South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 22 - Engineers And Surveyors
Section 40-22-220. Licensure requirements; engineer-in-training; professional engineer; examination.

(A) A person having the necessary qualifications prescribed in this chapter to entitle him to registration is eligible for licensure. A person must be certified as an engineer-in-training as a prerequisite to licensure.
(B) To be eligible for certification as an engineer-in-training, an applicant must be of good character and reputation and be able to communicate effectively in the English language. The minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for certification as an engineer-in-training is:
(1) graduation from an EAC/ABET accredited engineering curriculum of four or more years and passing NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examinations required by the board;
(2) graduation in a bachelor's degree program, completion of an engineering curriculum found to be substantially equivalent to an engineering curriculum accredited by EAC/ABET, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination;
(3) graduation in a bachelor's degree program, completion of an engineering curriculum found to meet the NCEES Engineering Education Standard, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination; or
(4) graduation in a TAC/ABET accredited engineering technology curriculum of four or more years from a school or college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination required by the board.
(C) To be eligible for licensure and registration as a professional engineer, an applicant must be of good character and reputation and be able to communicate effectively in the English language. When the evidence presented in the application does not appear conclusive to the board or does not warrant the issuing of a license, the applicant may be required to present further evidence for consideration by the board. The applicant also shall meet the requirements of the other pertinent sections of this chapter. The minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional engineer is:
(1)(a) graduation in an EAC/ABET accredited engineering curriculum of four or more years from a school or college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing;
(b) a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in engineering work, supervised by a licensed engineer and of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; and
(c) passing an NCEES examination required by the board; or
(2)(a) graduation in a bachelor's degree program and completion of an engineering curriculum found to be substantially equivalent to an engineering curriculum accredited by EAC/ABET;
(b) a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; and
(c) passing the NCEES examination required by the board; or
(3)(a) graduation from a bachelor's degree program;
(b) completion of an engineering curriculum that meets the NCEES Engineering Education Standard;
(c) accrual of a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in engineering work:
(i) supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board; and
(ii) indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering, and passing NCEES examinations required by the board; or
(4) if not needed to satisfy education requirements, a:
(a) master's degree in engineering from a school or college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing may count as one year of experience upon approval by the board; and
(b) doctoral degree in engineering from a school or college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing may count as a maximum of two years of experience upon approval by the board.
(D) The board shall admit the following individuals to an examination on the Principles and Practice of Engineering and must license a person who passes the exam as a professional engineer if he is otherwise qualified:
(1) an engineer-in-training with a bachelor's degree in engineering accredited by EAC/ABET and with a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering;
(2) an engineer-in-training with:
(a) a bachelor's degree from a school or college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing then earns a master's degree in engineering from a school or college that offers an EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate degree in the same field of study, and establishes a specific record after the master's degree of three or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering;
(b) a master's degree in engineering from an EAC/M-ABET accredited program, establishes a specific record after graduation of three or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; or
(c) a non-EAC/ABET bachelor's degree, evaluated and approved by the board's education consultant, and holding a Master of Engineering or Master of Science in Engineering from a school or college that offers an EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate degree in the same field of study and establishes a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or progressive experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering;
(3) an engineer-in-training with an earned doctoral degree in engineering acceptable to the board and with a specific record after the doctoral degree of two or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; or
(4) a person who has earned a doctoral degree in engineering that is acceptable to the board and with a specific record after the doctoral degree of two or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 311, Section 1; 2016 Act No. 259 (S.685), Section 8, eff June 3, 2016.

Editor's Note
Prior Laws: 1991 Act No. 99, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 185, Sections 1, 4, 5; 1976 Code Sections 40-22-190, 40-22-195, 40-22-200.
Effect of Amendment
2016 Act No. 259, Section 8, rewrote the section, revising education requirements.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 40 - Professions and Occupations

Chapter 22 - Engineers And Surveyors

Section 40-22-2. Purpose.

Section 40-22-5. Application of Chapter 1; conflicts.

Section 40-22-10. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors: membership and qualifications; compensation; removal; meetings; liability.

Section 40-22-20. Definitions.

Section 40-22-30. Practice without a license; penalties.

Section 40-22-40. Nomination of board member candidates from general public.

Section 40-22-50. Duties of board; promulgation of examination, licensing, and registration fees; records; register of applications for certificates of authorization; roster.

Section 40-22-60. Rules and regulations; seal; input to department.

Section 40-22-70. Additional powers and duties.

Section 40-22-75. Waiver of licensing requirements during emergencies.

Section 40-22-80. Investigations of violations; subpoenas; administration of oaths and taking of testimony; charges.

Section 40-22-90. Presentation of investigation results; hearing; notification of accused.

Section 40-22-100. Cease and desist orders; application for temporary restraining order.

Section 40-22-110. Penalties; grounds.

Section 40-22-115. Jurisdiction of board.

Section 40-22-120. Civil fines and other penalties.

Section 40-22-130. Grounds for denial of license.

Section 40-22-140. Prior criminal record.

Section 40-22-150. Voluntary surrender of license.

Section 40-22-160. Appeal.

Section 40-22-170. Costs.

Section 40-22-180. Payment of fines; interest.

Section 40-22-190. Confidentiality of proceedings.

Section 40-22-200. Violation of chapter; penalty.

Section 40-22-210. Injunctions; rule to show cause.

Section 40-22-220. Licensure requirements; engineer-in-training; professional engineer; examination.

Section 40-22-222. Licensing of existing engineers; review process.

Section 40-22-225. Eligibility requirements for license as surveyor.

Section 40-22-230. Application forms; references; written examinations; reexaminations; issuance of certificate of registration; reissuance of revoked certificate.

Section 40-22-240. Renewal of registration; fees and late fees; lapsed license; continuing professional competency requirement.

Section 40-22-245. South Carolina Engineers and Surveyors Education and Research Fund; funding; report of expenditures.

Section 40-22-250. Certificate of authorization to practice as firm; conditions; application and registration fee; discipline.

Section 40-22-260. Temporary licenses and certificates of authorization.

Section 40-22-270. Individual seals; stamping on plans and specifications.

Section 40-22-280. Exceptions from application of chapter.

Section 40-22-290. TIER A surveying; exclusions.

Section 40-22-295. Emergency services immunity.

Section 40-22-300. Promulgation of regulations for practice by firms located in foreign countries.

Section 40-22-310. Status of regulations promulgated pursuant to Chapter 21.

Section 40-22-320. Severability.