The purpose of the amendments is to update and clarify the rules requirements, including the processing of incomplete or deficient applications and clarification of creditable experience following licensure in another jurisdiction.

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

Board of Professional Engineers

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

61G15-20.0010Application for Licensure by Examination

61G15-20.0015Application for Licensure by Endorsement

61G15-20.002Experience

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendments is to update and clarify the rules requirements, including the processing of incomplete or deficient applications and clarification of creditable experience following licensure in another jurisdiction.

SUMMARY: Clarify and update the rules requirements regarding incomplete or deficient applications and creditable licensure experience received in another jurisdiction.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 471.008, 471.013, 471.015 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 471.005(6), 471.013, 471.015 FS 471.008. 471.033(2) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Zana Raybon, Executive Director, Board of Professional Engineers, 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112, Tallahassee, FL 32303; [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

61G15-20.0010 Application for Licensure by Examination.

(1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a professional engineer shall submit an completed application to the Board. The instructions and application Form FBPE/001 (rev. 12/16), entitled, “Application for Principles and Practice Examination,” is hereby incorporated by reference, copies of which may be obtained from the Board office at 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112, Tallahassee, Florida 32303; from the Board’s website at http://www.fbpe.org/licensure/application-process/principles-practice-examination or at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08043. The Board shall certify as eligible to take the licensure examination only those applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the application and examination fee required by Chapter 61G15-24, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that they:

(a) through (b) No change.

(2) Any person desiring to take the fundamentals examination for the purpose of determining whether he or she is qualified to practice as an engineering intern in this state shall submit an completed application to the Board. The instructions and application Form FBPE/003 (rev. 12/16), entitled, “Application for Fundamentals of Engineering,” is hereby incorporated by reference, and may be obtained from the Board office at 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112, Tallahassee, Florida 32303; from the Board’s website at http://www.fbpe.org/licensure/application-process or at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08044. The Board shall certify as eligible to take the Fundamentals Examination only those applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the application fee required by Chapter 61G15-24, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that they are in the final year of, or have graduated from, “a Board approved engineering program” as defined by subsection 61G15-20.001(2), F.A.C.

(3) Upon submission of an application, the Board will timely notify an applicant of any apparent errors or omissions, or any additional information which is required to complete the application.  All errors and omissions, and any additional information, must be submitted before the application can be presented to the Board for review, unless the applicant notifies the Board to process the application as submitted.  If an applicant fails to correct any errors or omissions, or supply any requested information, within one (1) year of notification, the application will be presented to the Board for review and decision on the application as submitted.

Rulemaking Authority 471.008, 471.013, 471.015 FS. Law Implemented 120.60(1), 471.013, 471.015 FS. History–New 9-27-01, Amended 11-19-03, 9-14-14, 3-19-17,                   .

 

61G15-20.0015 Application for Licensure by Endorsement.

(1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a professional engineer by endorsement shall submit an completed application form to the Board. The instructions and application Form FBPE/002 (12/16), entitled “Application For Licensure By Endorsement,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, copies of which may be obtained from the Board office at 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112, Tallahassee, Florida 32303; the Board’s website at http://www.fbpe.org/licensure/application-process or at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08045. The Board shall certify as eligible for licensure by endorsement applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the application fee for licensure by endorsement required by chapter 61G15-24, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that:

(a) through (b) No change.

(2) through (4) No change.

(5) Any person desiring to practice as an engineering intern in this state by endorsement shall submit an completed application to the Board. The instructions and application Form FBPE/004 (12/16), entitled, “Application for Engineer Intern by Endorsement,” is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained from the Board office at 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112, Tallahassee, Florida 32303; the Board’s website at http://www.fbpe.org/licensure/application-process or at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08046. The Board shall certify as eligible for licensure by endorsement applicants who have completed the application form, remitted the application fee for licensure by endorsement required by chapter 61G15-24, F.A.C., and who have demonstrated to the Board that they are in the final year of, or have graduated from, “a Board approved engineering program” as defined by subsection 61G15-20.001(2), F.A.C., and have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination prior to application.

(6) Upon submission of an application, the Board will timely notify an applicant of any apparent errors or omissions, or any additional information which is required to complete the application. All errors and omissions, and any additional information, must be submitted before the application can be presented to the Board for review, unless the applicant notifies the Board to process the application as submitted. If an applicant fails to correct any errors or omissions, or supply any requested information, within one (1) year of notification, the application will be presented to the Board for review and decision on the application as submitted.

Rulemaking Authority 471.008, 471.013, 471.015 FS. Law Implemented 471.013, 471.015 FS. History–New 9-27-01, Amended 4-9-07, 10-15-09, 11-16-10, 9-14-14, 7-7-15, 11-2-15, 3-19-17, 6-24-18,           .

 

61G15-20.002 Experience.

(1)(a) In order to meet the prerequisites for entry into the engineering examination, an applicant is required to have four years of acceptable experience in engineering at the time of application and four years of acceptable educational qualifications. In determining whether an applicant’s experience background is sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in sections 471.013(1)(a)1. and 2., F.S., the Board has determined that an individual must have the requisite number of years of acceptable engineering experience gained through education and through the requisite amount of full-time employment in engineering. The type of employment which shall be acceptable must principally involve activities in the field of engineering as defined in section 471.005(7), F.S. The Board may accept engineering experience in foreign countries if such experience is properly verified by the Board from evidence supplied by the applicant to be equivalent to that accepted as experience by the Board as to any state or territory.

(b) Because the evaluation of experience is a complex and subjective matter, the Board establishes the following guidelines which shall be generally applicable absent extraordinary evidence and documentation supporting a departure therefrom:

1.  through 14. No change.

15. Engineering experience gained after licensure as a Professional Engineer in another jurisdiction is creditable.

(2) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 471.008, 471.013(1)(a) FS. Law Implemented 471.005(6), 471.013(1)(a) FS. History–New 1-8-80, Amended 3-11-80, 6-23-80, 7-7-83, 9-13-84, Formerly 21H-20.01, Amended 8-18-87, 12-4-91, Formerly 21H-20.002, Amended 12-26-94, 5-20-02, 4-5-04, 11-2-15, 8-8-18,                      .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Professional Engineers

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Professional Engineers

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 8, 2018

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 19, 2018