DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS – GENERAL RULES

Filed with the secretary of state on March 17, 2022

These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted

under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA

306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections become

effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.

(By authority conferred on the board of professional engineers by section 308 of the

occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.308; and on the director of the department of

licensing and regulatory affairs by sections 205 and 2009 of the occupational code, 1980

PA 299, MCL 339.205 and 339.2009; and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9,

1996-2, 2003-1, and 2011-4, MCL 338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and 445.2030)

R 339.16001, R 339.16021, R 339.16022, R 339.16025, R 339.16026, R 339.16031, R

339.16032, R 339.16040, and R 339.16041 of the Michigan Administrative Code are

amended, as follows:

PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

R 339.16001 Definitions.

Rule 1. (1) As used in these rules:

(a) “Board” means the board of professional engineers created under section 2002 of

the code, MCL 339.2002.

(b) “Code” means the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2677.

(c) “Continuing education” means an instructional course or activity designed to bring

licensees up to date on a particular area of knowledge or skills relevant to a licensee’s

area of professional practice.

(d) “Course” means any qualifying activity with a clear purpose and goal that will

keep, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s area of

professional practice.

(e) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(2) A term defined in the code has the same meaning when used in these rules.

PART 2. LICENSURE

R 339.16021 Educational requirement.

September 29, 2021

2

Rule 21. An applicant for licensure shall provide to the department 1 of the following to

satisfy the educational requirement under the code:

(a) Transcripts verifying that the applicant received a baccalaureate degree or higher

degree in engineering from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation

Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

(EAC/ABET) or the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

(b) Transcripts verifying that the applicant received a master’s degree or doctorate in

engineering from a school and program with an EAC/ABET-accredited or a CEAB-

accredited baccalaureate degree program that is in the same engineering discipline as the

applicant’s master's degree or doctorate.

(c) A credentials evaluation from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering

and Surveying (NCEES) that verifies all the following:

(i) The applicant for licensure received either of the following:

(A) A baccalaureate degree in engineering from a non-United States-based

program.

(B) A master’s degree or doctorate in engineering from a non-EAC/ABET-

accredited program.

(ii) The applicant for licensure completed not less than 32 college semester credit

hours in the areas of mathematics and basic science.

(iii) The applicant for licensure completed not less than 48 college semester credit

hours in engineering science or engineering design courses that satisfy the course

requirements established under the NCEES Engineering Education Standard.

(d) A credentials evaluation that verifies the applicant received a baccalaureate degree

in engineering from an educational program that is substantially equivalent to an

EAC/ABET-accredited baccalaureate degree program in engineering. The credentials

evaluation must be generated by a company that is a current member of the National

Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

R 339.16022 Professional engineering experience; credit for work experience; credit for

educational experience.

Rule 22. (1) Under section 2004(2)(a) of the code, MCL 339.2004, an applicant for

professional engineer licensure shall document at least 8 years of professional experience

in engineering work, including not more than 5 years of education granted under subrule

(4) of this rule. An applicant shall satisfy the requirements of this rule to receive credit

for professional experience.

(2) An applicant for licensure shall provide either of the following to the department to

receive credit for professional experience in engineering work:

(a) Proof acceptable to the department verifying that the applicant has obtained not

less than 4 years of experience practicing as a licensed or registered professional engineer

in another state.

(b) All of the following:

(i) The dates of performing engineering work that qualifies as professional

experience under subrule (3) of this rule.

3

(ii) The supervising individual’s name and license or registration number and the

state in which the supervising individual is licensed or registered as a professional

engineer.

(iii) Documentation from the supervising individual attesting to the work experience,

dates of work, and supervision.

(3) Engineering work that satisfies all the following requirements qualifies as

professional experience:

(a) The work involves the use of engineering principles and data.

(b) The work is in the form of consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning,

design, or review of materials or completed phases of work in the construction, alteration,

or repair in connection with a public or private utility, structure, building, machine,

equipment, process, work, or project.

(c) The work is performed while under the direction of a professional engineer

licensed in this state or licensed or registered in another state.

