Professional engineers

AN ACT Relating to the professional engineers' registration act; 1
amending RCW 18.43.030, 18.43.033, 18.43.035, 18.43.040, 18.43.050, 2
18.43.060, 18.43.070, 18.43.080, 18.43.100, 18.43.130, 18.43.150, 3
18.43.170, and 18.43.200; and reenacting and amending RCW 18.43.020.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 18.43.020 and 2019 c 442 s 8 are each reenacted and 6
amended to read as follows: 7
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 8
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 9
(1) "Board" means the state board of registration for 10
professional engineers and professional land surveyors, provided for 11
by this chapter. 12
(2) "Director" means the ((executive)) director of the Washington 13
state board of registration for professional engineers and 14
professional land surveyors. 15
(3) (("Engineer" means a professional engineer as defined in this 16
section.17
(4))) "Engineer-in-training" means a candidate who: (a) Has 18
satisfied the experience requirements in RCW 18.43.040 for 19
registration; (b) has successfully passed the examination in the 20
Z-0421.7
HOUSE BILL 2229
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Zahn, Waters, Leavitt, Parshley, Lekanoff, Reed,
and Thai; by request of Board of Registration for Professional
Engineers and Land Surveyors
Prefiled 12/31/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Consumer Protection & Business.
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fundamental engineering subjects; and (c) is enrolled by the board as 1
an engineer-in-training. 2
(((5))) (4) "Engineering" means the "practice of engineering" as 3
defined in this section. 4
(((6) "Land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor.5
(7))) (5) "Land-surveyor-in-training" means a candidate who: (a) 6
Has satisfied the experience requirements in RCW 18.43.040 for 7
registration; (b) successfully passes the examination in the 8
fundamental land surveying subjects; and (c) is enrolled by the board 9
as a land-surveyor-in-training. 10
(((8))) (6)(a) "Practice of engineering" means any professional 11
service or creative work requiring engineering education, training, 12
and experience and the application of special knowledge of the 13
mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences to such professional 14
services or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, 15
planning, design, and supervision of construction for the purpose of 16
assuring compliance with specifications and design, in connection 17
with any public or private utilities, structures, buildings, 18
machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects.19
(b) A person shall be construed to practice or offer to practice 20
engineering, within the meaning and intent of this chapter, who 21
practices any branch of the profession of engineering; or who, by 22
verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or in any other 23
way represents ((himself or herself )) themself to be a professional 24
engineer, or through the use of some other title implies that ((he or 25
she is)) they are a professional engineer; or who holds ((himself or 26
herself)) themself out as able to perform, or who does perform, any 27
engineering service or work or any other professional service 28
designated by the practitioner or recognized by educational 29
authorities as engineering. 30
(c) The practice of engineering does not include the work 31
ordinarily performed by persons who operate or maintain machinery or 32
equipment. 33
(((9))) (7) "Practice of land surveying" means assuming 34
responsible charge of the surveying of land for the establishment of 35
corners, lines, boundaries, and monuments, the laying out and 36
subdivision of land, the defining and locating of corners, lines, 37
boundaries, and monuments of land after they have been established, 38
the survey of land areas for the purpose of determining the 39
topography thereof, the making of topographical delineations and the 40
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preparing of maps and accurate records thereof, when the proper 1
performance of such services requires technical knowledge and skill.2
(((10))) (8) "Professional engineer" means a person who, by 3
reason of ((his or her )) the person's special knowledge of the 4
mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of 5
engineering analysis and design, acquired by professional education 6
and practical experience, is qualified to practice engineering as 7
defined in this section, as attested by ((his or her )) the person's 8
legal registration as a professional engineer. 9
(((11))) (9) "Professional land surveyor" means a person who, by 10
reason of ((his or her )) the person's special knowledge of the 11
mathematical and physical sciences and principles and practices of 12
land surveying, which is acquired by professional education and 13
practical experience, is qualified to practice land surveying and as 14
attested to by ((his or her )) the person's legal registration as a 15
professional land surveyor. 16
(((12))) (10) "Significant structures" include:17
(a) Hazardous facilities, defined as: Structures housing, 18
supporting, or containing sufficient quantities of explosive 19
substances to be of danger to the safety of the public if released;20
(b) Essential facilities that have a ground area of more than 21
five thousand square feet and are more than twenty feet in mean roof 22
height above average ground level. Essential facilities are defined 23
as: 24
(i) Hospitals and other medical facilities having surgery and 25
emergency treatment areas; 26
(ii) Fire and police stations; 27
(iii) Tanks or other structures containing, housing, or 28
supporting water or fire suppression material or equipment required 29
for the protection of essential or hazardous facilities or special 30
occupancy structures; 31
(iv) Emergency vehicle shelters and garages; 32
(v) Structures and equipment in emergency preparedness centers;33
(vi) Standby power-generating equipment for essential facilities;34
(vii) Structures and equipment in government communication 35
centers and other facilities requiring emergency response;36
(viii) Aviation control towers, air traffic control centers, and 37
emergency aircraft hangars; and 38
(ix) Buildings and other structures having critical national 39
defense functions; 40
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(c) Structures exceeding one hundred feet in height above average 1
ground level; 2
(d) Buildings that are customarily occupied by human beings and 3
