and supervise engineering works to ensure the safety of life, health, and property. Examinations shall be given for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for registration separately in engineering and in land

  amended

• RCW 18.43.070

  secretary of the board and by the his or her his or her → e each amend read as foll The boar tion upon p of a regis chapter, t applicant wh atisfactoril all the re of a regi professional rize the pr ch or branch professional certificates of registration shall show the full name of the registrant, shall have a serial number, and shall be signed by the chair and the director. The issuance of a certificate of registration by the board shall be prima facie evidence that the person named therein is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered professional engineer or a registered professional land surveyor, while the said certificate remains unrevoked and unexpired. Each registrant hereunder shall upon registration obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board, bearing the registrant's name and the legend "registered professional engineer" or "registered professional land surveyor." Plans, specifications, plats, and reports prepared by the registrant shall be signed, dated, and stamped with said seal or facsimile thereof. Such signature and stamping shall constitute a certification by the registrant that the same was prepared by or under the registrant's direct supervision and that to the registrant's knowledge and belief the same was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the statute. It shall be unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any document with said seal or facsimile thereof after the certificate of registrant named thereon has expired or been revoked, unless said certificate shall have been renewed or reissued.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.080

  , and renewals thereof, shall expire on the last day of the month of December following their issuance or renewal and shall become invalid on that date unless renewed his or her that shall be required for its renewal for one year. Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty days before the end of December of each year. Renewal may be effected during the month of December by the payment of a fee determined by the board. In case any professional engineer and/or land surveyor registered under this chapter shall fail to pay the renewal fee hereinabove provided for, within ninety days from the date when the same shall become due, the p. 13 SB 6048 renewal fee shall be the current fee plus an amount equal to one year's fee. (2) Beginning July 1, 2007, the he or she has completed at least fifteen per year of the registration period. By July 1, 2006, the board shall adopt rules governing continuing professional development for land surveyors that are generally patterned after the model rules of the national council of examiners for engineering and surveying → read as follows: (1) Certificates of registration and certificates of authorization issued under this chapter are valid for a period of time as determined by the board. It shall be the duty of the board to notify every person, firm, or corporation registered under this chapter of the date of the expiration of the certificate and the amount of the renewal fee . If a completed application for renewal has not been received by the board by the date of expiration, postmarked before the date of expiration if mailed or transacted online before the date of expiration, the license is invalid. (2) The board may not renew a certificate of registration for a professional land surveyor unless the registrant verifies to the board that the registrant has completed the required hours of continuing professional development .

  amended

• RCW 18.43.100

  to qualify for such waiver have passed the national council for examiners for engineering and surveying principles and practice examination, have met the experience and education requirements established by the board, and are in good standing with the licensing agency in a state, territory, possession, district, or foreign country → read as follows: (1) The board may, upon application and the payment of a fee determined by the board, issue a certificate as a professional engineer or professional land surveyor to any person who holds a certificate of qualification of registration issued to the applicant following examination by proper authority, of any state or territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of any foreign country, if: (a) The applicant meets all requirements of this chapter and the rules established by the board , and (b) the applicant is in good standing with the licensing agency in said state, territory, possession, district, or foreign country. (2) The board shall waive the fundamentals examination for applicants who ⟦INS⟧meet the requirements as defined by the board in rule

