BOARD OF REGISTRATION

FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

[Filed May 18, 2026, 7:00 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-08-092.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 196-20 WAC, Engineer-in-training certification.

Hearing Location(s): On June 24, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., at the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (BRPELS), 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 207, Olympia, WA 98501; or via WebEx meeting. BRPELS is holding this hearing in person at its offices in Olympia. The public may also virtually participate in the hearing by accessing the hearing link on BRPELS' rule-making page at https://brpels.wa.gov/current-laws-and-rules/rulemaking-activity.

Date of Intended Adoption: June 25, 2026.

Submit Written Comments to: Shanan Gillespie, P.O. Box 9025, Olympia, WA 98507-9025, email Shanan.Gillespie@brpels.wa.gov, beginning May 20, 2026, 6:00 a.m., by June 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Mackenzie Wherrett, phone 360-664-1568, TTY 711, email Mackenzie.Wherrett@brpels.wa.gov, by June 15, 2026.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules:  Amendments to chapter 196-20 WAC allow individuals to take the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam at any time. Requirements to be approved for the exam were repealed. Amendments to RCW allow BRPELS to decouple the experience requirement to take the FE exam  before  meeting the required years of engineering experience for certification. This separates the timing of the exam from the experience requirement. However, experience requirements must be met before applicants can get certified.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: To implement amendments to chapter 18.43 RCW made by the legislature in 2026.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.43.035.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.43.040 and 18.43.050.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: BRPELS, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Shanan Gillespie, 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 201, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-664-1570; Implementation and Enforcement: Ken Fuller, 605 11th Avenue S.E., Suite 201, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-664-1575.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. BRPELS is not one of the agencies to which RCW 34.05.328 applies pursuant to RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a).

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; and rules adopt, amend, or repeal a procedure, practice, or requirement relating to agency hearings; or a filing or related process requirement for applying to an agency for a license or permit.

Explanation of exemptions: The following rule is exempt per RCW 34.05.310 (4)(d) because amendments clarify language without changing its effect: WAC 196-20-007. The following rules are exempt per RCW 34.05.310 (4)(g)(ii), process requirements for applying to an agency for a license or permit: WAC 196-20-005 and 196-20-007.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

Chapter 196-20 WAC

((FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING EXAM AND ENGINEERS))ENGINEER-IN-TRAINING CERTIFICATION

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-22-093, filed 11/2/21, effective 12/3/21)

WAC 196-20-005Declaration and purpose.

This chapter contains rules and procedures for applications and eligibility to ((take the fundamentals of engineering examination and to apply for))obtain an engineer-in-training certificate.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-22-093, filed 11/2/21, effective 12/3/21)

WAC 196-20-007Fundamentals of engineering ((exam))certificate requirements.

((Approval to sit for the fundamentals-of-engineering examination (FE) is based upon satisfactory evidence that))To obtain an engineer-in-training certificate, the applicant ((has completed))must submit an application form and applicable fees to the board, have passed the fundamentals of engineering examination, and have a minimum of four years of practical engineering experience or four years of engineering education or a combination of both, as approved by the board.

(1) Practical work experience: Qualifying practical experience should include some or all of the following:

(a) Preparation of technical reports and specifications, including graphics;

(b) Application of mathematical techniques to problem solving;

(d) Performing assignments, experiments and tests to general specifications;

(e) Compilation and interpretation of data (statistical analysis, etc.);

(f) Executing engineering tasks according to instructions;

(g) Effective communication with associates and presenting recommendations and conclusions to supervisor;

(h) Knowledge of the impacts of the products of technology on society (i.e., energy/environmental considerations).

(2) Verification of practical work experience.

(a) Practical work experience must be verified by an engineer(s) licensed in a board approved jurisdiction, or as otherwise approved by the board.

(b) The verifier must have directly supervised the applicant's technical work and have personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience.

(c) Exception. The board may allow verification by an unlicensed engineer(s) if the applicant's practical work experience was performed while in the manufacturing or industrial sector, with the federal government, or an active member of the military.

Any exceptions to the verifier license requirement will be at the discretion of the board.

(3)Education: A baccalaureate degree in engineering from an EAC ABET accredited program meets the four-year requirement. Other education will be evaluated by the board pursuant to WAC 196-12-021. Official transcripts must be submitted to NCEES for verification before education will be considered by the board. Transcripts from non-ABET accredited schools may require degree evaluation as determined by the board.

(((3) Any qualifying practical engineering experience may be combined with education to meet the four-year requirement as approved by the board.

(4) Approval to take the FE exam cannot be relied upon for approval to take the professional engineer (PE) examination.))

The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:

Fundamentals-of-engineering exam registration process.

Obtaining certification as an engineer-in-training in Washington.

WAC 196-20-010	Fundamentals-of-engineering exam registration process.
WAC 196-20-045	Obtaining certification as an engineer-in-training in Washington.