are five stories or more above average ground level;4
(e) Bridges having a total span of more than two hundred feet and 5
piers having a surface area greater than ten thousand square feet; 6
and 7
(f) Buildings and other structures where more than three hundred 8
people congregate in one area. 9
Sec. 2. RCW 18.43.030 and 2011 c 336 s 481 are each amended to 10
read as follows: 11
A state board of registration for professional engineers and 12
professional land surveyors is hereby created which shall exercise 13
all of the powers and perform all of the duties conferred upon it by 14
this chapter. ((After July 9, 1986, the )) The board shall consist of 15
seven members, who shall be appointed by the governor and shall have 16
the qualifications as hereinafter required. ((The terms of board 17
members in office on June 11, 1986, shall not be affected. The first 18
additional member shall be appointed for a four-year term and the 19
second additional member shall be appointed for a three-year term. )) 20
On the expiration of the term of any member, the governor shall 21
appoint a successor for a term of five years to take the place of the 22
member whose term on said board is about to expire. However, no 23
member shall serve more than two consecutive terms on the board. Each 24
member shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which 25
such member is appointed or until a successor qualified as described 26
in this chapter shall have been duly appointed ((and shall have 27
qualified)). 28
Five members of the board shall be registered professional 29
engineers licensed under the provisions of this chapter. Two members 30
shall be registered professional land surveyors licensed under this 31
chapter. Each of the members of the board shall have been actively 32
engaged in the practice of engineering or land surveying for at least 33
((ten)) 10 years subsequent to registration, five of which shall have 34
been immediately prior to their appointment to the board.35
Each member of the board shall ((be a citizen of the United 36
States and shall )) have been a resident of this state for at least 37
five years immediately preceding ((his or her )) the member's 38
appointment. 39
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Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance with 1
RCW 43.03.240 and, in addition thereto, shall be reimbursed for 2
travel expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this 3
chapter in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.4
The governor may remove any member of the board for misconduct, 5
incompetency, or neglect of duty. Vacancies in the membership of the 6
board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the 7
governor as hereinabove provided. 8
Sec. 3. RCW 18.43.033 and 1997 c 247 s 1 are each amended to 9
read as follows: 10
Upon request of the board, ((and with approval of the director, 11
the board chair shall appoint up to two individuals to serve as pro 12
tem members of the board. The appointments are limited, as defined by 13
the board chair, for the purpose of participating as a temporary 14
member of the board on any combination of one or more committees or 15
formal disciplinary hearing panels. An appointed individual must meet 16
the same qualifications as a regular member of the board )) the 17
director shall select a candidate for a pro tem board member position 18
and upon approval of the board, the board chair shall make the 19
appointment. Up to three individuals may serve as pro tem board 20
members. A pro tem board member will be participating as a temporary 21
member of the board and perform services as needed and determined by 22
the director, including ensuring sufficient case reviewers, forming a 23
quorum at a board meeting, serving on any combination of one or more 24
committees, or participating as needed at formal disciplinary 25
hearings. An appointed individual must be registered under this 26
chapter or licensed under chapter 18.210 RCW for a minimum of five 27
years immediately prior to the appointment . While serving as a board 28
member pro tem, an appointed person has all the powers, duties, and 29
immunities of a regular member of the board and is entitled to the 30
same compensation, including travel expenses, in accordance with RCW 31
18.43.030. A pro tem appointment may not last for more than ((one 32
hundred eighty)) 180 days unless approved by the director.33
Sec. 4. RCW 18.43.035 and 2020 c 47 s 1 are each amended to read 34
as follows: 35
(1) The board may adopt and amend bylaws establishing its 36
organization and method of operation, including but not limited to 37
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meetings, maintenance of books and records, publication of reports, 1
code of ethics, and rosters, and adoption and use of a seal.2
(2) Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the 3
conduct of any business of the board. 4
(3) The board shall appoint its director, who must hold a valid 5
Washington license as a professional engineer or professional land 6
surveyor. 7
(4) The board may employ such persons as are necessary to carry 8
out its duties under this chapter. 9
(5) It may adopt rules reasonably necessary to administer the 10
provisions of this chapter. The board shall submit to the governor 11
periodic reports as may be required. A roster, showing the names and 12
((places of business )) mailing addresses of all registered 13
professional engineers and professional land surveyors may be 14
published for distribution, upon request, to professional engineers 15
and professional land surveyors registered under this chapter and to 16
the public. 17
Sec. 5. RCW 18.43.040 and 2007 c 193 s 1 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
(((1))) The following requirements will be considered as minimum 20
evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified 21
for registration as a professional engineer, ((engineer-in-training)) 22
structural engineer , professional land surveyor, engineer-in-23
training, or land-surveyor-in-training((, respectively:24
(a)(i) As a professional engineer:)).25
(1) PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. To be licensed as a professional 26
engineer, an applicant must meet the examination and experience 27
requirements delineated in this subsection (1).28
(a) Examination requirements. An applicant must have received 29
passing scores on examinations required by the board in rule.30
(b) Experience requirements. A specific record of eight years or 31
more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to 32
the board and ((indicating)) showing that the applicant is competent 33
