This page features resources for engineers who were educated or who practice outside the United States and who are seeking to become licensed in the United States.
In addition, there is information on the NCEES International Registry, which is for those currently licensed in the United States who are seeking recognition to practice in another country.
Engineers in the United States use the P.E. designation when they are licensed by a U.S. state or territory. There is no single, nationwide license that allows engineers to practice across U.S. state lines. State licensing boards grant the P.E. license when licensure candidates meet a combination of requirements in education, experience, and exams.
State laws limit the practice of engineering to licensed professional engineers, which means that a P.E. is required for such things as:
While each U.S. state/jurisdiction has its own laws concerning professional licensure, the requirements for the P.E. license generally follow this outline:
We encourage you to contact the licensing board in the U.S. state or territory where you plan to apply for licensure to find out its specific requirements.
Because international licensure candidates typically have degrees from programs that are not accredited by EAC/ABET, most U.S. licensing boards require candidates to have their academic credentials evaluated. NCEES offers a Credentials Evaluations service that compares a candidate’s academic background to established criteria. It then provides this information to the U.S. licensing board where the candidate is applying to sit for an exam.
NCEES has agreements with the following foreign entities to administer an NCEES exam in those countries. The locations, exam offerings, and scheduled exam administrations are available on the engineering and surveying exam pages.
The NCEES publication Criteria for Evaluating the Administration of Exams at Non-U.S. Sites (PDF) describes NCEES policies, criteria, and processes related to NCEES exam administration at sites outside the United States.
The NCEES International Registry for Professional Engineers (IRPE) assists U.S.-based professional engineers who are seeking recognition in countries that are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or the International Engineering Alliance (IEA), formerly the Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF).
As a candidate for the International Registry, you will be required to submit a sworn statement attesting to any sanctions received for violations of applicable licensing laws.
If you did not declare an engineering discipline during the licensure process, you must declare your area(s) of expertise when applying for the International Registry.
If you are an existing Record holder and wish to apply for the NCEES International Registry, you may do so via your MyNCEES account.
The International Registry program is for engineers currently licensed in the United States, who are seeking recognition to practice in another country. To become licensed in the United States, you must meet the requirements set forth by each U.S. state where you wish to pursue licensure. There is no single, nationwide license that allows engineers to practice across U.S. state lines. You can use the NCEES Record to make it easier to apply to each individual state.