NCEES Credentials Evaluations is a service for state licensing boards and applicants. It is designed primarily for candidates who have earned their degrees outside the United States and are pursuing licensure through one of the member licensing boards of NCEES.

Do I need an evaluation?

If you aren’t sure whether you need a credentials evaluation through NCEES, contact your state licensing board before you begin the process. Most applicants are referred to NCEES Credentials Evaluations by a state licensing board.

You do not need an evaluation if your degree was accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET at the time of your graduation. ABET also accredits some programs in other countries.

If you aren’t sure whether your degree program is EAC-accredited, you can search for it at ABET’s website: accredited program search.

If you are a surveyor, contact your state licensing board to determine whether an evaluation is necessary prior to requesting an evaluation with NCEES.

Purpose of an evaluation

To earn a license to practice engineering or surveying, candidates must meet requirements in three areas: education, experience, and examinations. State licensing boards sometimes require that a candidate’s educational background be evaluated to ensure that it is comparable to an accredited degree in the United States. The evaluation process helps ensure that a candidate is qualified academically for licensure. Usually, this takes place when a candidate applies to sit for a licensing exam offered by NCEES.

Engineering education standard

When it conducts an evaluation, NCEES compares the candidate’s college-level education against the NCEES Engineering Education Standard.

This standard reflects generally agreed-upon educational qualifications for entering the profession. If your college-level coursework meets the standard, your evaluation report will indicate this. If it does not, your report will indicate any areas of deficiency.

Most non-EAC/ABET programs, foreign and domestic, that are subject to evaluation are four-year degree programs, and therefore total 128 semester credit hours. The NCEES Engineering Education Standard specifies a total of 96 required semester hours: 32 higher mathematics/basic sciences + 12 general education + 48 engineering science/design. The 128 hour total refers to the requirement of a bachelor’s degree; wherein, at least 96 hours of the program must fulfill the specific mathematics, science, humanities, and engineering content criteria. Any remaining hours of the 128 semester credit program not suited for the specified categories, will be classified as elective/other.

Your evaluation will serve as a reference for the licensing board, which will make any decision regarding your eligibility to obtain a license.

What will the evaluation look like?

The evaluation will contain

• An applicant summary
• A comparability summary, which includes the evaluation result (whether the NCEES Engineering Education Standard has been met), and any area(s) of deficiency relative to the standard
• An education summary, including institution(s) attended, major(s), and degree(s) earned
• A criteria analysis, which breaks down coursework corresponding to the NCEES standard

Fees

Learn about the fees involved in the application process.

• Evaluation: $350
• Re-evaluation: $100
• Transmission to an additional licensing board: free

Fees are paid at the end of the application process. Note that all refunds will be subject to a $50 administrative fee. Also note that NCEES does not grant refunds for applications submitted more than one year prior to the refund request.

Resources

Frequently asked questions
NCEES Engineering Education Standard
NCEES Surveying Education Standard
Course descriptions
Accredited program search
Access my credential evaluation