wa-26-21-065: Engineers and Land Surveyors, Board of Registration for Professional — WSR 26-21-065

WSR 26-21-065 (26-21)WSR 26-21-065PROPOSED RULESBOARD OF REGISTRATIONFOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERSAND LAND SURVEYORS[Filed October 19, 2026, 12:30 p.m.]Original Notice.Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-17-027.Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 196-26A WAC, Fees.Hearing Location(s): On November 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (BRPELS), 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 207, Olympia, WA 98501; or via WebEx meeting at https://brpels.wa.gov/current-laws-and-rules/rulemaking-activity.Date of Intended Adoption: December 10, 2026.Submit Written Comments to: Shanan Gillespie, P.O. Box 9025, Olympia, WA 98507-9025, email Shanan.Gillespie@brpels.wa.gov, beginning October 22, 2026, 12:01 a.m., by December 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m.Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Mackenzie Wherrett, phone 360-664-1568, TTY 711, email Mackenzie.Wherrett@brpels.wa.gov, by November 23, 2026.Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To create uniform fees for the professional engineer and structural engineer applications. This will help streamline the application process and improve efficiency. Amendments throughout the language are being proposed to reflect new processes and facilitate the new licensing database.Reasons Supporting Proposal: The resource costs of processing the professional engineer and structural engineer application are essentially the same; therefore, fees for those services should reflect the costs consistently.Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.43.035, 18.210.050, and 18.210.060.Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.080, 18.210.140, and 18.210.190.Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.Name of Proponent: BRPELS, governmental.Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Shanan Gillespie, 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 201, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-664-1570; Implementation and Enforcement: Ken Fuller, 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 201, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-664-1575.A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. BRPELS is not one of the agencies to which RCW 34.05.328 applies pursuant to RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a).This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal: Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; rules set or adjust fees under the authority of RCW 19.02.075 or that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards, including fees set or adjusted under the authority of RCW 19.80.045; and rules adopt, amend, or repeal a procedure, practice, or requirement relating to agency hearings; or a filing or related process requirement for applying to an agency for a license or permit.Explanation of exemptions: RCW 34.05.310 (4)(d) and (g) apply because language in WAC 196-26A-040 regarding renewal processes is being clarified. RCW 34.05.310 (4)(f) applies because professional engineer and structural engineer application fees are being adjusted in WAC 196-26A-025. Scope of exemption for rule proposal:Is fully exempt.October 19, 2026Ken FullerDirectorRDS-7510.2AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-05-088, filed 2/18/25, effective 3/21/25)WAC 196-26A-010((State))Fee authority and payment procedures.The board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors (board) reviews and approves registration applications under the provisions of chapters 18.43 and 18.210 RCW. ((The state fees listed in this chapter are adopted by the board in accordance with RCW 18.43.050, 18.210.050 and 18.210.140.))The required ((state)) fees must accompany all registration applications. ((If payment is made by check or money order, the payment should be made payable to BRPELS.)) The fee paid to the board is nonrefundable.AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 24-23-075, filed 11/18/24, effective 1/1/25)WAC 196-26A-025((State))Application fees.((FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATIONS:  Fundamentals of Engineering (FE): Application fee (including wall certificate):$30 Fundamentals of Land Surveying (FLS): Application fee (including wall certificate):$30PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS: Exam and initial license application fee (including wall certificate and initial license):$65 Comity licensure application fee (including wall certificate and initial license):$110 Structural Engineering: Exam application fee (including wall certificate and initial license):$65 Comity application fee (including wall certificate):$110 Temporary Permits: Temporary permit application$110PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYING: Additional charges to cover costs of NCEES PLS examination will be charged by NCEES to approved applicants. Application fee for exam and comity (including wall certificate, initial state exam, and initial license):$140 Processing and examination fee to retake the state PLS exam:$100ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM DESIGNERS:  Application fee (including wall certificate, initial state exam, and initial license):$200 Processing and examination fee to retake the on-site designer exam:$140CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (INSPECTOR): Application fee (including wall certificate, initial state exam, and initial license):$175 Processing and examination fee to retake the on-site designer exam:$140))Application fees include issuance of an initial license and wall certificate.IN-TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS:  Engineer-in-training (EIT): Application fee:$30 Land Surveyor-in-training: Application fee:$30PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER: PE application fee:$110 Structural Engineer: SE application fee:$110PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR: PLS application fee:$140 Processing and examination fee to retake the state PLS exam:$100ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM DESIGNER:  Application fee:$200 Processing and examination fee to retake the on-site designer exam:$140CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (INSPECTOR): Application fee:$175 Processing and examination fee to retake the on-site designer exam:$140AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-05-088, filed 2/18/25, effective 3/21/25)WAC 196-26A-040Renewals.(1) Licenses for professional engineers, professional land surveyors, on-site wastewater treatment system designers, or certificate of competency holders (inspectors) shall be renewed every two years. The ((date of expiration shall be the licensee's birthday. The initial license issued to an individual shall expire no earlier than one year after the issue date))licensee is responsible for timely renewal whether or not they receive a renewal notice.(2) To renew ((your))a license, certificate of authorization, or certificate of competency, complete an application for renewal, pay the required renewal fee, and provide the information requested in the renewal notice and application form. This information may include email address or other contact information. In addition, you must disclose any criminal conviction or sanction against you including suspension, revocation, or restriction of your license by a licensing authority in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction pursuant to RCW 18.235.110 and 18.235.130.(3) For a professional land surveyor the renewal application requires completion of professional development requirements and an attestation by the ((applicant))licensee that they have read chapters 58.09 RCW and 332-130 WAC as part of the renewal process.(4) For a licensed on-site designer, the renewal application requires completion of professional development requirements as part of the renewal process.(5) 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 or certificate is invalid.(6) Licenses or certificates of competency that remain expired over 90 days ((past the date of expiration)), but less than two years, require payment of a late fee equivalent to the fee for a one-year renewal in addition to the base renewal fee and completing a renewal application.(((6) If your))(7) For licenses or certificates of competency that remain expired for more than two years:(a) Renewal of expired professional engineer or professional land surveyor ((license has been expired for five or more years, you must submit))licenses or certificates of competency requires submittal of a renewal application, and ((you will be required to take and receive a passing score on))completing of and passing the board's law review examination. In the first year of reactivated practice, professional land surveyors may be required by the board to collect an additional 15 professional development hours (PDH).(((7)))(b) Any on-site designer license that remains expired for more than two years will be canceled. After cancellation, a new application must be made in accordance with chapter 18.210 RCW to obtain another license.((The licensee is responsible for timely renewal whether or not they receive a renewal notice from the department.))(8) Certificates of authorization expire annually. Those that have expired for two years or more require submittal of a new application in accordance with chapters 18.43 RCW and 196-25 WAC.AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 24-23-075, filed 11/18/24, effective 1/1/25)WAC 196-26A-060Certificate of authorization application and renewal fees.Application fee (((incl. wall certificate and initial license))):$150Renewal fee (((one-year))):$121REPEALERThe following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:WAC 196-26A-020Examination vendor, procedures and costs.