About

About Us | Our History | Organizational Structure | Our Team | Annual Reports & Other Publications

Mission

The mission of NCEES is to advance licensure for engineers and surveyors in order to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

This mission is supported through its member boards, board of directors, staff, board administrators, and volunteers by:

Providing outstanding nationally normed examinations for engineers and surveyors
Providing uniform model laws and model rules for adoption by the member boards
Promoting professional ethics among all engineers and surveyors
Coordinating with domestic and international organizations to advance licensure of all engineers and surveyors

Vision

The vision of NCEES is to provide leadership in professional licensure of engineers and surveyors through excellence in uniform laws, licensing standards, and professional ethics in order to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public and to shape the future of professional licensure.

How NCEES is Safeguarding the Public

Through education, experience, and exams, professional engineering and surveying licensure establishes an important verification of expertise that is critical in safeguarding the public.

Exams

Licensure

Outreach

NCEES History

1891

California passes the first surveying licensure law.

1907

Wyoming passes the first engineering licensure law.

1920

At a meeting in Chicago, the Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (CSBEE) is founded by 7 of the 10 state boards with engineering/surveying licensing laws.

1931

The word “national” is added to the organization’s name (NCSBEE).

1932

NCSBEE approves the Model Law for Registration of Engineers and Land Surveyors. The Council’s National Bureau of Engineering Registration is created.

1933

NCSBEE revises the Constitution and Bylaws to create a board of directors, zones, and the position of executive secretary.

1950

All states plus Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have engineering licensure laws.

1953

The four geographic zones hold their first interim meetings, where member boards discuss issues of common interest.

1960

Guam becomes a member board of the Council.

1965

The first NCSBEE Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination is administered.

1966

The first NCSBEE Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination is administered.

1967

The organization’s name is changed to the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE).

1968

The U.S. Virgin Islands becomes a member board of the Council.

1973

The first NCEE Fundamentals of Land Surveying (FLS) examination is administered.

1974

The first NCEE Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (PLS) examination is administered.

1960

The Northern Mariana Islands becomes a member board of the Council.

1979

The NCEE Records program is created to replace the National Bureau of Engineering Registration.

1984

All member licensing boards now use uniform national engineering examinations.

1989

The organization’s name is changed to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

1990

All states have surveying licensure laws

1996

The afternoon portion of the FE examination is offered in six discipline-specific modules (Chemical, Civil, Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical, and General) in order to test upper-division knowledge.

1999

With the October exam, the first academic-based FLS exam is administered.

2000

The NCEES Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Services (ELSES) is established to provide exam administration services to NCEES member boards. Initially chartered as an NCEES affiliate, ELSES was dissolved in 2009 but continues to provide the same services as the NCEES Exam Administration Services department.

2002

With the April exam, the PE Civil, PE Electrical and Computer, and PE Mechanical exams are all administered in the breadth-and-depth objectively scored (multiple-choice) format. With the October administration, all PE exams (except Structural) are given in the all objectively scored format.

2003

The Engineering Speaker’s Kit is developed to promote the engineering profession, emphasizing the benefits of pursuing licensure. A Surveying Speaker’s Kit is introduced two years later.

2004

Council headquarters is expanded to add more meeting space.

2005

The names of surveying exams are changed to Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) to remove the word “land.”

2006

NCEES begins providing Credentials Evaluations services for licensure candidates earning degrees from programs outside the United States and from domestic, non-ABET accredited programs. NCEES exams are first offered in Japan and Alberta, Canada.

2007

NCEES celebrates the 100th anniversary of engineering licensure in the United States.

2008

NCEES exams are first offered in South Korea.

2009

NCEES exams are first offered in Egypt. NCEES launches the Engineering Education Award.

2010

NCEES exams are first offered in Saudi Arabia. The Council votes to transition the FE and FS exams to a computer-based format.

2011

NCEES launches new web-based Engineering and Surveying Speaker’s Kits.

2012

NCEES exams are first offered in the Emirate of Sharjah and in Turkey. The Council votes to transition the PE and PS exams to a computer-based format.

2013

The last pencil-and-paper administration of the FE and FS exams takes place in October. Council headquarters is expanded to add more meeting space. NCEES serves as lead society sponsor of National Engineers Week. Two new departments are created: Client Services and Member Services. NCEES installs the first female president of the organization at its August annual meeting.