to practice engineering((; and successfully passing a written or oral 34
examination, or both, in engineering as prescribed by the board.35
(ii) Graduation in an approved engineering curriculum of four 36
years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of 37
satisfactory standing shall be considered equivalent to four years of 38
such required experience. The satisfactory completion of each year of 39
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such an approved engineering course without graduation shall be 1
considered as equivalent to a year of such required experience. 2
Graduation in a curriculum other than engineering from a school or 3
college approved by the board shall be considered as equivalent to 4
two years of such required experience. However, no applicant shall 5
receive credit for more than four years of experience because of 6
undergraduate educational qualifications. The board may, at its 7
discretion, give credit as experience not in excess of one year, for 8
satisfactory postgraduate study in engineering. 9
(iii) Structural engineering is recognized as a specialized 10
branch of professional engineering. To receive a certificate of 11
registration in structural engineering, an applicant must hold a 12
current registration in this state in engineering and have)).13
(i) The experience must be broad based and progressive to include 14
gaining knowledge and comprehension of engineering subjects and 15
applying engineering principles.16
(ii) Education or teaching at a college or university may 17
constitute a portion of the required experience as follows:18
(A) An undergraduate degree, or its equivalent, in an engineering 19
program approved by the board will be considered the equivalent of 20
four years of experience;21
(B) Satisfactory completion of each year of an engineering 22
program may be considered the equivalent of one year of experience at 23
the discretion of the board;24
(C) An undergraduate degree in a nonengineering program may be 25
considered the equivalent of engineering experience at the discretion 26
of the board;27
(D) No more than four years of experience may be granted for 28
undergraduate education; and29
(E) Experience may be granted for teaching and postgraduate 30
education as further defined by, and at the discretion of, the board.31
(iii) The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a 32
professional engineer, or the supervision of the construction of such 33
work as a foreman or superintendent may not be deemed to be the 34
practice of engineering.35
(2) STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. Structural engineering is recognized as 36
a specialized branch of professional engineering. A professional 37
engineer must be registered as a structural engineer to provide 38
structural engineering services for significant structures. To become 39
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licensed as a structural engineer, an applicant must meet the 1
following requirements: 2
(a) Hold a current registration as a professional engineer in 3
this state;4
(b) Have at least two years of structural engineering experience, 5
of a character satisfactory to the board, in addition to the eight 6
years' experience required for registration as a professional 7
engineer((. An applicant for registration as a structural engineer 8
must also pass an additional examination as prescribed by the board.9
(iv) An engineer must be registered as a structural engineer in 10
order to provide structural engineering services for significant 11
structures. The board may waive the requirements of this subsection 12
(1)(a)(iv) until December 31, 2010, if:13
(A) On January 1, 2007, the engineer is registered with the board 14
as a professional engineer; and15
(B) Within two years of January 1, 2007, the engineer 16
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that the engineer has 17
sufficient experience in the duties typically provided by a 18
professional structural engineer regarding significant structures.19
(b)(i) As an engineer-in-training: An applicant for registration 20
as a professional engineer shall take the prescribed examination in 21
two stages. The first stage of the examination may be taken upon 22
submission of his or her application for registration as an engineer-23
in-training and payment of the application fee prescribed in RCW 24
18.43.050 at any time after the applicant has completed four years of 25
the required engineering experience, as defined in this section, or 26
has achieved senior standing in a school or college approved by the 27
board. The first stage of the examination shall test the applicant's 28
knowledge of appropriate fundamentals of engineering subjects, 29
including mathematics and the basic sciences.30
(ii) At any time after the completion of the required eight years 31
of engineering experience, as defined in this section, the applicant 32
may take the second stage of the examination upon submission of an 33
application for registration and payment of the application fee 34
prescribed in RCW 18.43.050. This stage of the examination shall test 35
the applicant's ability, upon the basis of his or her greater 36
experience, to apply his or her knowledge and experience in the field 37
of his or her specific training and qualifications.38
(c)(i) As a professional land surveyor: A specific record of 39
eight years or more of experience in land surveying work of a 40
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character satisfactory to the board and indicating that the applicant 1
is competent to practice land surveying, and successfully passing a 2
written or oral examination, or both, in surveying as prescribed by 3
the board. 4
(ii) Graduation from a school or college approved by the board as 5
of satisfactory standing, including the completion of an approved 6
course in surveying, shall be considered equivalent to four years of 7
the required experience. Postgraduate college courses approved by the 8
board shall be considered for up to one additional year of the 9
required experience.10
(d)(i) As a land-surveyor-in-training: An applicant for 11
registration as a professional land surveyor shall take the 12
prescribed examination in two stages. The first stage of the 13
examination may be taken upon submission of his or her application 14
for registration as a land-surveyor-in-training and payment of the 15
application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050 at any time after the 16
applicant has completed four years of the required land surveying 17
