Engineering

A Professional Engineer who holds a current and valid license issued by the proper authority in any state can become licensed with the South Dakota State Board of Technical Professions by filling out a Comity/Reciprocity application.  This is an application that can be done interactively with the computer and paid on-line with a credit card or mailed with a check.  The business that the individual works for will also have to be currently licensed with the South Dakota Board or will have to fill out a new business application.  This can be done at the same time as the comity application.  The Board reviews applications on the 1st and 15th of each month.

Any person wishing to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam may do so with a 4 year ABET Engineering, Surveying or Technology degree.  No experience needed.

You should fill out an application if you are:
1. A first time applicant who is a graduating senior (within 2 semesters of graduating) of an ABET accredited BS engineering program.
2.  A first time applicant who has graduated from an ABET accredited BS engineering program.
3.  An applicant who has not been previously approved by the South Dakota State Board.

Beginning October 2006, an applicant failing 3 attempts of the NCEES exam must submit a new application.  If an applicant fails to pass the exam 3 times the applicant must wait at least 11 months until the next yearly interval the failed NCEES exam is offered before retaking the exam.  At the end of the waiting period and continuing thereafter, an applicant may take the exam only once every calendar year.  Failure of an applicant to attend the exam for which the applicant has been scheduled to attend does not count as a failure of the exam.

An applicant with a foreign education degree must meet the same qualifications as any other applicants to take the exam and in addition must meet the following requirements:
1.  The applicant must satisfy a foreign degree evaluation by a competent authority that is acceptable to the board.
2.  The evaluation of the engineering degree shall be approved by the ECEI, a division of ABET.

Application deadlines are January 1st for the April exam and July 1st for the October exam and must be sumitted to the board office no later than midnight on those dates.

There will be no charge for this application to the South Dakota Board office.  However, there will be an exam fee when you sign up with ELSES.

After evaluation of the application you will be advised in writing if you have been approved for the exam or not.  The approval letter from the Board office will contain information necessary for you to register for the exam with ELSES.

Once you have received an approval letter from the Board you do not need to complete another application to the Board office.  You can directly sign up for the exam through the ELSES website www.els-examreg.org.

 An application will need to be filled out and signed by a school representative.  Click here for the application Fundamentals of Engineering.

 

 

1st time applicants -Any person wishing to sit for the Professional Engineering exam may do so once they have passed the FE exam, have a 4 or 5 year degree and received 3-5 years of experience under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer..  An application will need to be filled out for Board approval.  The deadlines are January 1st for the April exam and July 1st for the October exam.  Once the Board has approved you to sit for the exam you will be notified by mail to sign up and pay ELSES for the exam at www.els-examreg.org.

Re-takes -  If you do not pass the exam you do not need to get approval from the Board again unless you do not show for 3 consecutive exams in a row.  You can go directly to the ELSES website www.els-examreg.org  to pay for the exam fee again.

A Professional Engineer who would like to Renew their individual license with the South Dakota State Board of Technical Professions may do so within 2 months of their expiration date.  Our office mails a first renewal 1 month before expiration and a second renewal the month of expiration to the preferred address on file.  You can now pay for your renewal interactively with the computer and pay on-line with a credit card.  Our office no longer requires a PDH log however, you still need to acquire 30 hours of continuing education.  Keep a log for 3 years in case you are picked for a random audit.

A Professional Engineer who has an expired license and would like to Reinstate their license may do so within 3 years of their expiration date.

A Professional Engineer who paid for Inactive Status and would like to Reactivate their license may do so within 2 years of their inactive status.

A Professional Engineer who has let their license expire after 3 years will need to contact the office for further instructions.