New White Paper Details Engineering Firm License Requirements

When we talk with engineers about business licensing, they generally think of their Professional Engineer (PE) and Structural Engineer (SE) licenses. We find that engineering professionals are often not aware of the requirements for their firms to be licensed. With different requirements in every state, firm licensing can pose significant risks to large and growing firms.

Forty-two states require engineering firms to obtain company licenses, generally called certificates of authorization, or complete similar requirements. These licenses are generally issued by state engineering licensing boards. In addition, firms must manage secretary of state filings in each state where they operate.

Our latest white paper, Engineering Licensing: The Definitive Guide, breaks down the complexities of firm licensing, including detailed requirements and procedures in all 50 states. The paper illustrates how these three critical layers of regulation—individual professional licenses, secretary of state filings, and firm licenses—interact during key business milestones such as incorporation, entering new states, adding new lines of service, opening branch offices, and withdrawing from states. Guidance is provided to help firms successfully navigate the full array of regulatory implications at each of these junctures.

The paper also looks at increasing state enforcement actions and potential fallout from unlicensed practice. Most importantly, it provides tips for avoiding pitfalls and penalties when managing licenses in multiple states.

In addition to the white paper, we provide online license guides for individual professional engineers and engineering firms. Our online guides dial down to an even deeper level, providing fees, deadlines, procedures and administrative preferences, and contact information for all of the relevant authorities in every state. The guides are truly a one-stop reference for all your engineering licensing needs, ready to bookmark and share with your team members.

With an average price tag of just $135, engineering licenses are a small budget item that can have a major impact on profitability and performance. Our guides make it easy for you to eliminate risks, address your needs proactively, and leverage licensing to drive profits and growth.

We can also provide hands-on help if you are in any of the following situations:

• You’ve managed licensing successfully to date, but you’re interested in positioning your firm to enter some new states.
• You’ve discovered some license gaps, and you aren’t sure of the best way to handle them.
• You’re just starting out as a firm or adding a new specialty, and you’re not sure how to get started.
• You’re curious to know how you can use licensing to enhance your competitive position.
• You’re thinking licensing is eating up a lot of valuable time and resources, and you’d like to explore options for support.

And of course, if you simply want to get licensing and state requirements off your plate so your staff can focus on tasks that are closer to home, we can help with that, too.

Like to talk with a licensing specialist? Get in touch, or give us a call anytime at 1-888-995-5895.

Tour the Online Guide to Engineering Firm Licensing

Tour our Online Guide to Licensing for Professional Engineers