experience, as defined in this section, or has achieved senior 18
standing in a school or college approved by the board. The first 19
stage of the examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of 20
appropriate fundamentals of land surveying subjects, including 21
mathematics and the basic sciences.22
(ii) At any time after the completion of the required eight years 23
of land surveying experience, as defined in this section, the 24
applicant may take the second stage of the examination upon 25
submission of an application for registration and payment of the 26
application fee prescribed in RCW 18.43.050. This stage of the 27
examination shall test the applicant's ability, upon the basis of 28
greater experience, to apply knowledge and experience in the field of 29
land surveying.30
(iii) The first stage shall be successfully completed before the 31
second stage may be attempted. Applicants who have been approved by 32
the board to take the examination based on the requirement for six 33
years of experience under this section before July 1, 1996, are 34
eligible to sit for the examination.35
(2) No person shall be eligible for registration as a 36
professional engineer, engineer-in-training, professional land 37
surveyor, or land-surveyor-in-training, who is not of good character 38
and reputation.39
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(3) Teaching, of a character satisfactory to the board shall be 1
considered as experience not in excess of two years for the 2
appropriate profession.3
(4) The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a 4
professional engineer, or the supervision of the construction of such 5
work as a foreman or superintendent shall not be deemed to be 6
practice of engineering.7
(5) Any person having the necessary qualifications prescribed in 8
this chapter to entitle him or her to registration shall be eligible 9
for such registration although the person may not be practicing his 10
or her profession at the time of making his or her application)); and11
(c) Pass additional examinations as prescribed by the board.12
(3) PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR. To be licensed as a professional 13
land surveyor, an applicant must meet the examination and experience 14
requirements delineated in this subsection (3).15
(a) Examination requirements. An applicant must have received 16
passing scores on examinations required by the board in rule.17
(b) Experience requirements. A specific record of eight years or 18
more of experience in land surveying work of a character satisfactory 19
to the board and showing that the applicant is competent to practice 20
land surveying.21
(i) The experience must be broad based and progressive to include 22
gaining knowledge and comprehension of land surveying subjects and 23
applying land surveying principles.24
(ii) Education or teaching at a college or university may 25
constitute a portion of the required experience as follows:26
(A) An undergraduate degree, or its equivalent, in a land 27
surveying program approved by the board is considered the equivalent 28
of four years of experience;29
(B) Satisfactory completion of each year of a land surveying 30
program may be considered the equivalent of one year of experience at 31
the discretion of the board;32
(C) An undergraduate degree in a nonland surveying program may be 33
considered the equivalent of land surveying experience at the 34
discretion of the board;35
(D) No more than four years of experience will be granted for 36
undergraduate education; and37
(E) Experience may also be granted for teaching and postgraduate 38
education as further defined by, and at the discretion of, the board.39
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(4) ENGINEER-IN-TRAINING. An applicant who has completed four 1
years of experience of the type outlined in subsection (1)(b) of this 2
section and has received a passing score on a board-approved 3
examination on the fundamentals of engineering may apply for an 4
engineer-in-training certificate from the board.5
(5) LAND-SURVEYOR-IN-TRAINING. An applicant who has completed 6
four years of experience of the type outlined in subsection (3)(b) of 7
this section and has received a passing score on a board approved 8
examination on the fundamentals of land surveying may apply for a 9
land-surveyor-in-training certificate from the board.10
Sec. 6. RCW 18.43.050 and 2019 c 442 s 5 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
Application for registration shall be on forms prescribed by the 13
board and furnished by the director ((, shall contain statements made 14
under oath, showing the applicant's education and detail summary of 15
his or her technical work and shall contain verification of the 16
technical work from professional engineers that supervised the 17
applicant's technical work and have personal knowledge of the 18
applicant's engineering experience)). 19
The registration fee for professional engineers shall be 20
determined by the board, which shall accompany the application and 21
shall include the cost of ((examination)) application processing and 22
issuance of certificate. The fee for engineer-in-training shall be 23
determined by the board, which shall accompany the application and 24
shall include the cost of ((examination)) application processing and 25
issuance of certificate. 26
The registration fee for professional land surveyors shall be 27
determined by the board, which shall accompany the application and 28
shall include the cost of ((examination)) application processing and 29
issuance of certificate. The fee for land-surveyor-in-training shall 30
be determined by the board, which shall accompany the application and 31
shall include the cost of ((examination)) application processing and 32
issuance of certificate. 33
All registration fees are nonrefundable. Should the board find an 34
applicant ineligible for registration, the registration fee shall be 35
retained as an application fee. 36
Sec. 7. RCW 18.43.060 and 2019 c 442 s 9 are each amended to 37
read as follows: 38
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When oral or written examinations are required, they shall be 1
held at such time and place as the board shall determine. If 2
examinations are required on fundamental engineering subjects (such 3
as ordinarily given in college curricula) the applicant shall be 4
permitted to take this part of the professional examination prior to 5
his or her completion of the requisite years of experience in 6
engineering work. The board shall issue to each applicant upon 7
