Professions / Engineering

Occupational licensing · Engineering · 51 state boards

Professional Engineer (PE) Licensing Requirements by State

Professional Engineer (PE) licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Professional Engineer (PE) across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Professional Geologist, Amusement Ride Operator, Animal Breeder.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$270
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Professional Engineer (PE): 51 boards · exam on 100% · avg first fee $270. Same-lane boards: Professional Geologist, Amusement Ride Operator, Animal Breeder.

Provides engineering services to the public. Requires FE + PE exams.

Professional Engineer (PE) initial fees swing $75 (NH) to $494 (CA), a $419 spread across 51 boards ; Professional Geologist often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Professional Engineer (PE) drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Professional Geologist and Amusement Ride Operator in engineering. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Professional Engineer (PE) states

51

Below median

Professional Engineer (PE) first fee

$270

Top quartile, highest

Professional Engineer (PE) renewal

$224

Top quartile, highest

Board gates for Professional Engineer (PE): exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 0/51 (0%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 30 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Professional Geologist / Amusement Ride Operator before calling this license soft or hard.

Professional Engineer (PE): nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Professional Engineer (PE)

A $419 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 75) and California ($ 494) bracket the field, a 6.6× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$75 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

CA

California

$494 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

Professional Engineer (PE) boards vs Professional Geologist / Amusement Ride Operator - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama - Yes $207 $176 2 yrs 30 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Alaska - Yes $138 $123 2 yrs 30 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Arizona - Yes $429 $346 2 yrs 30 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Arkansas - Yes $178 $154 2 yrs 30 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
California - Yes $494 $396 2 yrs 30 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Colorado - Yes $437 $352 2 yrs 30 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Connecticut - Yes $362 $295 2 yrs 30 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Delaware - Yes $310 $255 2 yrs 30 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
District of Columbia - Yes $319 $261 2 yrs 30 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Florida - Yes $339 $277 2 yrs 30 Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Georgia - Yes $270 $224 2 yrs 30 Also Physician Assistant · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Hawaii - Yes $410 $331 2 yrs 30 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Idaho - Yes $132 $119 2 yrs 30 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Illinois - Yes $466 $374 2 yrs 30 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Indiana - Yes $259 $216 2 yrs 30 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Iowa - Yes $155 $136 2 yrs 30 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Kansas - Yes $150 $132 2 yrs 30 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Kentucky - Yes $190 $163 2 yrs 30 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Louisiana - Yes $385 $312 2 yrs 30 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Maine - Yes $86 $84 2 yrs 30 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Maryland - Yes $356 $290 2 yrs 30 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Massachusetts - Yes $345 $281 2 yrs 30 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Michigan - Yes $276 $229 2 yrs 30 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Minnesota - Yes $224 $189 2 yrs 30 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Mississippi - Yes $201 $172 2 yrs 30 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Missouri - Yes $219 $185 2 yrs 30 Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinarian
Montana - Yes $397 $321 2 yrs 30 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Nebraska - Yes $144 $128 2 yrs 30 Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Nevada - Yes $453 $364 2 yrs 30 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
New Hampshire - Yes $75 $75 2 yrs 30 Also Amusement Ride Operator · Barber
New Jersey - Yes $351 $286 2 yrs 30 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
New Mexico - Yes $402 $325 2 yrs 30 Also Athletic Trainer · Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
New York - Yes $325 $266 2 yrs 30 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
North Carolina - Yes $265 $220 2 yrs 30 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
North Dakota - Yes $121 $110 2 yrs 30 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Ohio - Yes $293 $242 2 yrs 30 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Oklahoma - Yes $161 $141 2 yrs 30 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Oregon - Yes $475 $381 2 yrs 30 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Pennsylvania - Yes $316 $259 2 yrs 30 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Rhode Island - Yes $391 $317 2 yrs 30 Also Process Server · Registered Nurse
South Carolina - Yes $167 $145 2 yrs 30 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
South Dakota - Yes $109 $101 2 yrs 30 Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
Tennessee - Yes $236 $198 2 yrs 30 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Texas - Yes $299 $246 2 yrs 30 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Utah - Yes $196 $167 2 yrs 30 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Vermont - Yes $92 $88 2 yrs 30 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Virginia - Yes $247 $207 2 yrs 30 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Washington - Yes $420 $339 2 yrs 30 Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
West Virginia - Yes $196 $167 2 yrs 30 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Wisconsin - Yes $213 $180 2 yrs 30 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Wyoming - Yes $98 $93 2 yrs 30 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist

What to do with this

Professional Engineer (PE) is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Professional Engineer (PE)'s requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #71 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for Professional Engineer (PE) range from $75 (NH) to $494 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Professional Geologist →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Professional Engineer (PE) requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.