1755 E Plumb Lane Suite 258, Reno, NV 89502

PE Initial

Initial Professional Engineering (PE) License​

(First PE license - not licensed in any other US state, US territory, or country/jurisdiction)

Nevada licenses professional engineers by specific engineering discipline. The following disciplines are licensed by the Nevada board:

Agricultural (AGE); Chemical (CHE); Civil (CE); Control Systems (CSE); Electrical (EE);Environmental (ENVE); Fire Protection (FPE); Geological (GEOE); Industrial (INDE); Mechanical (ME); Metallurgical and Materials (METE); Mining and Mineral Processing (MINE); Naval Architecture and Marine (NAME); Nuclear (NUE); Petroleum (PETE); and Structural (SE)

To be eligible to APPLY for INITIAL LICENSURE in NEVADA

The elements listed below are required of applicants for initial licensure in Nevada:

Education

Must have one of the following:

  • A bachelor’s degree in engineering from an EAC/ABET accredited program.
  • A bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ETAC/ABET accredited program, or related science curriculum.
  • A master’s degree in engineering from an institution that offers EAC/ABET accredited programs.
  • An earned doctoral degree in engineering from an institution that offers EAC/ABET accredited programs.
  • A bachelor’s degree in construction management from an ABET accredited program.
  • A bachelor’s degree in construction management from a non-ABET accredited program, but institution has ABET accredited engineering programs.

Examinations

Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam unless this requirement is waived by the board.  Applicants seeking to waive the FE exam based on 15 years of practice must include a letter of explanation requesting the waiver when submitting their application.  Passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam related to the discipline of engineering for which you are applying.

Experience

Accrued four (4) or more years progressive engineering experience satisfactory to the board. The experience is to indicate that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of engineering work. Relevant experience is to include one or more of the following:

Engineering Design; Engineering Calculations; Preparation and Review of Engineering Specifications; Planning, Design,  and Construction Oversight of Engineering Works; Preparation and Review of Engineering Plans and Related Documents; and/or Engineering Analysis.

Two (2) of the four (4) years of experience is to have been completed under the supervision of a professional engineer who is licensed in the discipline in which the applicant is applying for licensure unless this requirement is waived by the board.

Graduation with EAC/ABET accredited master’s or doctoral degree in a discipline of engineering is the equivalent of two (2) years active experience.

For bachelor’s degree graduates, active experience is accrued post-graduation. For master’s or doctoral graduates, the two (2) years of active experience cannot be accrued concurrent with post-graduate study.

I have a unique circumstance, am I still eligible to apply?

Unique circumstances might include—my references are civil engineers and I want to be licensed as an environmental engineer; I didn’t take the FE exam; I don’t have two-years supervision under a professional engineer; etc.  

The board can waive certain requirements for licensure in unique circumstances.  When applying, an applicant would include a waiver request letter explaining the unique circumstances.  The waiver request is given special consideration when the board considers your application.   

For questions about your unique circumstance and your eligibility to apply, please contact Jasmine Bailey, Licensing Specialist, jbailey@boe.state.nv.us or 775.688.1231.

Application Process for Initial Licensure in Nevada

1. Transmit a completed NCEES Record to Nevada 
  • The fee to create an NCEES Record is $0.
  • The first-time fee to transmit the Record to Nevada (or any other state) is $100.
  • Subsequent transmittals are $75.
  • Transmittal fees are paid directly to NCEES.

Nevada uses the NCEES Record for its application. We recommend starting the NCEES Record process before completing the Nevada short electronic form. The Nevada board online application will require the entry of your NCEES ID#, which can only be obtained after you begin creating an NCEES Record.

2. Complete the Nevada Board short electronic application form 
  • The application fee is $25, paid to the Nevada Board.
  • The fee for active military and spouses is $0.
3. Board review and consideration of application
4. Pass the Nevada State Specific Take-home Examination
5. Pay pro-rated license fee

1. Transmit a completed NCEES Record to Nevada

An NCEES Record includes the information listed below.

  • Education information (Transcripts are required for all academic credit. (Foreign degrees may require a credential evaluation)
  • Exam verification (Verification of NCEES FE and NCEES PE examinations)
  • Work experience (Chronological listing and verification of engineering and other work experience)
  • Professional references (five references, four from licensed professional engineers who can reflect the character and diversity of your experience and are personally acquainted with your professional reputation)
  • Additional questions for the applicant 

Click here for information about an NCEES record

2. Complete the Nevada Board short electronic application Form

The Nevada Board application requires the information listed below:

  • Personal bio information
  • Veteran status
  • Waiver requests (if any)
  • Nevada affidavit questions

Make sure to select PE Initial Licensure Application – $25.00 from the drop-down menu.

3. Board review and consideration of application

Following the completion and transmission of your NCEES Record and the completion of the Nevada short electronic form via the Nevada board’s website, your application packet will be presented at a public meeting of the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for consideration. The Nevada board meets twelve (12) times per year and at those meetings, board members deliberate and vote on the approval of initial licensure applications. To ensure board members have time to review all initial licensure application packets before board meetings, a cut-off deadline is typically set 7 days prior to each meeting. 

Following are the initial licensure application deadlines for upcoming board meetings.

  • September 14, 2023 – for consideration at regular board meeting September 21, 2023
  • October 5, 2023 – for consideration at interim board meeting October 12, 2023
  • November 9, 2023 – for consideration at regular board meeting November 16, 2023
  • December 7, 2023 – for consideration at interim board meeting December 14, 2023
  • January 17, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting January 24, 2024
  • February 1, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting February 8, 2024
  • March 7, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting March 14, 2024
  • April 4, 2024  – for consideration at interim board meeting April 11, 2024
  • May 2, 2024  – for consideration at regular board meeting May 9, 2024
  • June 6, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting June 13, 2024
  • July 11, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting July 18, 2024
  • August 1, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting August 8, 2024
  • September 5, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting September 12, 2024

4. Pass the Nevada Sate Specific Take-home Examination

Following board member deliberation and vote of approval, successful INITIAL LICENSURE applicants will be notified by email of the remaining two steps of the licensing process:

  • Nevada State Specific Take-home Examination
  • Pay pro-rated license fee 

To complete the licensure process, the approved applicant must pass a short open-book take-home examination on chapter 625 of Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code relating to the regulations and code of conduct of the Board. The passing grade for this exam is a minimum of 70%.

5. Pay pro-rated license fee

After passing the take-home exam, the applicant pays a prorated license fee to align with the appropriate biennial renewal period. 

The biennial renewal schedule for Nevada is determined by the first letter of the licensee’s surname:

  • A through E – renew by January 1 of each odd-numbered year. 
  • F through K – renew by July 1 of each odd-numbered year.
  • L through R – renew by January 1 of each even-numbered year.
  • S through Z – renew by July 1 of each even-numbered year.

After completing the above steps, your Nevada license number will be issued. You will be emailed a copy of your Nevada pocket card with your license details as confirmation.