H-3615

AN ACT Relating to engineers and professional land surveyors; amending RCW 18.43.020, 18.43.040, 18.43.050, and 18.43.070; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 18.43.020 and 1991 c 19 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Engineer: The term "engineer" as used in this chapter shall mean a professional engineer as hereinafter defined.

Professional engineer: The term "professional engineer" within the meaning and intent of this chapter, shall mean a person who, by reason of his or her special knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to practice engineering as hereinafter defined, as attested by his or her legal registration as a professional engineer.

Engineer-in-training: The term "engineer-in-training" as used in this chapter ((~~shall~~)) means a candidate ((for registration as a professional engineer who is a graduate in an approved engineering curriculum of four years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, or who has had four years or more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the board; and who, in addition, has)) who has: (1) Satisfied the experience requirements in RCW 18.43.040 for registration, (2) successfully passed the examination in the fundamental engineering subjects ((prior to completion of the requisite years of experience in engineering work as provided in RCW 18.43.060, and who shall have received a certificate stating that he or she has successfully passed this portion of the professional examination)), and (3) is enrolled by the board as an engineer-in-training.

Engineering: The term "engineering" as used in this chapter shall mean the "practice of engineering" as hereinafter defined.

Practice of engineering: The term "practice of engineering" within the meaning and intent of this chapter shall mean any professional service or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences to such professional services or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design and supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with specifications and design, in connection with any public or private utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects.

A person shall be construed to practice or offer to practice engineering, within the meaning and intent of this chapter, who practices any branch of the profession of engineering; or who, by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or in any other way represents himself or herself to be a professional engineer, or through the use of some other title implies that he or she is a professional engineer; or who holds himself or herself out as able to perform, or who does perform, any engineering service or work or any other professional service designated by the practitioner or recognized by educational authorities as engineering.

The practice of engineering shall not include the work ordinarily performed by persons who operate or maintain machinery or equipment.

Land surveyor: The term "land surveyor" as used in this chapter shall mean a ((~~person who, through technical knowledge and skill gained by education and/or by experience, is qualified to practice land surveying as hereinafter defined~~)) professional land surveyor.

Professional land surveyor: The term "professional land surveyor" as used in this chapter means a person who, by reason of his or her special knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences and principles and practices of land surveying, which is acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to practice land surveying and as attested to by his or her legal registration as a professional land surveyor.

Land-surveyor-in-training: The term "land-surveyor-in-training" as used in this chapter means a candidate who: (1) Has satisfied the experience requirements in RCW 18.43.040 for registration, (2) successfully passes the examination in the fundamental land surveying subjects, and (3) is enrolled by the board as a land-surveyor-in-training.

Practice of land surveying: The term "practice of land surveying" within the meaning and intent of this chapter, shall mean assuming responsible charge of the surveying of land for the establishment of corners, lines, boundaries, and monuments, the laying out and subdivision of land, the defining and locating of corners, lines, boundaries and monuments of land after they have been established, the survey of land areas for the purpose of determining the topography thereof, the making of topographical delineations and the preparing of maps and accurate records thereof, when the proper performance of such services requires technical knowledge and skill.

Board: The term "board" as used in this chapter shall mean the state board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors, provided for by this chapter.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.43.040 and 1991 c 19 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The following will be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for registration as a professional engineer, engineer-in-training, ((or)) professional land surveyor, or land-surveyor-in-training, respectively((~~, to wit~~)):

As a professional engineer: A specific record of eight years or more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the board and indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; and successfully passing a written or oral examination, or both, in engineering as prescribed by the board.

Graduation in an approved engineering curriculum of four years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing shall be considered equivalent to four years of such required experience. The satisfactory completion of each year of such an approved engineering course without graduation shall be considered as equivalent to a year of such required experience. Graduation in a curriculum other than engineering from a school or college approved by the board shall be considered as equivalent to two years of such required experience: PROVIDED, That no applicant shall receive credit for more than four years of experience because of undergraduate educational qualifications. The board may, at its discretion, give credit as experience not in excess of one year, for satisfactory postgraduate study in engineering.

As an engineer-in-training: ((~~The board shall permit~~)) An applicant for registration as a professional engineer((~~, upon his or her request, to~~)) shall take the prescribed examination in two stages. The first stage of the examination may be taken upon submission of his or her application for registration as an engineer-in‑training and payment of the application fee ((~~herein~~)) prescribed((,)) in RCW 18.43.050 at any time after the applicant has completed four years of the required engineering experience, as defined ((~~above~~)) in this section, or has achieved senior standing in a school or college approved by the board. The first stage of the examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of appropriate fundamentals of engineering subjects, including mathematics and the basic sciences.

