Texas Board of Professional Engineers

What We Do

The Board’s role in the protection of the public is to license qualified engineers, enforce the Texas Engineering Practice Act, and to regulate the practice of professional engineering in Texas. Currently, more than 56,000 licensed engineers offer engineering services in 27 engineering disciplines. The Board handles over 750 enforcement cases per year, and provides a system of rules and regulations for the ethical and acceptable practice of professional engineering.

Agency Mission Statement

The mission of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (Board) is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people in Texas by ensuring that the practice of engineering in the state is carried out only by those persons who are proven to be qualified and by regulating the practice of Professional Engineering in Texas.

Filing a Complaint

To act upon your complaint, the Board must know the "who, what, when, where, how", and, if possible, "why". Provide as much information as you can, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of other persons who know about the problem you're complaining about. Give the name(s) of city and/or county staff if you have had contact with them and they know something about your complaint. The Board needs all the facts you can provide in order to process your complaint. The Board does not have the staff to investigate inquiries based only upon suspicion or speculation. Before mailing your complaint, make an extra copy of everything for your own files. That way, if you get a telephone call from Board staff asking for clarification or additional information about your complaint, you'll be able to find the information.

The Board DOES accept anonymous complaints; however, please understand that since an investigator will be unable to contact you for clarification or for further information, please take care to include the information addressed in the paragraph above. Further, understand you will not be notified of the results of the investigation of your anonymous complaint. If using the complaint form you may write "anonymous" where it asks for your name and signature. If possible, all complaints should be filed in English.
For further information, refer to: http://engineers.texas.gov/complaint.htm.

Who Should be Licensed

Under the Texas Engineering Practice Act, only duly licensed persons may legally perform, or offer to perform engineering services for the public. Furthermore, public works must be designed and constructed under the direct supervision of a licensed professional engineer. The terms "P.E." or "professional engineer" can only be used by persons who are currently licensed. Anyone who violates these parameters is subject to legal penalties. To be eligible for a professional engineering license, engineers must have achieved certain professional milestones. They must have earned an engineering education, performed certain levels of engineering work experience, and passed specific examinations. Examinations are in English. Although some of these milestones are quite specific, there are limitless combinations of education, experience, and examinations that the Board can consider acceptable for a license. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English.
For further information, refer to: http://engineers.texas.gov/lic_basic.htm.

P.E. License Renewal

Renewal fees are $40 for all PEs. Additional fees will be charged to P.E.s who renew late.
For further information, refer to: http://engineers.texas.gov/pe.htm

Inactive Status Exemption

An engineer may request inactive status at any time before the expiration date of the person’s license. A license holder on inactive status may not practice engineering. A license holder in inactive status is exempt from the continuing education requirement. The form to apply for inactive status is available by contacting the Board or it is available on the website.

CEP Requirements

CEP certification is required for renewals. You must certify that you have met the CEP requirements for renewal or that you are exempt due to one of the following allowed reasons: inactive status, disabled, active military duty or first renewal after exam. Do not submit your CEP documentation with your payment. If your license is audited, you will need to provide the supporting documentation to the Board.

Firm Registration

Any firm offering engineering services to the public of Texas must register that firm with the Board. A firm is defined as any entity that engages or offers to engage in the practice of professional engineering in this state. This includes sole practitioners, sole proprietorships, firms, co-partnerships, corporations, partnerships, or joint stock associations.
For further information, refer to: http://engineers.texas.gov/firms.htm

Firm Renewal

A firm registration is active for 1 year. The Board sends out annual renewal invoices approximately 45 days prior to the registrations' expiration date. A registration that is not renewed or postmarked by the registration expiration date may renew by submitting the annual registration renewal invoice sent by the Board and include a payment of two (2) times the normal registration renewal fee; along with a statement of whether engineering services were offered, pending, and/or performed for the public in Texas during the time the registration was not current. If the registration has expired for more than 1 year, it will be necessary to re-apply for new registration under the current law & rules and shall be issued a new registration number.

Online Rosters

Rosters allow easy searches for Professional Engineers, Engineering Firms or Engineers in Training.
To search for any of these individuals, go to: http://engineers.texas.gov/search.