FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. "I have a question for Board staff but how do I know who to ask for when
I call the Board office?"
2. "I notice the Board's rule permits electronic signing and sealing of
plans. Can I use a CAD generated seal or a rubber stamp?"
3. "When must all the material for my application be in the Board office
in order for me to sit for an E.I. or P.E. exam?"
4. "Does Florida require continuing education in order to renew my P.E.
license?"
5. "I noticed that the engineering licensure law permits engineers to elect
Retired Engineer status. What does this entail?"
6. "How do I file a complaint?" "What about unlicensed activity
complaints?"
7. "What are the qualifications to sit for the Engineer Intern exam?"
8. "In my practice as a Professional Engineer I have been asked by governmental
entities to provide building inspection services. Do I need to be registered as a building official
to provide these services?"
9. "When taking over an engineering job from another engineer, do I need
to redraw all the plans?"
10. "I am a graduate of an ABET accredited university with a bachelors
in civil engineering, took the Principles and Practice exam in civil engineering, and have been practicing
as a Professional Engineer for a number of years. Can I sign and seal the electrical and/or mechanical
plan sheets on the convenience store we are working on?"
11. "Occasionally I have been asked by a contractor or other professional
to sign and seal plans they did. I understand I can only sign and seal plans over which I have had responsible
charge but what is meant by "responsible charge?"
12. "My Special Inspector Certification has expired. How do I reinstate?"
13. "When I search for the licensure status of a professional engineer
or engineering firm and I don't find any information, does this mean they are not licensed?"
14. "When does the new Florida Building Code take effect?"
15. "Isn't there some training required that involves the new Florida Building
Code?"
16. "When do I have to complete the training?"
17. "Where can I find building code courses?"
18. "Can I get continuing education credit with the FBPE when I take the
building code course?"
| Most Frequently Asked Question #1 |
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"I have a question for Board staff but how do I know who to ask for when I call the Board office?"
Most of the primary responsibilities are listed under the staff person's name on the FBPE homepage,
along with their extension number and e-mail address. If you have a question that is not covered
under one of those categories, please relay your question to the receptionist, who will put you
through to the appropriate person.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #2 |
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"I notice the Board's rule permits electronic signing and sealing of plans. Can I use a CAD
generated seal or a rubber stamp?"
Neither CAD generated seals nor rubber stamps are permitted under the Board's current rules. Engineers
must use a metal impression type seal. The electronic signing and sealing method described in the
Board's rules refers to a secure method of submitting plans to agencies equipped to accept them
in this format.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #3 |
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"When must all the material for my application be in the Board office in order for me to sit
for an E.I. or P.E. exam?"
Go to the "Applications" page for applications and key dates.
"Speaking of fees, will I get any money back if my application is placed on incomplete status?"
You will not get back the application fee as that money was "earned" by processing your
application; however, you will receive a refund for the examination fee as you did not take the
exam.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #4 |
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"Does Florida require continuing education in order to renew my P.E. license?"
Yes, now it does. In its 2000 session, the legislature amended Section 471.017, Florida Statutes,
relating to licensure renewal to require engineers to complete eight hours of continuing education
per renewal cycle. Four of those hours must be related to Florida’s engineering laws and rules
and four must relate to the licensee’s area of practice.
For the complete text of Rule 61G15-22, F.A.C., click on Laws and Rules right here in the website.
"When do I have to complete these hours?"
Your license expires February 28, 2009. Between March 1, 2007 and February 28, 2009, you will need
to complete the required eight hours.
"My firm wants to offer continuing education seminars. How do we get qualified as a continuing
education provider?"
The Board’s continuing education rule sets forth the qualifications for continuing education
providers. Please contact Mr. Sean Benjamin by either telephone or e-mail at sbenjamin@fbpe.org
to obtain an application. Provider applications are available on this website in the section entitled
"Continuing Education."
| Most Frequently Asked Question #5 |
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"I noticed that the engineering licensure law permits engineers to elect Retired Engineer status.
What does this entail?"
If you would like to convert your license to retired status, you can download an application from
this website. Fill it out and return it to the Board office. The Board must review and approve all
applications for retired status. Engineers on Retired Status may use the term "Professional
Engineer, Retired" or "P.E., Retired;" however, they must refrain from the active
practice of engineering and the use of their seal. Should you wish to convert your license back
to active status, you will have to make application for licensure and meet the licensure criteria
in effect at the time of application.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #6 |
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"How do I file a complaint?"
If you would like to file a complaint involving either
licensed OR unlicensed activity, please download a
copy of the Uniform Complaint Form which can be found
in the Discipline section of this website. If you
want to talk to someone about it please call the Board
office and ask to speak with one of the legal staff.
Once you file a complaint, you will receive acknowledgement
that we have the complaint and that it is being analyzed
to determine if what you have alleged is against the
law. If your complaint is not a violation of law you
will receive a letter indicating the file is being
closed. If it is determined that the allegation you
have made, if true, would constitute a violation of
the engineering laws or rules, you will be notified
that an investigation will take place. Following the
investigation, the case will go to the FBPE Probable
Cause Panel, which is similar to a grand jury, and
they will determine if the case should be recommended
to the full FBPE for discipline. The FBPE then serves
as jury in the case and decides guilt or innocence
as well as the level of discipline if the accused
is found guilty.
"Will the accused know who filed the complaint?"
Yes. The subject of the complaint has the right to have a copy of the initial complaint documents.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #7 |
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"What are the qualifications to sit for the Engineer Intern exam?"
You must be a graduate of an approved engineering curriculum in a school, college or university approved
by the Board. Programs accredited by the American Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) meet
this test.
"What if my degree is from a foreign university and not accredited by ABET?"