At any time after the completion of the required eight years of engineering experience, as defined ((~~above~~)) in this section, the applicant may take the second stage of the examination((,)) upon submission of an application for registration and payment of the application fee ((~~herein~~)) prescribed in RCW 18.43.050. This stage of the examination shall test the applicant's ability, upon the basis of his or her greater experience, to apply his or her knowledge and experience in the field of his or her specific training and qualifications.

As a professional land surveyor: A specific record of ((~~six~~)) eight years or more of experience in land surveying work of a character satisfactory to the board and indicating that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying, and successfully passing a written or oral examination, or both, in surveying as prescribed by the board.

Graduation from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, including the completion of an approved course in surveying, shall be considered equivalent to four years of ((~~such~~)) the required experience. Postgraduate college courses approved by the board shall be considered for up to one additional year of the required experience.

As a land-surveyor-in-training: An applicant for registration as a professional land surveyor shall take the prescribed examination in two stages. The first stage of the examination may be taken upon submission of his or her application for registration as a land-surveyor-in-training and payment of the application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050 at any time after the applicant has completed four years of the required land surveying experience, as defined in this section, or has achieved senior standing in a school or college approved by the board. The first stage of the examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of appropriate fundamentals of land surveying subjects, including mathematics and the basic sciences.

At any time after the completion of the required eight years of land surveying experience, as defined in this section, the applicant may take the second stage of the examination upon submission of an application for registration and payment of the application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050. This stage of the examination shall test the applicant's ability, upon the basis of greater experience, to apply knowledge and experience in the field of land surveying.

The first stage shall be successfully completed before the second stage may be attempted. Applicants who have been approved by the board to take the examination based on the requirement for six years of experience under this section before the effective date of this act are eligible to sit for the examination.

No person shall be eligible for registration as a professional engineer, engineer-in-training, ((or)) professional land surveyor, or land-surveyor-in-training, who is not of good character and reputation.

((~~Engineering~~)) Teaching, of a character satisfactory to the board((,)) shall be considered as experience not in excess of two years for ((~~professional engineering and one year for land surveying~~)) the appropriate profession.

The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a professional engineer, or the supervision of the construction of such work as a foreman or superintendent shall not be deemed to be practice of engineering.

Any person having the necessary qualifications prescribed in this chapter to entitle him or her to registration shall be eligible for such registration although the person may not be practicing his or her profession at the time of making his or her application.

Sec. 3. RCW 18.43.050 and 1991 c 19 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Application for registration shall be on forms prescribed by the board and furnished by the director, shall contain statements made under oath, showing the applicant's education and detail summary of his or her technical work and shall contain not less than five references, of whom three or more shall be engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience.

The registration fee for professional engineers shall be determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, which shall accompany the application and shall include the cost of examination and issuance of certificate. The fee for engineer-in-training shall be determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, which shall accompany the application and shall include the cost of examination and issuance of certificate.

The registration fee for professional land surveyors shall be determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, which shall accompany the application and shall include the cost of examination and issuance of certificate. The fee for land-surveyor-in-training shall be determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, which shall accompany the application and shall include the cost of examination and issuance of certificate.

Should the board find an applicant ineligible for registration, the registration fee shall be retained as an application fee.

Sec. 4. RCW 18.43.070 and 1991 c 19 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The director of licensing shall issue a certificate of registration upon payment of a registration fee as provided for in this chapter, to any applicant who, in the opinion of the board, has satisfactorily met all the requirements of this chapter. In case of a registered engineer, the certificate shall authorize the practice of "professional engineering" and specify the branch or branches in which specialized, and in case of a registered land surveyor, the certificate shall authorize the practice of "land surveying".

In case of engineer-in-training, the certificate shall state that the applicant has successfully passed the examination in fundamental engineering subjects required by the board and has been enrolled as an "engineer-in-training". In case of land-surveyor-in-training, the certificate shall state that the applicant has successfully passed the examination in fundamental surveying subjects required by the board and has been enrolled as a "land-surveyor-in-training." All certificates of registration shall show the full name of the registrant, shall have a serial number, and shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of the board and by the director of licensing.

The issuance of a certificate of registration by the director of licensing shall be prima facie evidence that the person named therein is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered professional engineer or a registered land surveyor, while the said certificate remains unrevoked and unexpired.

Each registrant hereunder shall upon registration obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board, bearing the registrant's name and the legend "registered professional engineer" or "registered land surveyor". Plans, specifications, plats and reports prepared by the registrant shall be signed, dated, and stamped with said seal or facsimile thereof. Such signature and stamping shall constitute a certification by the registrant that the same was prepared by or under his or her direct supervision and that to his or her knowledge and belief the same was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the statute. It shall be unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any document with said seal or facsimile thereof after the certificate of registrant named thereon has expired or been revoked, unless said certificate shall have been renewed or reissued.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 1993.