successfully passing the examination in fundamental engineering or 8
land surveying subjects a certificate stating that the applicant has 9
passed the examination in fundamental ((engineering)) subjects and 10
that ((his or her )) the applicant's name has been recorded as an 11
engineer-in-training or land-surveyor-in-training.12
The scope of the examination and the methods of procedure shall 13
be prescribed by the board with special reference to the applicant's 14
ability to design and supervise engineering works ((so as to insure )) 15
to ensure the safety of life, health , and property. Examinations 16
shall be given for the purpose of determining the qualifications of 17
applicants for registration separately in engineering and in land 18
surveying. ((A candidate failing an examination may apply for 19
reexamination. Subsequent examinations will be granted upon payment 20
of a fee to be determined by the board.))21
Sec. 8. RCW 18.43.070 and 2019 c 442 s 10 are each amended to 22
read as follows: 23
The board shall issue a certificate of registration upon payment 24
of a registration fee as provided for in this chapter, to any 25
applicant who, in the opinion of the board, has satisfactorily met 26
all the requirements of this chapter. In case of a registered 27
professional engineer, the certificate shall authorize the practice 28
of "professional engineering" and specify the branch or branches in 29
which specialized, and in case of a registered professional land 30
surveyor, the certificate shall authorize the practice of "land 31
surveying." 32
In case of engineer-in-training, the certificate shall state that 33
the applicant has successfully passed the examination in fundamental 34
engineering subjects required by the board and has been enrolled as 35
an "engineer-in-training." In case of land-surveyor-in-training, the 36
certificate shall state that the applicant has successfully passed 37
the examination in fundamental surveying subjects required by the 38
board and has been enrolled as a "land-surveyor-in-training." All 39
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certificates of registration shall show the full name of the 1
registrant, shall have a serial number, and shall be signed by the 2
chair and the ((secretary of the board and by the)) director.3
The issuance of a certificate of registration by the board shall 4
be prima facie evidence that the person named therein is entitled to 5
all the rights and privileges of a registered professional engineer 6
or a registered professional land surveyor, while the said 7
certificate remains unrevoked and unexpired. 8
Each registrant hereunder shall upon registration obtain a seal 9
of the design authorized by the board, bearing the registrant's name 10
and the legend "registered professional engineer" or "registered 11
professional land surveyor." Plans, specifications, plats, and 12
reports prepared by the registrant shall be signed, dated, and 13
stamped with said seal or facsimile thereof. Such signature and 14
stamping shall constitute a certification by the registrant that the 15
same was prepared by or under ((his or her )) the registrant's direct 16
supervision and that to ((his or her)) the registrant's knowledge and 17
belief the same was prepared in accordance with the requirements of 18
the statute. It shall be unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any 19
document with said seal or facsimile thereof after the certificate of 20
registrant named thereon has expired or been revoked, unless said 21
certificate shall have been renewed or reissued. 22
Sec. 9. RCW 18.43.080 and 2019 c 442 s 11 are each amended to 23
read as follows: 24
(1) Certificates of registration ((,)) and certificates of 25
authorization ((and renewals thereof, shall expire on the last day of 26
the month of December following their issuance or renewal and shall 27
become invalid on that date unless renewed )) issued under this 28
chapter are valid for a period of time as determined by the board . It 29
shall be the duty of the board to notify every person, firm, or 30
corporation registered under this chapter of the date of the 31
expiration of ((his or her )) the certificate and the amount of the 32
renewal fee ((that shall be required for its renewal for one year. 33
Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty days before the end of 34
December of each year. Renewal may be effected during the month of 35
December by the payment of a fee determined by the board. In case any 36
professional engineer and/or land surveyor registered under this 37
chapter shall fail to pay the renewal fee hereinabove provided for, 38
within ninety days from the date when the same shall become due, the 39
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renewal fee shall be the current fee plus an amount equal to one 1
year's fee. 2
(2) Beginning July 1, 2007, the )). If a completed application for 3
renewal has not been received by the board by the date of expiration, 4
postmarked before the date of expiration if mailed or transacted 5
online before the date of expiration, the license is invalid.6
(2) The board may not renew a certificate of registration for a 7
professional land surveyor unless the registrant verifies to the 8
board that ((he or she has completed at least fifteen )) the 9
registrant has completed the required hours of continuing 10
professional development ((per year of the registration period. By 11
July 1, 2006, the board shall adopt rules governing continuing 12
professional development for land surveyors that are generally 13
patterned after the model rules of the national council of examiners 14
for engineering and surveying)). 15
Sec. 10. RCW 18.43.100 and 2023 c 274 s 1 are each amended to 16
read as follows: 17
(1) The board may, upon application and the payment of a fee 18
determined by the board, issue a certificate as a professional 19
engineer or professional land surveyor to any person who holds a 20
certificate of qualification of registration issued to the applicant 21
following examination by proper authority, of any state or territory 22
or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of 23
any foreign country, if: (a) The applicant meets all requirements of 24
this chapter and the rules established by the board ((to qualify for 25
such waiver )), and (b) the applicant is in good standing with the 26
licensing agency in said state, territory, possession, district, or 27
foreign country. 28
(2) The board shall waive the fundamentals examination for 29
applicants who ((have passed the national council for examiners for 30
engineering and surveying principles and practice examination, have 31
