Professional Engineer License Reciprocity by State (2026)
NCEES Records programme (licensure by comity)
Professional engineers transfer by comity, not by a compact. States do not grant a PE licence automatically because you hold one elsewhere — but an NCEES Record is accepted by every U.S. state licensing board and removes most of the duplicate paperwork.
- Covers:
- Professional engineers (PE) and professional surveyors (PS).
- Governing body:
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
What to know before you rely on it
- An NCEES Record is a verified compilation of transcripts, exam results, employment history and references — it is not a licence and guarantees licensure nowhere.
- You still file an application and pay a fee in each state, and boards may ask for extra information.
- Some states require the Record for comity licensure; a handful also accept it for initial licensure.
- If you were licensed under standards that differ from the destination state, the board decides whether your experience qualifies.
Verify this first: Confirm the destination board's comity requirements — a licence is never granted on reciprocity alone.
NCEES — Records programme ↗State-by-state reciprocity notes
12 of 51 states have a published reciprocity note in our dataset. For the remaining states, the note is not published — check both state boards before you move. Signs off on engineering plans and public works. Requires an ABET-accredited degree, the FE then the PE exam (NCEES), plus state experience rules.
| State | Reciprocity note | Verify with |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes — comity via NCEES Record | Arizona State Board of Technical Registration (BTR) ↗ |
| California | Yes — comity via NCEES Record; CA requires additional state-specific exams for civil engineers (Seismic Principles + Surveying) | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) ↗ |
| Florida | Yes — comity via NCEES Record / Model Law Engineer | Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) ↗ |
| Georgia | Yes — comity via NCEES Record; Mutual Recognition Agreement (UK) available | Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board (PELS) ↗ |
| Illinois | Yes — endorsement/reciprocity evaluated individually by IDFPR | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) ↗ |
| Michigan | Yes — comity via NCEES Record | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Bureau of Professional Licensing ↗ |
| New York | Yes — endorsement by evaluation of substantially equivalent requirements | New York State Education Department — Office of the Professions ↗ |
| North Carolina | Yes — comity via NCEES Record / Model Law Engineer | North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS) ↗ |
| Ohio | Yes — comity via NCEES Record | Ohio Board of Professional Engineers and Surveyors ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | Yes — comity via NCEES Record / Act 41 endorsement | Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists ↗ |
| Texas | Yes — comity via NCEES Record / Model Law Engineer | Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) ↗ |
| Washington | Yes — comity via NCEES Record | Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (BRPELS) ↗ |
| Alabama | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Alaska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Arkansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Colorado | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Connecticut | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Delaware | check both state boards | board site pending |
| District of Columbia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Hawaii | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Idaho | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Indiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Iowa | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kentucky | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Louisiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maine | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maryland | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Massachusetts | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Minnesota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Mississippi | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Missouri | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Montana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nebraska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nevada | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Hampshire | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Jersey | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Mexico | check both state boards | board site pending |
| North Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oklahoma | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oregon | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Rhode Island | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Carolina | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Tennessee | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Utah | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Vermont | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| West Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wisconsin | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wyoming | check both state boards | board site pending |
Frequently asked questions
How does a PE license transfer between states?
Professional engineers transfer by comity, not by a compact. States do not grant a PE licence automatically because you hold one elsewhere — but an NCEES Record is accepted by every U.S. state licensing board and removes most of the duplicate paperwork.
Which states participate in NCEES Records programme (licensure by comity)?
Professional engineers transfer by comity, not by a compact. States do not grant a PE licence automatically because you hold one elsewhere — but an NCEES Record is accepted by every U.S. state licensing board and removes most of the duplicate paperwork. Confirm the current position with National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Does NCEES Records programme (licensure by comity) mean I skip the exam entirely?
Not automatically. An NCEES Record is a verified compilation of transcripts, exam results, employment history and references — it is not a licence and guarantees licensure nowhere. The only reliable answer for your situation comes from the destination board, so verify before you pay application fees.
Can I transfer my PE license to another state?
In our dataset, 12 states have a published reciprocity note (see the table). For every other state the rule is not published here — check both state boards before moving.
What does reciprocity mean for a license?
Reciprocity lets an already-licensed professional from one state qualify for a license in another state without repeating the full education and exam process. Some states have formal agreements or compacts; others require a state-specific exam or extra coursework even when they accept your license. Many states do not grant a license on reciprocity at all — they grant it by comity or endorsement, meaning you still file an application and meet their requirements.
Why do some states say "check both state boards"?
State reciprocity tables are not consistently published in machine-readable form. When a state has not published an official note in our verified sources, we point you to both boards rather than guess. That is the safest answer for a decision that can affect your eligibility to work.
Does holding a license in one state guarantee a license in another?
No. Every state sets its own licensing law. Even in states with reciprocity or a compact, you typically still file an application, pay a fee, pass a background check and sometimes pass a state-specific exam. Always confirm directly with the destination state board.
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Reciprocity rules and compact membership change frequently and are set by each state legislature and board. “Check both state boards” means the note is not published in our dataset — it is not a negative answer. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13; always verify with both boards before relocating.