HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5283
As Passed House - Amended:
April 10, 2023
Title: An act relating to the waiver of the fundamentals examination for professional engineer and land surveyor licensing applicants by comity.
Brief Description: Authorizing the state board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors to waive the fundamentals examination for professional engineer or professional land surveyor comity applicants.
Sponsors: Senator Van De Wege; by request of Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Consumer Protection & Business: 3/21/23, 3/28/23 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 4/10/23, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
(As Amended by House)
  • Requires the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to waive the fundamentals examination for out-of-state applicants for a certification of registration as a professional engineer or land surveyor if the applicant has met certain requirements.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION & BUSINESS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 13 members:Representatives Walen, Chair; Reeves, Vice Chair; Corry, Ranking Minority Member; McClintock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Cheney, Connors, Donaghy, Hackney, Ryu, Sandlin, Santos and Volz.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
Background:

The Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (Board) is the entity responsible for reviewing and approving applications for licensure, as well as managing, updating, and enforcing the rules that govern the practice of engineering, land surveying, and on-site wastewater system designs.  The Board must issue a certificate of registration upon payment of a registration fee to any applicant who, in the opinion of the Board, has satisfactorily met all necessary requirements.  To register as a professional engineer or land surveyor, an applicant must show certain evidence satisfactory to the Board, including a minimum of eight years of experience and successful passage of certain examinations.  There are two stages of examination.  The first stage is a fundamentals examination, which may be given in college curricula.  The second stage is a principles and practice examination.  Land surveyors must also pass a Washington-specific land surveyor exam.

 

The Board may issue a certificate without further examination to any applicant who holds a certificate of qualification of registration issued following examination by a proper authority of any state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of any foreign country, provided the applicant's qualifications meet other requirements, and the applicant is in good standing with the licensing agency in the other state, territory, possession, district, or foreign country.  The Board may not waive the fundamentals examination for out-of-state applicants.

 

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is a nonprofit organization that works to improve uniformity of laws and promotes licensure mobility for engineers and land surveyors.  The NCEES provides services that include examinations for engineers and land surveyors, record keeping, and credential evaluation.
Summary of Amended Bill:

The Board is required to waive the fundamentals examination for applicants who:

  • have passed the NCEES Principles and Practice Examination;
  • have met the experience and education requirements established by the Board; and
  • are in good standing with the licensing agency in a state, territory, possession, district, or foreign country.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Board was already waiving the fundamentals exam before realizing that they did not have the statutory authority to do so.  This legislation provides them with the statutory authority to do so, and it removes barriers for out-of-state applicants. 

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Kevin Van De Wege, prime sponsor; and Ken Fuller, Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.