met the experience and education requirements established by the 32
board, and are in good standing with the licensing agency in a state, 33
territory, possession, district, or foreign country )) meet the 34
requirements as defined by the board in rule. 35
Sec. 11. RCW 18.43.130 and 2019 c 442 s 3 are each amended to 36
read as follows: 37
This chapter shall not be construed to prevent or affect:38
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(1) The practice of any other legally recognized profession or 1
trade; ((or))2
(2) ((The practice of a person not a resident and having no 3
established place of business in this state, practicing or offering 4
to practice herein the profession of engineering or land surveying, 5
when such practice does not exceed in the aggregate more than thirty 6
days in any calendar year: PROVIDED, Such person has been determined 7
by the board to be legally qualified by registration to practice the 8
said profession in his or her own state or country in which the 9
requirements and qualifications for obtaining a certificate of 10
registration are not lower than those specified in this chapter. The 11
person shall request such a determination by completing an 12
application prescribed by the board and accompanied by a fee 13
determined by the board. Upon approval of the application, the board 14
shall issue a permit authorizing temporary practice; or15
(3) The practice of a person not a resident and having no 16
established place of business in this state, or who has recently 17
become a resident thereof, practicing or offering to practice herein 18
for more than thirty days in any calendar year the profession of 19
engineering or land surveying, if he or she shall have filed with the 20
board an application for a certificate of registration and shall have 21
paid the fee required by this chapter: PROVIDED, That such person is 22
legally qualified by registration to practice engineering or land 23
surveying in his or her own state or country in which the 24
requirements and qualifications of obtaining a certificate of 25
registration are not lower than those specified in this chapter. Such 26
practice shall continue only for such time as the board requires for 27
the consideration of the application for registration; or28
(4))) The work of an employee or a subordinate of a person 29
holding a certificate of registration under this chapter, or an 30
employee of a person practicing lawfully under provisions of this 31
section: PROVIDED, That such work does not include final design or 32
decisions and is done under the direct responsibility, checking, and 33
supervision of a person holding a certificate of registration under 34
this chapter or a person practicing lawfully under the provisions of 35
this section; ((or36
(5))) (3) The work of a person rendering engineering or land 37
surveying services to a corporation, as an employee of such 38
corporation, when such services are rendered in carrying on the 39
general business of the corporation and such general business does 40
p. 15 HB 2229
not consist, either wholly or in part, of the rendering of 1
engineering services to the general public: PROVIDED, That such 2
corporation employs at least one person holding a certificate of 3
registration under this chapter or practicing lawfully under the 4
provisions of this chapter; ((or5
(6))) (4) The practice of officers or employees of the government 6
of the United States while engaged within the state in the practice 7
of the profession of engineering or land surveying for the government 8
of the United States; ((or9
(7))) (5) Nonresident engineers employed for the purpose of 10
making engineering examinations; ((or11
(8))) (6)(a) The practice of engineering or land surveying, or 12
both, in this state by a corporation ((or joint stock association )): 13
PROVIDED, That 14
(((a))) (i) The corporation has filed with the board an 15
application for certificate of authorization upon a form to be 16
prescribed by the board and containing information required to enable 17
the board to determine whether such corporation is qualified in 18
accordance with this chapter to practice engineering or land 19
surveying, or both, in this state; 20
(((b))) (ii) For engineering, the corporation has filed with the 21
board a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of 22
the corporation that shall designate a person holding a certificate 23
of registration under this chapter as responsible for the practice of 24
engineering by the corporation in this state and shall provide that 25
full authority to make all final engineering decisions on behalf of 26
the corporation with respect to work performed by the corporation in 27
this state shall be granted and delegated by the board of directors 28
to the person so designated in the resolution. For land surveying, 29
the corporation has filed with the board a certified copy of a 30
resolution of the board of directors of the corporation which shall 31
designate a person holding a certificate of registration under this 32
chapter as responsible for the practice of land surveying by the 33
corporation in this state and shall provide full authority to make 34
all final land surveying decisions on behalf of the corporation with 35
respect to work performed by the corporation in this state be granted 36
and delegated by the board of directors to the person so designated 37
in the resolution. If a corporation offers both engineering and land 38
surveying services, the board of directors shall designate both a 39
licensed professional engineer and a licensed professional land 40
p. 16 HB 2229
surveyor. If a person is licensed in both engineering and land 1
surveying, the person may be designated for both professions. The 2
resolution shall further state that the bylaws of the corporation 3
shall be amended to include the following provision: "The designated 4
professional engineer or professional land surveyor, respectively, 5
named in the resolution as being in responsible charge, or ((an)) a 6
professional engineer or professional land surveyor under the 7
designated professional engineer or professional land surveyor's 8
direct supervision, shall make all engineering or land surveying 9
decisions pertaining to engineering or land surveying activities in 10
the state of Washington." However, the filing of the resolution shall 11
not relieve the corporation of any responsibility or liability 12
imposed upon it by law or by contract; 13
(((c))) (iii) If there is a change in the designated professional 14
engineer or professional designated land surveyor, the corporation 15
