Professional Engineer Licensure

FIRMS: Maine does not license engineering firms, does not require certificates of authorization, and does not have ownership restrictions. For requirements for business registration for service of process, please go to the Department of the Secretary of State here.

ENGINEERS: Anyone practicing or offering to practice professional engineering in Maine must be licensed by the State of Maine.

For detailed information on qualifications and licensure, please read our laws and rules. If you have questions, please contact us.

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Initial Licensure with NCEES Record

Applicants not licensed in any other US jurisdiction applying for initial (first-ever) licensure, who hold a current NCEES Record (includes transcripts, FE and PE exam results, work experience, and PE references), must:

  1. Pay NCEES to transmit their NCEES Record to Maine;
  2. Complete the online application and payment of the application ($50) and licensure ($120) fees, totaling $170. 

Please Note: The online application will direct you to send your NCEES Record even if you have already sent it. The Maine database and the NCEES database are separate and do not talk to each other. Board staff will match your application and NCEES Record. Staff will reach out to you if your application is incomplete.

Initial Licensure with separate supporting documents

Applicants not licensed in any other US jurisdiction applying for initial (first-ever) licensure in Maine must submit the following:

NOTE: All documents should be emailed directly to the board at professional.engineers@maine.gov.

  1. Online application and payment of the application ($50) and licensure ($120) fees, totaling $170. 
  2. Official transcripts (If you are a Maine EI, skip this step--we already have your transcript) sent directly to the board from your school showing a four-year degree in:
    • Bachelor of Science from an ABET-accredited engineering or engineering technology program or equivalent (Note: Equivalency is measured against the NCEES Education Standard); or
    • Bachelor of Science in engineering, engineering technology that is not ABET-accredited; or
    • Allied science degree (i.e. Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.).
  3. Passing result on the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam (If you are a Maine EI, skip this step--we already have your FE exam result).
  4. Passing result on the NCEES Principles and Practices of Engineering examination. (May be taken any time after graduating and passing the NCEES FE Exam.)
  5. Engineering Employment Verification Forms (PDF) Sent directly to the board by the verifier. Experience required with accredited degree is 4 yrs.; with a non-accredited engineering or engineering technology or related science degree the experience requirement is 8 yrs. 
  6. PE Reference Form (PDF) References must email the form directly to the board at professional.engineers@maine.gov. You need 5 references; at least 3 must be from licensed PEs--not required to be from Maine or in your discipline.
  7. Your license will be granted upon fulfillment of licensure requirements.

Reciprocal (Comity) Licensure with NCEES Record

Applicants for licensure as a Professional Engineer who are licensed in another US jurisdiction and hold a current NCEES Record must:

  1. Pay NCEES to transmit your NCEES Record to Maine;
  2. Complete the online application and payment of the application ($50) and licensure ($120) fees, totaling $170. 

Reciprocal (Comity) Licensure with separate supporting documents

Applicants for reciprocal or comity licensure as a Professional Engineer who are licensed in another US jurisdiction must submit the following:

NOTE: All documents should be emailed directly to: professional.engineers@maine.gov.

  1. Online application and payment of the application ($50) and licensure ($120) fees, totaling $170.
  2. Proof of an active PE license in good standing in an equivalent U.S. or foreign jurisdiction and passing results on the NCEES FE and PE exams, such as an Exam/Licensure Verification Form (PDF) or NCEES electronic verification sent directly to the board from the jurisdiction where the applicant took the FE exam and PE exam and received initial licensure, as well as from the jurisdiction of current licensure;
  3. Engineering Employment Verification Forms (PDF) sent directly to the board from employers;
  4. PE Reference Form (PDF) sent directly to the board from each of 5 references familiar with you and your work, 3 of whom must be licensed PEs;
  5. Official transcripts sent directly from your school showing a four-year degree in one of the following:
    • Bachelor of Science degree in an ABET-accredited engineering or engineering technology program or equivalent (Note: Equivalency is determined against the NCEES Education Standard); or
    • Bachelor of Science in engineering, engineering technology or an allied science (i.e. Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.).

BS Degree from Outside the US

Candidates for licensure with an undergraduate degree obtained outside the US must have their degree evaluated with an NCEES Credentials Evaluation, unless their degree program is accredited by ABET, CEAB, or is deemed equivalent by formal agreement such as the Washington Accord. A determination that the degree is not equivalent is not automatically disqualifying, and the final determination will be made by the Board.

Please be aware that both the NCEES FE and PE exams are required of all applicants.

Contact the board office with any questions: professional.engineers@maine.gov.