The purpose of the amendment to these rules is to resolve difficulties in demonstrating substantial equivalence to an EAC/ABET education for non-EAC/ABET engineering degree holders, foreign or domestic.

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Board of Professional Engineers

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
61G15-20.001: Definitions
61G15-20.0015: Application for Licensure by Endorsement
61G15-20.007: Foreign Degrees
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendment to these rules is to resolve difficulties in demonstrating substantial equivalence to an EAC/ABET education for non-EAC/ABET engineering degree holders, foreign or domestic.

SUMMARY: Difficulties in demonstrating substantial equivalence to an EAC/ABET education for non-EAC/ABET engineering degree holders, foreign or domestic, are resolved.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.

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.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 471.008, 471.013, 471.015 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 471.013, 471.015 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAW.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Paul Martin, Executive Director, Board of Professional Engineers, 2507 Callaway Road, Suite 200, Tallahassee, Florida 32301

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

61G15-20.001 Definitions.

As used hereinafter in this chapter the following words or phrases shall be defined as follows:

(1) “Year” shall mean 12 months of full-time employment or a full-time academic year of graduate or undergraduate college education.

(2) “Board approved engineering programs” shall mean:

(a) Engineering programs accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (EAC/ABET), programs approved by ABET as substantially equivalent to EAC/ABET accredited programs in the United States approved by the Board of Professional Engineers as substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program pursuant to Rule 61G15-20.007, F.A.C., or

(b) In the case of an applicant who did not graduate from an approved program as set forth in paragraph (2)(a) above, and who either:

(i) Holds a post-baccalaureate degree from a school or college in the United States which has an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program in a related discipline at the baccalaureate level, or

(ii) Holds a baccalaureate degree from an engineering program that is not accredited by EAC/ABET, provided the applicant can articulate a baccalaureate in engineering by demonstrateing substantial equivalency to an EAC/ABET accredited program pursuant to subsection 61G15-20.007(2), F.A.C., or

(c) No change.

Specific Authority 471.013(1)(a) FS. Law Implemented 471.013(1)(a) FS. History–New 1-8-80, Amended 4-15-80, 7-7-83, 9-13-83, Formerly 21H-20.01, Amended 4-20-86, 8-3-86, 5-20-92, 2-2-93, Formerly 21H-20.001, Amended 11-19-03, 3-13-05,_________.

 

61G15-20.0015 Application for Licensure by Endorsement.

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) An applicant for licensure by endorsement who has taken and failed either the fundamentals or the principles and practice examinations more than five (5) times after October 1, 1992, and/or more than three (3) times after July 1, 2004, must document compliance with Rule subsection 61G15-21.007(2), F.A.C., as a condition of eligibility for licensure by endorsement.

(4) An applicant for licensure by endorsement whose only educational deficiency under subsection 61G15-20.007(2), F.A.C., involves humanities and social sciences and who has held a valid license and practiced in another state or territory of the United States for two (2) years or more shall be deemed to have satisfied that requirement.

(5) The Board shall deem that an applicant for licensure by endorsement who has an engineering degree from a foreign institution has demonstrated substantial equivalency to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program, as required by Rule 61G15-20.007, F.A.C., when such applicant has held a valid professional engineer’s license in another state for 15 years and has had 20 years of continuous professional-level engineering experience.

(6)(5) An applicant for licensure by endorsement who previously held licensure in the State of Florida and whose license became null and void because of non-renewal must establish that he or she meets all current requirements for initial licensure. Such applicants, if otherwise eligible, shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions as a condition of licensure if it is demonstrated that they practiced engineering during any period their license was delinquent and/or null and void.

Specific Authority 471.008, 471.013, 471.015 FS. Law Implemented 471.013, 471.015 FS. History–New 9-27-01, Amended________.

 

61G15-20.007 Demonstration of Substantial Equivalency Foreign Degrees.

(1) Applicants having engineering degrees from programs that are not accredited by EAC/ABET foreign institutions shall be required to document “substantial equivalency” to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program the 2002 ABET Accreditation Yearbook for Accreditation Cycle Ended September 30, 2002 engineering criteria. This document is hereby incorporated by reference.

(2) In order to document and prove “substantial equivalency” to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program, the applicant must demonstrate:

(a) 32 college credit hours of higher mathematics and basic sciences.

1. The hours of mathematics must be beyond algebra and trigonometry and must emphasize mathematical concepts and principles rather than computation. Courses in probability and statistics, differential calculus, integral calculus, and differential equations are required. Additional courses may include linear algebra, numerical analysis, and advanced calculus.

2.  As for Tthe hours in basic sciences, must include courses in general chemistry and calculus-based general physics, with at least a two semester (or equivalent) sequence of study in either area. Additional basic sciences courses may include life sciences (biology), earth sciences (geology), and advanced chemistry or physics.

Computer skills and/or programming courses cannot be used to satisfy mathematics or basic science requirements.

(b) 16 college credit hours in humanities and social sciences. Examples of traditional courses in this area are philosophy, religion, history, literature, fine arts, sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, economics, professional ethics, social responsibility and no more than 6 credit hours of languages other than English or other than the applicant’s native language. Courses in technology and human affairs, history of technology, professional ethics and social responsibility are also acceptable. Courses such as accounting, industrial management, finance, personnel administration, engineering economics and military training are not acceptable. Courses which instill cultural values are acceptable, while routine exercises of personal craft are not.

(c) 48 college credit hours of engineering science and engineering design. Courses in this area shall have their roots in mathematics and basic sciences but carry knowledge further toward creative application. Examples of approved traditional engineering science courses are mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical and electronic circuits, materials science, transport phenomena, and computer science (other than computer programming skills). Courses in engineering design stress the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing, and evaluation. In order to promote breadth, at least one engineering course outside the major disciplinary area is required.

(d) No change.

(3) No change.

(4) The applicant with an engineering degree from a foreign institution must request an evaluation of substantial equivalency of his or her credentials to EAC/ABET standards through either Engineering Credentials Evaluation International, 111 Market Place, #171, Baltimore, Maryland 21202; Center for Professional Engineering Education Services, P. O. Box 720010, Miami, FL 33172; or Joseph Silny & Associates, Inc., P. O. Box 248233, Coral Gables, Florida 33124. The applicant with an engineering degree from a domestic engineering program not accredited by EAC/ABET must request such an evaluation from Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., or Center for Professional Engineering Education Services.

(5) Any applicant whose only educational deficiency under subsection (2) involves humanities and social sciences shall be entitled to receive conditional approval to take the Fundamentals examination. Such an applicant shall not become eligible for the Principles and Practice examination until satisfactory completion and documentation of the necessary hours in humanities and social sciences as provided in subsection (2).

Specific Authority 471.008 FS. Law Implemented 471.013, 471.015 FS. History–New 7-20-95, Amended 6-5-96, 4-16-98, 1-17-99, 7-28-99, 1-6-02, 6-13-02, 6-30-02, 10-2-03, 6-16-04, 3-13-05, 5-1-05, 6-11-06,_________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Professional Engineers

NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Professional Engineers

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 6, 2006

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: January 26, 2007