shall notify the board in writing within ((thirty)) 30 days after the 16
effective date of the change. If the corporation changes its name, 17
the corporation shall submit a copy of its amended certificate of 18
authority or amended certificate of incorporation as filed with the 19
secretary of state within ((thirty)) 30 days of the filing;20
(((d))) (iv) Upon the filing with the board the application for 21
certificate for authorization, certified copy of resolution and an 22
affidavit, and the designation of a designated professional engineer 23
or designated professional land surveyor, or both, specified in 24
(((b))) (a)(ii) of this subsection, the board shall issue to the 25
corporation a certificate of authorization to practice engineering or 26
land surveying, or both, in this state upon a determination by the 27
board that: 28
(((i))) (A) The designated professional engineer or designated 29
professional land surveyor, or both, hold a certificate of 30
registration in this state in accordance with this chapter and the 31
certificate is in force; 32
(((ii))) (B) The designated professional engineer or designated 33
professional land surveyor, or both, are not designated in 34
responsible charge for another corporation or a limited liability 35
company; 36
(((iii))) (C) The corporation is licensed with the secretary of 37
state and holds a current unified business identification number and 38
the board determines, based on evaluating the findings and 39
information in this section, that the applicant corporation possesses 40
p. 17 HB 2229
the ability and competence to furnish engineering or land surveying 1
services, or both, in the public interest; and 2
(((iv))) (D) The corporation is registered with the department of 3
revenue pursuant to RCW 82.32.030. 4
(b) The board may exercise its discretion to take any of the 5
actions under RCW 18.235.110 or this chapter with respect to a 6
certificate of authorization issued to a corporation if the board 7
finds that any of the officers, directors, incorporators, or the 8
stockholders holding a majority of stock of such corporation has 9
engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined in RCW 18.43.105 or 10
18.235.130 or has been found personally responsible for 11
unprofessional conduct under (((f) and (g))) (d) and (e) of this 12
subsection. 13
(((e) Engineers or )) (c) Professional engineers or professional 14
land surveyors organized as a professional service corporation under 15
chapter 18.100 RCW are exempt from applying for a certificate of 16
authorization under this chapter. 17
(((f))) (d) Any corporation authorized to practice engineering or 18
land surveying under this chapter, together with its directors and 19
officers for their own individual acts, are responsible to the same 20
degree as an individual registered professional engineer or 21
individual registered professional land surveyor , and must conduct 22
its business without unprofessional conduct in the practice of 23
engineering or the practice of land surveying as defined in this 24
chapter and RCW 18.235.130. 25
(((g))) (e) Any corporation that is certified under this chapter 26
is subject to the authority of the board as provided in RCW 27
18.43.035, 18.43.105, 18.43.110, 18.43.120, and chapter 18.235 RCW.28
(((h))) (f) All plans, specifications, designs, and reports when 29
issued in connection with work performed by a corporation under its 30
certificate of authorization shall be prepared by or under the direct 31
supervision of and shall be signed by and shall be stamped with the 32
official seal of a person holding a certificate of registration under 33
this chapter. 34
(((i))) (g) For each certificate of authorization issued under 35
this subsection (((8))) (6) there shall be paid an initial fee 36
determined by the board and an annual renewal fee determined by the 37
board((.38
(9)));39
p. 18 HB 2229
(7) The practice of engineering and/or land surveying in this 1
state by a partnership if the partnership employs at least one person 2
holding a valid certificate of registration under this chapter to 3
practice engineering or land surveying, or both ((. The board shall 4
not issue certificates of authorization to partnerships after July 1, 5
1998. Partnerships currently registered with the board are not 6
required to pay an annual renewal fee after July 1, 1998.7
(10))); or8
(8)(a) The practice of engineering or land surveying, or both, in 9
this state by limited liability companies: Provided, That10
(((a))) (i) The limited liability company has filed with the 11
board an application for certificate of authorization upon a form to 12
be prescribed by the board and containing information required to 13
enable the board to determine whether the limited liability company 14
is qualified under this chapter to practice either or both 15
engineering or land surveying in this state. 16
(((b))) (ii) The limited liability company has filed with the 17
board a certified copy of a resolution by the company manager or 18
managers that shall designate a person holding a certificate of 19
registration under this chapter as being responsible for the practice 20
of engineering or land surveying, or both, by the limited liability 21
company in this state and that the designated person has full 22
authority to make all final engineering or land surveying decisions 23
on behalf of the limited liability company with respect to work 24
performed by the limited liability company in this state. The 25
resolution shall further state that the limited liability company 26
agreement shall be amended to include the following provision: "The 27
designated professional engineer or professional land surveyor, 28
respectively, named in the resolution as being in responsible charge, 29
or ((an)) a professional engineer or professional land surveyor under 30
the designated professional engineer or professional land surveyor's 31
direct supervision, shall make all engineering or land surveying 32
decisions pertaining to engineering or land surveying activities in 33
the state of Washington." However, the filing of the resolution shall 34
not relieve the limited liability company of responsibility or 35
liability imposed upon it by law or by contract. 36
(((c))) (iii)(A) The designated professional engineer for the 37
limited liability company must hold a current professional engineer 38
license issued by this state. 39
p. 19 HB 2229
(B) The designated professional land surveyor for the limited 1
liability company must hold a current professional land surveyor 2
license issued by this state. 3