(4) The department shall grant not more than 5 years of professional experience credit

to an applicant holding a degree that satisfies the requirements under R 339.16021. Credit

is limited to the following amounts:

(a) Not more than 4 years of professional experience for a baccalaureate degree in

engineering. Experience is granted for only 1 baccalaureate degree.

(b) Not more than 1 year of professional experience for a post-baccalaureate degree in

engineering. Experience is granted for only 1 post-baccalaureate degree.

R 339.16025 Relicensure requirements.

Rule 25. (1) An applicant whose license has lapsed for less than 3 years after the

expiration date of the last license may be relicensed under section 411(3) of the code,

MCL 339.411, by satisfying all the following requirements:

(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Providing proof to the department verifying that the applicant has completed 15

hours of continuing education in activities approved under R 339.16041 during the 12

months immediately preceding the date of filing the relicensure application. If the

department determines that the amount of continuing education hours provided with the

application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year from the date of filing the application to

provide proof of completing the deficient hours.

(2) An applicant whose license has lapsed for 3 years or more after the expiration date

of the last license may be relicensed under section 411(4) of the code, MCL 339.411, by

satisfying all the following requirements:

(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Establishing that the applicant has met all the requirements for initial licensure

under the code and these rules.

(d) Providing proof to the department verifying that the applicant has completed 30

hours of continuing education in activities approved under R 339.16041 during the 24

months immediately preceding the date of filing the relicensure application. If the

department determines that the amount of continuing education hours provided with the

4

application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year from the date of filing the application to

provide proof of completing the deficient hours.

R 339.16026 Examination requirements.

Rule 26. An applicant for professional engineer licensure shall provide to the

department both of the following to satisfy the examination requirements under the code:

(a) Verification that the applicant achieved a passing score as determined by NCEES

on either of the following examinations:

(i) The NCEES Principals and Practice of Engineering examination.

(ii) Both components of the NCEES Structural Engineering examination, known as

SE-I and SE-II.

(b) Verification of either of the following:

(i) The applicant achieved a passing score as determined by NCEES on the NCEES

Fundamentals of Engineering examination.

(ii) The applicant received a doctorate in engineering from a school and program

with an EAC/ABET-accredited or a CEAB-accredited baccalaureate degree program that

is in the same engineering discipline as the applicant’s doctorate in engineering.

PART 3. STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

R 339.16031 Professional conduct; requirements; restrictions.

Rule 31. (1) A licensee shall follow all the rules of conduct under this part.

(2) A licensee shall do all the following:

(a) If the licensee is the person in responsible charge, the licensee shall notify the

licensee’s employer or client, and any other appropriate authority when the licensee’s

judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property.

(b) If the licensee is not the person in responsible charge, the licensee shall notify the

person in responsible charge when the licensee’s judgment is overruled under

circumstances that endanger life or property.

(c) Participate in phases of a project in which the licensee is competent.

(d) Undertake assignments in which the licensee is qualified by education or

experience in the specific technical field involved.

(e) Complete, sign, seal, or approve engineering documents that conform with the law

and applicable professional standards.

(f) Be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony and

include all relevant and pertinent information in these reports, statements, or testimony.

(g) Disclose to an employer, client, or public body on which the licensee serves all

known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence the

licensee’s judgment or the quality of the licensee’s services.

(3) A licensee shall not do any of the following:

(a) Disclose confidential information obtained in a professional capacity without the

prior consent of the client or employer, unless authorized or required by law or these

rules.

5

(b) Partner, practice, or offer to practice with any person or firm or assist any person

or firm that the licensee knows is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest business or

professional practices or the unlawful practice of professional engineering.

(c) Falsify the licensee’s qualifications or the qualifications of the licensee’s associates

or permit misrepresentations of the licensee’s qualifications or the qualifications of the

licensee’s associates.

(d) Misrepresent or exaggerate the licensee’s experience or qualifications.

(e) Knowingly make statements containing a material misrepresentation of fact or

omitting a material fact or knowingly make statements that deceive the public.

