HB2130 • 2026

Professions and Occupations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 62, Chapter 2, Part 4, relative to certificates of registration for engineers.

Education Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Hicks T, Powers
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of the bill was not specified in the official source material provided.

Engineer Registration for Engineering Technology Graduates

This bill allows graduates of ABET ETAC-accredited engineering technology programs to apply for engineer registration in Tennessee if they meet certain experience and examination requirements.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new path for people who graduate from an approved four-year or longer ABET ETAC-accredited engineering technology program to apply for engineer registration without needing a post-graduate engineering degree.
Requires these applicants to be approved by the state board as being of good standing, submit professional references from three licensed engineers in Tennessee, and pass specific engineering exams.
Allows those who meet all requirements, including eight years of progressive work experience under a licensed professional engineer, to receive a certificate to practice engineering in Tennessee.

Who It Names or Affects

Graduates of ABET ETAC-accredited engineering technology programs
Engineers registered in Tennessee

Terms To Know

ABET ETAC: A program that accredits engineering and technology education.
Certificate of Registration: Official permission to practice as an engineer in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone fails the required exams.
It is unclear how many people will be affected by this new registration path.

Bill History

2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Companion House Bill substituted
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 4/9/2026
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 84, Nays 5, PNV 2
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/7/2026
2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/31/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026
2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law
establishes
the following are considered minimum evidence satisfactory to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers (“
board”
) that an applicant is qualified for registration as an engineer: (i) graduation from an approved engineering curriculum, expe
rience, and examination; (ii) long established practice; (iii) graduation from an approved post-graduate engineering curriculum, experience, and examination; and (iv) graduation from an approved engineering technology curriculum, exp
erience, and examination, which includes a requirement that the applicant hold a post-graduate engineering degree.

This bill
establishes
an additional path for registration based on graduation from an ABET ETAC-accredited engineering technology curriculum of four years or more, without the post-graduate engineering degree required under the existing engineering technology pathway.
T
he applicant must be approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing, submit written professional references from three engineers registered in this state who are in good standing with the board, and pass the fundamentals of enginee
ring examination to be admitted to the principles and practice of engineering examination.

Upon passing the examinations and with a specific record of eight years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer of a grade and character that indicates to the board that the appli
cant may be competent to practice engineering, the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to practice engineering
in this state
,
as long as
the appl
icant is otherwise qualified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 2447
By Powers

HOUSE BILL 2130
By Hicks T
HB2130
012057
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and
Title 62, Chapter 2, Part 4, relative to certificates
of registration for engineers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-2-401(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(5) Graduation from Engineering Technology Curriculum, Experience, and
Examination. A graduate of an ABET ETAC accredited engineering technology
curriculum of four (4) years or more who is approved by the board as being of
satisfactory standing; who submits written professional references from three (3)
engineers currently registered in this state who are in good standing with the board; and
who passes an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying involving the fundamentals of engineering, must be admitted
to an examination prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing the examinations
and with a specific record of eight (8) years or more of progressive experience on
engineering projects under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer of a
grade and character that indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to
practice engineering , the applicant must be granted a certificate of registration to
practice engineering in this state; provided, that the applicant is otherwise qualified.
SECTION 2. For the purpose of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming
a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2026,
the public welfare requiring it.