Reciprocity

[swivel63]

I know this questions has been posed like a million times.....but i can't find it anywhere

i'm a registered PE in Florida and Georgia. The new firm i'm going to be working for has an office in atlanta, but is based in chicago. I figure that having an Illinois SE at a minimum would be good for my career. However, I'm confused as to what the requirements for the Illinois SE regarding comity are.

Would i have to completely retake the struct. 1 all over again just to get the PE in illinois before i can take the struct. 2? i'm looking to take the struct. 2 next may, but i don't want to waste my time taking it now if it's not going to help me get the SE in Illinois. Does illinois even have comity applications or do you have to take the test in illinois in order to get it?

 

[JAE]

swivel63, I was in your exact situation in 1991. PE from Texas and tried to get licensed as an SE in Illinois. No dice. I had taken the "PE" exam (the Principles in Practice Exam at the time) and Illinois wouldn't accept that. I had to take the SE-1 and then the SE-2 to get my SE license.

You could possibly achieve a PE in civil engineering with your credentials, but that won't allow you to practice any sort of structural engineering there...as they require the SE-2 and the SE-2 requires the SE-1. There is no "PE" license there that allows structural design. Only the SE.

 

[JStephen]

The ultimate answer is to call the board in question and ask (or email).

I am not aware of any circumstances where you would ever have to REtake a test you previously passed. But if the new state requires tests you didn't take for the previous licenses, they are likely to be required.

 

[swivel63]

yea, every time i call the board in springfield i get the busy signal or i'm on hold for forever and a day.

yea, i passed the SE-1 (structural 1), because i figure i don't know jack isht about transpo, or water. i just don't know if they even offer reciprocity for even the SE-1 because i couldn't find any comity applications for the state, just exam applications.

 

[DaveVikingPE]

I've just initiated the NCEES Record program.

http://www.ncees.org/records/establishing_a_record/.

I want to register in New Jersey and Florida (Comity and Endorsement, respectively - go figure). Both states accept the NCEES Record as part of their application process. It seems to me that it would make the process a little less painful.

It appears to be a centralized holding place for transcripts, experience and PE test verification. From the NCEES site:

What is the NCEES Records Program?

The NCEES Records Program serves as a verifying agency for an engineer or surveyor who is seeking multiple-jurisdiction licensure by comity. Applicants to the program must already be licensed with at least one licensing board in the United States or its territories. An NCEES record is not established automatically when an engineering and surveying license is granted. The engineer or surveyor must initiate the process by making application to the NCEES.

Through this program, the Council verifies and houses the Recordholder's file, which contains the college transcripts, licensure information, professional engineer or surveyor references, and employment verifications. When licensure in additional jurisdictions is needed, a copy of the NCEES Council Record can be transmitted to other licensure authorities with a written release.

 

[swivel63]

yea, i just got one of those as well.....that's how i got the georgia one since my original state is florida. it's a pretty good idea, i just don't remember if Illinois was ever an option to send the record app there as well since i didn't see a comity app on the Illinois site.

 

[JAE]

swivel63, like I said, you now must take the SE-2 in Illinois to get an SE license. There is no receprocity with your current PE licenses since they do not require the SE-2 and Illinois does.

 

[swivel63]

my question is regarding my SE-1 in order to first get the illinois PE. i've already taken and passed the SE-1, and i'm trying to avoid having to travel to illinois to take the SE-1 again just to get the Illinois PE. i'm not sure how Illinois works, but taking the SE-1 in both georgia and florida will give you a PE in those states, which is exactly what i've done.

i know that the SE requires the SE-2, but i'm not sure if i can take the SE-2 in the state of georgia or something like that or will i have to actually travel to the state of illinois to take the test.

if you're saying that i have to take the test in illinois, then there's not point in me even taking the SE-2 right now because i'd have to retake the SE-1 just to get the Illinois PE. Or is there a completely separate test in order to get the Illinois PE (like the california civil or something like that)?

 

[metengr]

swivel63;
I am not an SE, but I do have a PE in Illinois, and follow this stuff closely. Here is what you need to do, go to the web site below

http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/default.asp

Select profession and find structural engineer. A menu should pop-up with various choices;

find structural engineer rules. All of the information in these rules should help you. Attempting to contact the Board by phone is too slow, use email listed in the web site above if you need to contact someone in the SE department.

Regarding the NCEES Record, it would work in Illoinois if your attempting to obtain a PE license. For SE, different set of rules and the last time I checked, the Illinois Board of Structural Engineers did not completely recognize the NCEES Record for application. In other words, it could be used to verify education and your current license, but that is it. A separate application is required for work experience and references.

 

[BJC]

Swivel63
Three states used to be different than eveyone else. That was California, New York and Texas. The first two had a different and tougher exam than the other 47. You had to take the test no matter what.
Texas ( and I am not sure when it changed ) didn't have a PE exam at all. All you had to do was get five other Texas PEs to sign for you and that was about it.
Most states would not accept a Texas PE for recoprocity. Thats changed now but the memory may live on.
At that time Texas required a picture on the application, guess what that was for.
Some people may remember that longer than others and still subject anything from TX to the slow route.

 

[JAE]

BJC - you are correct that Texas didn't require an exam. I was in fact licensed there first - you had to submit a full description of all your experience. After acceptance as a PE you could then have permission to take the PE exam.

swivel63 - I took both the SE-1 and the SE-2 in my then current home state....not in Illinois. SE-1 and SE-2 are national exams that states recognize and if you take your SE-2 in Georgia, or wherever, it will apply for you to get licensed in Illinois....at least when I did it in 1994-95. You might check on metengr's link to verify.

 

[swivel63]

cool, good stuff.....that's the answer i was looking for. granted, i couldn't find any sort of information regarding something like in the link provided....but hopefully the rules haven't changed. if they haven't, i'll stick to my current plan of taking the S-2 next may.

 

[Galambos]

swivel, i wanted to add that i took the NCEES se1 and se2 in ohio last year and recently received my se from illinois. i was worried that they wouldnt accept the se1 and se2 from out of state because they have different test taking rules, but it worked out. i think they have more stringent education requirements than most states, too.

as far as contacting the IL board, you have to call and call and call and call (keep hitting redial) and eventually you can get through. email is the most preferred way of reaching them and they usually respond within a day or so.

hope that helps.