(f) Attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional

reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of other licensed professional engineers.

(g) Give or offer to give, directly or indirectly, to a client, potential client, the agent of

a client, or the agent of a potential client, a commission, contribution, gift, or other

valuable consideration to secure or retain engineering work. This restriction does not

include payments to an employment agency for securing employment or employees for

salaried positions.

(h) Solicit or accept a compensation, contribution, gift, or other valuable

consideration, directly or indirectly, from more than 1 party for services on the same

project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully

disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

(i) Solicit or accept a commission, contribution, gift, or other valuable consideration,

directly or indirectly, from other parties dealing with the licensee’s clients or employers,

or from outside agents who have no dealings with the licensee’s client or employer, in

connection with the work for which the licensee is responsible, unless the circumstances

are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

(j) Solicit or accept a commission, contribution, gift, or other valuable consideration,

directly or indirectly, when the licensee’s judgment may be compromised.

(k) Complete, sign, seal, or approve engineering documents that do not conform with

the law or applicable professional standards.

(4) Work for which the licensee is responsible, the procedures followed, and the

decisions made by individuals under the licensee's supervision must be subject to

sustained review and approval by the licensee.

R 339.16032 Professional engineer seal.

Rule 32. (1) Effective 2 years after the promulgation of this rule, the seal of a

professional engineer must include the licensee’s name and full license number, as shown

on the licensee’s state-issued professional engineer license and indicate “State of

Michigan” and “Licensed Professional Engineer” in the legend surrounding the seal. The

seal must have a design substantially equivalent to figure 32 below.

(2) A licensee's seal shall be used by the licensee whose name appears on the seal for as

long as the license is in effect. A licensee is responsible for the security of the licensee’s

seal.

FIGURE 32

6

PART 4. LICENSE RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

R 339.16040 Continuing education required for renewal; certification of compliance;

document retention; continuing education waiver.

Rule 40. (1) An applicant for license renewal who has been licensed during the 2-year

period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license shall obtain not less than

30 hours of continuing education in activities approved under R 339.16041 during the 2-

year period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license. Of the 30 hours, at

least 2 hours of continuing education must be earned in ethics, as it relates to professional

engineering.

(2) Submission of an application for renewal constitutes the applicant’s certification of

compliance with this rule and R 339.16041.

(3) A licensee shall keep documentation of satisfying the requirements of this rule and

R 339.16041 for a period of 4 years from the date of filing the application for license

renewal.

(4) A licensee is subject to audit under this part and may have to provide documentation

as described by R 339.16041 upon request of the department.

(5) A request for a continuing education waiver under section 204(2) of the code, MCL

339.204, must be received by the department before the expiration date of the license.

R 339.16041 Acceptable continuing education; limitations.

Rule 41. (1) The department shall grant credit for in-person or online continuing

education hours that satisfy the requirements in the following chart:

Activity

Code

Activity and Proof Required

Number of Continuing

Education Hours Granted

for Activity

(a)

Completing a continuing education program

or activity related to professional engineering

that is approved or offered for continuing

education credit by any of the following:

The number of continuing

education hours approved

by the approving entity are

granted for this activity.

 Another state’s board of engineers.

7

 A professional engineering

association, organization, or

society.

 NCEES.

 ABET.

If audited, a licensee shall provide

documentation or a certificate of completion

showing the licensee’s name, total continuing

education credits earned, sponsor name and

contact information, program title, and the

date the program was held or completed.

Passing an academic course related to

(b)

Fifteen continuing

professional engineering offered by a college

education hours are granted

or university that offers a baccalaureate degree for each semester credit or

or higher degree in an engineering program

that is accredited by EAC/ABET or CEAB.

10 continuing education

hours are granted for each

quarter credit.

If audited, a licensee shall provide a copy of

the transcript showing the number of credit

hours of the academic courses related to

professional engineering.

(c)

Attending a seminar, in-house course,

workshop, or professional or technical

presentation related to professional

engineering.