If you are a graduate of a foreign institution you must get your transcript evaluated by a company
approved by the Board. The Board has limited its approval to two companies to provide evaluation
services. Applicants may request an evaluation of substantial equivalency of his or her credentials
to ABET standards through Engineering Credentials Evaluation International, P.O. Box 13084, Baltimore,
Maryland 21203-3084 or through Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants,
P.O. Box 248233, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
"I took and passed the EI exam several years ago and never received my wall certificate. How
can I get one?"
The process recently changed and you merely need to contact the Board office with your current mailing
address and we will send you your wall certificate.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #8 |
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"In my practice as a Professional Engineer I have been asked by governmental entities to provide
building inspection services. Do I need to be registered as a building official to provide these services?"
No. In 1998 the legislature adopted H4439 which contained a provision making it clear that P.E.’s
can provide building inspection services without being licensed by the Board of Building Code Administrators;
however, when providing those services the engineer is subject to the disciplinary guidelines under
the Building Code Administrators Act. Complaints, inspections, and discipline that arise out of
a P.E.'s performance of building inspections shall be conducted by the FBPE.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #9 |
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"When taking over an engineering job from another engineer, do I need to redraw all the plans?"
No, not necessarily. Rule 61G15-27.001, F.A.C. however, makes it clear that a successor engineer
seeking to reuse already sealed documents must be able to document that he has, in fact, recreated
all the work done by the original engineer. In other words, all site visits, research, and the like
must be documented and producible upon demand. In addition, he or she must remove the old title
block and use his own and, of course, accept all professional and legal responsibility for the documents.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #10 |
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"I am a graduate of an ABET accredited university with a bachelors in civil engineering, took
the Principles and Practice exam in civil engineering, and have been practicing as a Professional Engineer
for a number of years. Can I sign and seal the electrical and/or mechanical plan sheets on the convenience
store we are working on?"
Maybe…Maybe not. Rule 61G15-19.001, F.A.C., sets forth the grounds for discipline and states
plainly that performing an engineering assignment when not qualified by training or experience in
the practice area involved is misconduct in the practice of engineering. That determination as to
being "qualified" is made by the Professional Engineer but you should be aware that negligence
is defined as failure to have due regard for acceptable engineering principles and that you can
only sign and seal documents that conform to acceptable engineering safeguards for life, property,
and welfare of the public. In addition, incompetence is defined as the inability of the Professional
Engineer to perform duties normally expected of a Professional Engineer.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #11 |
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"Occasionally I have been asked by a contractor or other professional to sign and seal plans
they did. I understand I can only sign and seal plans over which I have had responsible charge but what
is meant by "responsible charge?"
Consider the following test found in Rule 61G15-18.011, F.A.C.: An engineer who signs and seals engineering
documents in responsible charge must be capable of answering questions relevant to the engineering
decisions made during the engineer’s work on the project, in sufficient detail as to leave
little doubt as to the engineer’s proficiency for the work performed. It is not necessary to
defend decisions as in an adversarial situation, but only to demonstrate that the engineer in responsible
charge made them and possessed sufficient knowledge of the project to make them. Examples of questions
the engineer must be able to answer include the criteria for design, methods of analysis, selection
of materials and systems, economics of alternate solutions, and environmental considerations.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #12 |
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"My Special Inspector Certification has expired. How do I reinstate?"
When the Special Inspector Program transferred to the Board of Professional Engineers, a list of
active Special Inspectors was entered into our data bank. Engineers whose Certification was due
to expire in 2000 were granted an extension from the Board so that renewals could be coordinated
with the renewal of your professional engineers license. If your certification expired prior to
2000, there is no means of simply reinstating your certification. The Board requires that you reapply.
When reapplying you must complete the entire application. Once an application is deemed complete
it will be presented to our Application Committee for review. If your application is approved, your
certification will be issued with the previous number. If your application is denied, you will be
advised of your right to appeal under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #13 |
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"When I search for the licensure status of a professional engineer or engineering firm and I
don't find any information, does this mean they are not licensed?"
If you perform a search on www.myfloridalicense.com
and are unable to find licensure information on a
professional engineer who you think is licensed, call
the Board office. We can check the computer database
for alternative spellings of the name and confirm
licensure for you. Most of the Board office staff
can help you with this.
If you are trying to confirm that an engineering
firm has a Certificate of Authorization, call the
Board office and ask for Ms. Frances Ingram. She will
verify the firm's licensure status.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #14 |
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"When does the new Florida Building Code take effect?"
The effective date of the new Florida Building Code was March 1, 2002.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #15 |
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"Isn't there some training required that involves the new Florida Building Code?"
Yes. However, the training is only for engineers who actively participate in designing buildings,
structures, or facilities covered by the Florida Building Code. (Rule 9B-70.001, F.A.C.) Licensees
must complete one of the Core Curriculum courses offered by the Florida Building Commission. The
Core Curriculum is comprised of the Basic Core Course and five Technical Code Training courses.
Licensees must complete one core course.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #16 |
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"When do I have to complete the training?"
Anyone licensed on June 1, 2001 must complete the CORE Curriculum course by May 31, 2003. Anyone
licensed after that date must complete the course within two years of becoming licensed.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #17 |
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"Where can I find building code courses?"
There's a link to the Florida Building Commission's homepage on the Related Sites page of this website.
Once you get to the Florida Building Commission's homepage, click on Training, then look under the
category of Trainee. There you will find several ways to take one of the building code core curriculum
courses.
| Most Frequently Asked Question #18 |
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"Can I get continuing education credit with the FBPE when I take the building code course?"
Yes, you can. Any building code core curriculum courses you take can count towards your area of practice
requirement as long as you complete the course prior to February 28, 2003.