The Board proposed an amendment to update the rule language regarding experience.

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

Board of Professional Engineers

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

61G15-20.002Experience

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposed an amendment to update the rule language regarding experience.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendment updates the rule language regarding experience.

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 concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board 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(1)(a) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 471.005(6), 471.013(1)(a), 471.015 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, 2400 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308; [phone] or by electronic mail, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

61G15-20.002 Experience.

(1)(a) No Change.

(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 2. No Change.

3. Experience credit is based on a 40 hour per week full-time employment basis. No additional credit is allowable for overtime work, or for part-time work experience obtained while pursuing engineering education on a full-time basis.  For purposes of this rule, a “full-time basis” means the applicant is enrolled in twelve (12) or more credit hours per semester; less than 12 credit hours is considered to be “part-time enrollment, or for the pursuit of a master’s or doctoral degree while obtaining full-time work experience.”

4. through 15. No Change.

(2) In order to verify an applicant’s experience record, the Board will require evidence of employment from employers or supervisors who are employed in the engineering profession or are professional engineers, who shall set forth the quality and character of the applicant’s duties and responsibilities. In addition to the employer verification, an applicant must list three current personal references who are professional engineers. Should the Board find the information submitted by the applicant is insufficient or incomplete, the Board may require the applicant to supply additional references or evidence regarding the applicant’s experience and background or both so that an intelligent decision may be made on whether admittance to the examination is allowable.

(3)(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), below, theThe Board will accept as equivalent to one year’s experience a master’s degree in engineering from an EAC/M-ABET-accredited program or from a college or university in the U.S. that has an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program in a related discipline at the baccalaureate level. The Board will also accept as equivalent to one year’s experience a doctorate in engineering from a college or university in the U.S. that has an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program in a related discipline at the baccalaureate level. Experience equivalents will be given for the master’s or doctoral degree only if the applicant has earned a prior engineering or engineering technology degree from a college or university that solely meets the requirements of a Board-approved engineering program as defined in subsection 61G15-20.001(2), F.A.C.

(b) Experience equivalents shall not be given for a master’s or doctoral degree if credits earned for the degree are used to satisfy educational requirements of Rule 61G15-20.007 or 61G15-20.008, F.A.C.

(c) The combination of experience equivalents and work experience shall not exceed the number of actual months during which the experience is claimed.

(d) The provisions of (1)(b)3., notwithstanding, in situations where the applicant is seeking experience equivalence from part-time graduate enrollment while simultaneously employed full-time, no more than twelve (12) months of experience equivalence shall be awarded.

Rulemaking Authority 471.008, 471.013(1)(a) FS. Law Implemented 471.005(6), 471.013(1)(a), 471.015 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, 12-18-18, 12-29-19,                         .

 

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: October 11, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 7, 2023