2014

The FE and FS exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time. The FE exam becomes seven freestanding, discipline-specific exams. NCEES exams are first offered in Taiwan.

2015

NCEES exams are first offered in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

2016

The PS exam is administered via computer-based testing for the first time. NCEES launches the NCEES Surveying Education Award. NCEES exams are first offered in Qatar. The NCEES Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Registry is introduced.

2017

NCEES begins offering the Council Record for initial licensure applications.

2018

NCEES exams are expanded in Saudi Arabia to include the FS and PS exams. The PE Chemical and PE Nuclear exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time. NCEES serves as lead society sponsor of National Engineers Week.

2019

NCEES serves as lead society sponsor of National Engineers Week. The PE Environmental and PE Petroleum exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time. NCEES is a founding partner of the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) to ensure a unified voice for the advanced professions in addressing the increase in threats to licensure.

2020

The Council celebrates the 100^th anniversary of its founding. NCEES relocates its headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina. The PE Mechanical, PE Fire Protection, PE Industrial, and PE Electrical and Computer: Power exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time. The surveying workforce development initiative launches. The Council introduces Advance: An NCEES Podcast Series.

2021

The Council holds its 100^th annual business meeting. The PE Agricultural and Biological Engineering, PE Mining and Mineral Processing, and the remaining PE Electrical and Computer exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time.

2022

The PE Civil, PE Architectural, PE Naval Architecture and Marine, PE Metallurgical and Materials, and PE Control Systems exams are administered via computer-based testing for the first time.

2023

NCEES conducts its final pencil-and-paper exam administration in October. The FE Ambassador Program is established.

2024

The NCEES Foundation is established. A mutual recognition agreement is approved between NCEES and the U.K. Engineering Council. The PE Structural exam is administered via computer-based testing for the first time.

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NCEES Governance Structure

NCEES operates under the supervision of a board of directors. Members of the board of directors are nominated and elected to serve by the Council’s member licensing boards, which represent the engineering and surveying licensing boards from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The individual members of these state licensing boards are appointed to serve by their respective governors and are considered active members of NCEES. NCEES standing committees meet throughout the year to address NCEES business and licensure issues.

Member Board Directory

Committees and Task Forces

NCEES Board of Directors and CEO

President
Andrew Zoutewelle, P.L.S.

A resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, Zoutewelle is an emeritus member of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. He served as NCEES Southern Zone vice president in 2021–23, as board liaison to the Committee on Law Enforcement and Committee on Member Board Administrators in 2022–23, and as board liaison to the Committee on Examination Audit in 2021–22. He served as a member of the NCEES Committee on Examinations for Professional Surveyors in 2014–17 and 2020–21. He also served as a member and consultant of the Surveying Exam Module Task Force in 2017–19 and as a member and chair of the Committee on Finances in 2017–20. Additionally, he served as board liaison to the Committee on Examinations for Professional Surveyors and the Surveying and Mapping Sciences Licensure Task Force in 2023–24.

President-Elect
Elizabeth Beckett Johnston, P.E.

A resident of Fairbanks, Alaska, Beckett Johnston has served as a member of the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors since 2018.

She served as a member of the NCEES Committee on Examination Policy and Procedures in 2020–21 and 2023–24 and as chair of the committee in 2021–23. Additionally, she served as Western Zone assistant vice president in 2023–24.

Immediate Past President
Laura Sievers, P.E.

A resident of LeMars, Iowa, Sievers has served as a member of the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board since 2016. She served as chair of the NCEES Committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers in 2021–22 and as chair of the Committee on Examination Audits in 2017–19. She served as board liaison to the Committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers and the Special Committee on Bylaws in 2022–23.

Treasurer
Karl Tonander, P.E.

A resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tonander has served as a member of the New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors since 2014. He served as a member of the NCEES Committee on Law Enforcement in 2016–18 and as chair in 2018–20. He also served as a member of the Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines and as Western Zone secretary-treasurer in 2021–23.

Central Zone Vice President
Jason Suelter, P.E., S.E.

A resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, Suelter has been a member of the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects since 2020.

He served as a member of the NCEES Committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers in 2022–23 and as chair of the Committee on Examination Policy and Procedures in 2023–24. He has been a member of the PE Structural exam development committee for 13 years.

Northeast Zone Vice President
Samuel Wilson, P.E.

A resident of Washington, D.C., Wilson has served as a member of the District of Columbia Board of Professional Engineering since 2017, serving as chair of the board in 2017–21. He served as a member of the Public Outreach Task Force in 2018–20 and as chair in 2020–21.

In addition, he served as the NCEES Northeast Zone assistant vice president in 2021–23. Wilson was a member of the Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines in 2020–22 and was a member of the NCEES Committee on Finances in 2022–23.

Southern Zone Vice President
James Kelly, P.E.

A resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, Kelly has served as a member of the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects since 2017. He has also served as chair of the Virginia board. Kelly has served as a member of the NCEES Southern Zone Site Selection Committee.

Western Zone Vice President
Aaron Blaisdell, P.L.S.

A resident of Kirkland, Washington, Blaisdell has served as a member of the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors since 2015.

He served as a member of the NCEES Public Outreach Task Force in 2018–19. He also served as a member of the NCEES Committee on Examinations for Professional Surveyors in 2019–23 and as a member of the Committee on Examination Policy and Procedures in 2023–24. He is currently a member of the NCEES Public Land Survey System exam development committee.

Chief Executive Officer

The board of directors appoints the chief executive officer, who oversees daily operations of the Council and serves as secretary of the organization.

Davy McDowell, P.E.

Davy McDowell, P.E., is the chief executive officer of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, the organization composed of all U.S. licensing boards for engineers and surveyors. In this role, he serves as secretary of the board of directors and chief employed officer of NCEES, with authority over its daily operations.

Prior to being named CEO in 2024, McDowell was the chief operating officer of NCEES. In this role, he provided support to the CEO as the organization implemented the decisions of its board of directors and served as a liaison between NCEES and its member licensing boards.

An employee of NCEES since 1999, McDowell previously served as director of professional services, overseeing the organization’s Records department and leading the Council’s efforts to promote licensure to current and future engineers and surveyors. He also was an exam development engineer, overseeing the exam development process for several licensing exams produced by NCEES.

McDowell, who is a licensed engineer in South Carolina, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural engineering from Clemson University.

Exam Publications Specialist

Sally Bradley

Manager of Exam Support

Erin Riojas

Prep Materials Editor

Tim Sumerel

Ragenia Davis

Production and Print Coordinator

Cara Sizemore

Senior Instructional Designer

Kaleigh Aschenbrenner

Project Scheduler

Bob Whorton, P.E.

Manager of Compliance and Security

Lisa Day

Compliance and Security Coordinator

Joe Scheving, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Laura Painter

Manager of Accounting

Donna Ellis

Staff Accountant

Julie Farnsworth

Accounts Receivable Associate

Angie Tempest

Accounts Payable Associate

Donna Moss, SHRM-CP, PHR

Chief Human Resources Officer

Latisha Brown, SHRM-CP, PHR

Manager of Human Resources

Emily Halbert

Human Resources Generalist

Mandy Imhof

HR and Facilities Coordinator

Loretta Stephens

Front Desk Coordinator

Steven Matthews

Chief Technology and Strategy Officer

Matt Rardon

Lead Programmer

Matthew Ellis

Senior Programmer

John David

Junior Programmer

Liam Weston

Junior Programmer

Joshua Eaker

Network Security Administrator

Lamar Marsengill

Data Management Specialist

Tim Dietrich

Systems Analyst

Christopher McKerley

Systems Administrator

Edward Parham

Help Desk Administrator

Stef Goodenow

Chief Officer of Member Services

Tracy Snyder

Manager of Member Services

Shanda LaForge

Credentials Evaluator

Lauren Veneziano

Credentials Evaluator

Dave Seamans

Credentials Evaluator

Kristie White

Credentials Evaluator/Records Reviewer

Karson Hood

Credentials Evaluator/Records Reviewer

Elizabeth Chandler

Member Services Coordinator

Kim Alexander

Member Services Coordinator