(C) If a person is licensed as both a professional engineer and 4
as a professional land surveyor in this state, then the limited 5
liability company may designate the person as being in responsible 6
charge for both professions. 7
(D) If there is a change in the designated professional engineer 8
or designated professional land surveyor, the limited liability 9
company shall notify the board in writing within ((thirty)) 30 days 10
after the effective date of the change. If the limited liability 11
company changes its name, the company shall submit to the board a 12
copy of the certificate of amendment filed with the secretary of 13
state's office. 14
(((d))) (iv) Upon the filing with the board the application for 15
certificate of authorization, a certified copy of the resolution, and 16
an affidavit from the designated professional engineer or the 17
designated professional land surveyor, or both, specified in (((b) 18
and (c))) (a)(ii) and (iii)(A) of this subsection, the board shall 19
issue to the limited liability company a certificate of authorization 20
to practice engineering or land surveying, or both, in this state 21
upon determination by the board that: 22
(((i))) (A) The designated professional engineer or designated 23
professional land surveyor, or both, hold a certificate of 24
registration in this state under this chapter and the certificate is 25
in force; 26
(((ii))) (B) The designated professional engineer or designated 27
professional land surveyor, or both, are not designated in 28
responsible charge for another limited liability company or a 29
corporation; 30
(((iii))) (C) The limited liability company is licensed with the 31
secretary of state and has a current unified business identification 32
number and that the board determines, based on evaluating the 33
findings and information under this subsection, that the applicant 34
limited liability company possesses the ability and competence to 35
furnish either or both engineering or land surveying services in the 36
public interest; and 37
(((iv))) (D) The limited liability company is registered with the 38
department of revenue pursuant to RCW 82.32.030. 39
p. 20 HB 2229
(b) The board may exercise its discretion to take any of the 1
actions under RCW 18.235.110 and 18.43.105 with respect to a 2
certificate of authorization issued to a limited liability company if 3
the board finds that any of the managers or members holding a 4
majority interest in the limited liability company has engaged in 5
unprofessional conduct as defined in RCW 18.43.105 or 18.235.130 or 6
has been found personally responsible for unprofessional conduct 7
under the provisions of (((f) and (g))) (d) and (e) of this 8
subsection. 9
(((e) Engineers or )) (c) Professional engineers or professional 10
land surveyors organized as a professional limited liability company 11
are exempt from applying for a certificate of authorization under 12
this chapter. 13
(((f))) (d) Any limited liability company authorized to practice 14
engineering or land surveying, or both, under this chapter, together 15
with its manager or managers and members for their own individual 16
acts, are responsible to the same degree as an individual registered 17
professional engineer or registered professional land surveyor, and 18
must conduct their business without unprofessional conduct in the 19
practice of engineering or land surveying, or both.20
(((g))) (e) A limited liability company that is certified under 21
this chapter is subject to the authority of the board as provided in 22
RCW 18.43.035, 18.43.105, 18.43.110, 18.43.120, and chapter 18.235 23
RCW. 24
(((h))) (f) All plans, specifications, designs, and reports when 25
issued in connection with work performed by a limited liability 26
company under its certificate of authorization shall be prepared by 27
or under the direct supervision of and shall be signed by and shall 28
be stamped with the official seal of a person holding a certificate 29
of registration under this chapter. 30
(((i))) (g) For each certificate of authorization issued under 31
this subsection (((10))) (8) there shall be paid an initial fee 32
determined by the board and an annual renewal fee determined by the 33
board. 34
Sec. 12. RCW 18.43.150 and 2025 c 424 s 922 are each amended to 35
read as follows: 36
The board shall set fees at a level adequate to pay the costs of 37
administering this chapter. All fees collected under the provisions 38
of RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.060, 18.43.080, 18.43.100, and 18.43.130 and 39
p. 21 HB 2229
fines collected under RCW 18.43.110 shall be paid into the 1
((professional engineers' )) board of registration for professional 2
engineers and professional land surveyors' account, which account is 3
hereby established in the state treasury to be used to carry out the 4
purposes and provisions of RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.060, 18.43.080, 5
18.43.100, 18.43.110, 18.43.120, 18.43.130, and all other duties 6
required for operation and enforcement of this chapter. During the 7
2013-2015, 2015-2017, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature 8
may transfer moneys from the ((professional engineers' )) board of 9
registration for professional engineers and professional land 10
surveyors' account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect 11
the excess fund balance of the fund. 12
Sec. 13. RCW 18.43.170 and 1997 c 58 s 821 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
The board shall immediately suspend the registration of a person 15
who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department 16
of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance 17
with a support order ((or a residential or visitation order )). If the 18
person has continued to meet all other requirements for 19
((membership)) registration during the suspension, reissuance of the 20
certificate of registration shall be automatic upon the board's 21
receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health 22
services stating that the person is in compliance with the order.23
Sec. 14. RCW 18.43.200 and 2020 c 47 s 2 are each amended to 24
read as follows: 25
The department of licensing, through an interagency agreement 26
with the board, ((must)) shall provide specified technical services 27
to the board ((. The initial interagency agreement must be for a term 28
of three years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the 29
department of licensing and the board )) as mutually agreed upon by 30
both parties. 31
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