One continuing education

hour is granted for every

50 minutes attending the

activity.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy of

the presentation notice or advertisement

showing the date of the presentation, the

licensee’s name listed as a presenter or

attendee, and the name of the organization that

approved or offered the presentation.

(d)

Teaching, instructing, or presenting a subject

related to professional engineering.

Two continuing education

hours are granted for every

50 minutes of teaching,

instruction or presenting.

If audited, a license shall provide

documentation by the college or university

confirming the licensee as the teacher,

A maximum of 12

instructor, or presenter of the academic course, continuing education hours

the dates of the course or presentation, the

number of classroom hours spent teaching,

are granted for this activity

during each renewal

instructing, or presenting, and the course title. period.

(e)

Publication of a peer-reviewed paper, article,

or book related to professional engineering.

Six continuing education

hours are granted for this

activity.

8

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy of

the publication that identifies the licensee as

the author or a publication acceptance letter.

Credit is not granted for

multiple publications of the

same peer-review paper,

article, or book.

A maximum of 18

continuing education hours

are granted for this activity

during each renewal

period.

(f)

Serving as a voting member on a state or

national committee, board, council, or

association related to professional

engineering. To receive credit, a licensee

must take part in at least 50% of the regularly

scheduled meetings of the committee, board,

council, or association.

Three continuing education

hours are granted for the

year in which the licensee

serves as a member.

A maximum of 6

continuing education hours

are granted for this activity

during each renewal

period.

If audited, a licensee shall provide

documentation satisfactory to the department

verifying the licensee’s participation in at least

50% of the regularly scheduled meetings of

the committee, board, council, or association

and provide verification of the licensee’s

status as a voting member on the committee,

board, council, or association.

(g)

Attending a Michigan board of professional

engineers meeting. To receive credit, the

licensee shall obtain a form provided by the

department from a department employee

One continuing education

hour is granted for each

meeting attended.

present at the meeting and have that employee A maximum of 6

complete, sign, and date the form. The

licensee shall present a valid government-

issued photo identification to the department

employee for verification.

continuing education hours

are granted for this activity

during each renewal

period.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy of

the form completed, signed, and dated by the

department employee who was present at the

meeting.

(h)

Serving as a school-sponsored mentor to an

engineering student in a school-sponsored

Four continuing education

hours are granted for this

program. To receive credit, this activity must activity.

not be part of the licensee’s regular job

description.

9

A maximum of 8

If audited, the licensee shall provide a letter

from an authorized official from the school

continuing education hours

are granted for this activity

verifying the licensee’s role and the number of during each renewal

mentoring hours the licensee provided.

Participating in a company-sponsored or

hosted seminar or training that is designed to

enhance professional development in the

licensee’s area of professional practice.

period.

(i)

(j)

(k)

One continuing education

hour is granted for every

50 minutes of the seminar

or training.

If audited, a licensee shall provide

documentation or a certificate of completion

issued by the company presenting the seminar

or training showing the licensee’s name,

company name, subject of seminar or training,

and the date on which the seminar or training

was held.

Studying an article related to professional

engineering published in a peer-reviewed

journal or professional or scientific journal

that expands the licensee’s knowledge of the

professional engineering field.

Two continuing education

hours are granted for each

article studied.

A maximum of 4

continuing education hours

If audited, a licensee shall provide the title and are granted for this activity

author of the article, publication name of the

peer-reviewed journal or professional or

scientific journal, and date, volume, and issue

of publication, as applicable, as well as date

read.

during each renewal

period.

Obtaining a patent related to professional

engineering.

Ten continuing education

hours are granted for each

patent.

If audited, a licensee shall provide a copy of

the patent grant letters showing the licensee as A maximum of 20

the author of the patent and the date in which

the patent was issued.

continuing education hours

are granted for this activity

during each renewal

period.

(2) Continuing education hours are not granted for a program or activity that has

substantially the same content of a program or activity for which the applicant has

already earned continuing education hours during the renewal period.

(3) Not more than 12 continuing education hours may be earned during a 24-hour

period.