  amended

• RCW 18.43.130

  or The practice of a person not a resident and having no established place of business in this state, practicing or offering to practice herein the profession of engineering or land surveying, when such practice does not exceed in the aggregate more than thirty days in any calendar year: PROVIDED, Such person has been determined by the board to be legally qualified by registration to practice the said profession in his or her own state or country in which the requirements and qualifications for obtaining a certificate of registration are not lower than those specified in this chapter. The person shall request such a determination by completing an application prescribed by the board and accompanied by a fee determined by the board. Upon approval of the application, the board shall issue a permit authorizing temporary practice; or (3) The practice of a person not a resident and having no established place of business in this state, or who has recently become a resident thereof, practicing or offering to practice herein for more than thirty days in any calendar year the profession of engineering or land surveying, if he or she shall have filed with the board an application for a certificate of registration and shall have paid the fee required by this chapter: PROVIDED, That such person is legally qualified by registration to practice engineering or land surveying in his or her own state or country in which the requirements and qualifications of obtaining a certificate of registration are not lower than those specified in this chapter. Such practice shall continue only for such time as the board requires for the consideration of the application for registration; or (4) or (5) or (6) or (7) or (8) or joint stock association (a))) (i) The corporation has filed with the board an application for certificate of authorization upon a form to be prescribed by the board and containing information required to enable the board to determine whether such corporation is qualified in accordance with this chapter to practice engineering or land surveying, or both, in this state; (((b))) (ii) For engineering, the corporation has filed with the board a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the corporation that shall designate a person holding a certificate of registration under this chapter as responsible for the practice of engineering by the corporation in this state and shall provide that full authority to make all final engineering decisions on behalf of the corporation with respect to work performed by the corporation in this state shall be granted and delegated by the board of directors to the person so designated in the resolution. For land surveying, the corporation has filed with the board a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the corporation which shall designate a person holding a certificate of registration under this chapter as responsible for the practice of land surveying by the corporation in this state and shall provide full authority to make all final land surveying decisions on behalf of the corporation with respect to work performed by the corporation in this state be granted and delegated by the board of directors to the person so designated in the resolution. If a corporation offers both engineering and land surveying services, the board of directors shall designate both a licensed professional engineer and a licensed professional land p. 16 SB 6048 surveyor. If a person is licensed in both engineering and land surveying, the person may be designated for both professions. The resolution shall further state that the bylaws of the corporation shall be amended to include the following provision: "The designated professional engineer or professional land surveyor, respectively, named in the resolution as being in responsible charge, or ((an (c) thirty thirty (d) (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (f) and (g) (e) Engineers or (f) (g))) (e) Any corporation that is certified under this chapter is su → (1) The practice of any other legally recognized profession or trade; (2) ⟦INS⟧The or ing ce if oye f a pe ion ROV D, sio and rvi o a ch er a se n; (3) cons st, either wh i part, of the rendering neeri g services o g ra public: PROVIDED, That s orati n employs a l p on holding a certificate strat on under th te or acticing lawfully under ision of this cha er (4) The prac ce er r employees of the governm he U ited States il in the state in the pract he pr fession of e in surveying for the governm he Un ted States; (5) Nonres er mployed for the purpose ng en ineering exa (6)(a) The eering or land surveying, in his state b ED, That professional engineer or professional land surveyor under the designated professional engineer or professional land surveyor's direct supervision, shall make all engineering or land surveying decisions pertaining to engineering or land surveying activities in the state of Washington." H wever, the filing of the resolution shall not relieve the corporation of any responsibility or liability imposed upon it by law or by contract; (iii) If there s a change in the designated professional engineer or professional designated land surveyor, the co shall notify the board in w iting within 30 days effective date of the change. If the corpor on changes the corporation shall subm t a copy of its ended certi authority or amended certificate of incorpor on as filed secretary of state within 30 days o he filing; (iv) Upon the f with the bo the applic certificate for authorizati ertified cop of resolutio affidavit, and the designat f a designat professional or designated professional surveyor, (a)(ii) ion, the bo corporation a cer orization to land surveying, o s state upon board that: (A) professional professional lan r both, h registration in t cordance wi certificate s in (B) professional professional lan sible arg y; (C) the ability and competence to furnish engineering or land surveying services, or both, in the public interest; and (D) The corporation is registered with the department of revenue pursuant to RCW 82.32.030. (b) The board may exercise its discretion to take any of the actions under RCW 18.235.110 or this chapter with respect to a certificate of authorization issued to a corporation if the board finds that any of the officers, directors, incorporators, or the stockholders holding a majority of stock of such corporation has engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined in RCW 18.43.105 or 18.235.130 or has been found personally responsible for unprofessional conduct under (d) and (e) of this subsection. (c) Professional engineers or professional land surveyors organized as a professional service co er chapter 18.100 RCW are exempt from applying for a of authorization under this chapter. (d) Any corporation authorized to practice or land surveying under this chapter, together with its nd officers for their own individual acts, are responsib me degree as an individual registered professional or individual registered professional land surveyor busin s without unprofessional conduct neerin or the practice of land surveying ter an 35. . ⟦INS⟧(6) rmin d d ⟦INS⟧; (7) The practice of engineering and/or land surveying in this state by a partnership if the partnership employs at least one person holding a valid certificate of registration under this chapter to practice engineering or land surveying, or both ; or (8)(a) The practice of g or land survey stat by limited liabil ies: Provided, ( ) (i) The limite ty company has an pplication for ce of authorizatio esc bed by the boar taining informat e th board to determ r the limited l uali ied under this to practice eeri g or land surveyin state. ( ) (ii) The limit ity company has a ertified copy of tion by the com ers that shall desig rson holding a trat on under this cha ing responsible gine ring or land sur both, by the l ny n this state an he designated rity to make all fina ing or land sur ehal of the limited company with rmed by the limited company in utio s

  amended

• RCW 18.43.150

  professional engineers' professional engineers' → fines collected under RCW 18.43.110 shall be paid into the board of registration for professional engineers and professional land surveyors' account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury to be used to carry out the purposes and provisions of RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.060, 18.43.080, 18.43.100, 18.43.110, 18.43.120, 18.43.130, and all other duties required for operation and enforcement of this chapter. During the 2013-2015, 2015-2017, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may transfer moneys from the board of registration for professional engineers and professional land surveyors' account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.170

  or a residential or visitation order membership → read as follows: The board shall immediately suspend the registration of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order . If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for registration during the suspension, reissuance of the certificate of registration shall be automatic upon the board's receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the person is in compliance with the order.

  amended

• RCW 18.43.200

  must . The initial interagency agreement must be for a term of three years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the department of licensing and the board → read as follows: The department of licensing, through an interagency agreement with the board, shall provide specified technical services to the board ⟦INS⟧as mutually agreed upon by both parties --- END ---

  amended

Action History

1. January 12, 2026

   First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

Sponsors

• (Liias) · Primary

Subjects