50-State Engineering Licensing Compliance Guide
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North Dakota Engineering Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for engineering industry firms and individuals in North Dakota.

This page provides an overview of engineering industry licensing in North Dakota for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

North Dakota Engineering Company Licenses

North Dakota Certificate of Commercial Practice

Agency:North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors
Law:

N.D. Cent. Code § 43-19.1-27

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
  • Professional Limited Liability Partnership
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a North Dakota licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in North Dakota.

Professional Corporations:

  • All of the shareholders of PCs must be licensed in a profession practiced by the firm.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a North Dakota licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in North Dakota.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All of the members of PLLCs must be licensed in a profession practiced by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a North Dakota licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm in North Dakota.

Professional Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • All of the partners of PLLPs must be licensed in a profession practiced by the firm.

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Commercial Practice Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

6-8 weeks. Applicants will receive confirmation by mail.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Identify a North Dakota licensed engineer and/or surveyor to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in North Dakota.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Ensure that your North Dakota entity meets ownership requirements.
  • Identify a North Dakota licensed engineer and/or surveyor to act as the individual in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in North Dakota.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If a PC, PLLC, or PLLP, fill out a Certificate of Professional License and submit to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors. After approval from the board, submit this form during the entity formation process in step 2.
  2. Create an online account and file entity formation documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State.
  3. File a Certificate of Commercial Practice Application with the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. If a PC, PLLC, or PLLP, fill out a Certificate of Professional License and submit to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors. After approval from the board, submit this form during the entity formation process in step 2.
  2. Create an online account and file foreign qualification documents with the North Dakota Secretary of State.
  3. File a Certificate of Commercial Practice Application with the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Certificate of Commercial Practice Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by December 31. Online renewals may be filed as early as October 29.

Penalties:

There is a $30 late fee for renewals filed after December 31.

Required Attachments:
  • List of North Dakota licensees employed by the firm

Amendment

Filing Method:
  • Name changes must be sent via email
  • All other changes can be made online
Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days after the change occurs.

Required Attachments:

Name change emails must include:

  • Current name of the company
  • Company's CoCP number
  • Newly Requested Name
  • Amended Certificate of Authority from the North Dakota Secretary of State and a signed letter from a company representative requesting the name change

Reinstatement

Form:

Certificate of Commercial Practice Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail or online

Agency Fee:

$130

Notes:

Licenses that have expired for more than 1 year cannot be reinstated. Instead, a new license application must be filed.

North Dakota Geology Firm License

Not required



Geoscience Firm licensure is not required on the State level in North Dakota.

Individual Licenses

North Dakota Individual Engineering Licenses

North Dakota Engineer Intern Registration

Agency:North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Engineer or Land Surveyor Intern Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



North Dakota Geologist License

Not required



Professional Geoscientist licensure is not required on the State level in North Dakota.

North Dakota Land Surveyor Intern Registration

Agency:North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Principals and Practices of Land Surveying Examination Application

Agency Fee:

$0

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Intern certificates do not expire.

North Dakota Professional Engineer License

Agency:North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

An electronic signature is a signature that is computer-generated or electronically generated and must be unique to and under the sole control of the person using it, must be capable of verification, and must be linked to a document in such a way that the electronic signature is invalidated if any data on the document is changed. An electronic signature is not required to be across the face of the seal.

... If computer-generated or electronically generated seals or signatures are used on documents combined into a single file, they can be electronically applied by electronic
process allowing the seal or signature to be computer-generated on all required documents by one computer action.

North Dakota Admin Code 28-02.1-08-.02

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Seals may be of rubber stamp, metal impression type, computer-generated, or electronically generated.

... If computer-generated or electronically generated seals or signatures are used on documents combined into a single file, they can be electronically applied by electronic
process allowing the seal or signature to be computer-generated on all required documents by one computer action.

North Dakota Admin Code 28-02.1-08-.02

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Engineer Application

Instructions:

Professional Engineer Application Instructions

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$150

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Engineer Application (Endorsement)

Instructions:

Professional Engineer Application Instructions

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:

Select the ENDORSEMENT option at the top of the application.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Personal License Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$110

Due:

By December 31 of even-numbered years. Licenses issued in the 4th quarter of renewal years are exempt from the first renewal period.

Penalties:

Renewal is $200 if completed after December 31.

North Dakota Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveyor Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveyor Application (Endorsement)

Agency Fee:

$150

Registration Renewal

Form:

Personal License Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail or email.

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

By December 31 of even-numbered years. Licenses issued in the 4th quarter of renewal years are exempt from the first renewal period.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required

Learn about engineering licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Design Firm - Engineering firm registration is sometimes grouped with architecture and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

EI (Engineering Intern) - A term also used to describe an Engineer in Training.

EIT (Engineer in Training) - A professional designation granted upon having completed at least 3 years of school at an ABET-accredited university and having passed the FE exam.

FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) - An exam testing on basic engineering principles that is required to become an engineer in training.

PE (Professional Engineer or 'Principles and Practice in Engineering') - Means either Professional Engineer or refers to the Principles and Practice in Engineering exam that is a prerequisite for an engineering license.

Reciprocity - When a licensed engineer in one state can provide documentation (often an NCEES Record) to more easily apply for a license in another jurisdiction.

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Accrediting board that sets standards for university programs in a variety of applied science disciplines.

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Engineering, architecture, and land surveying advocacy group.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Organization that provides continuing education, professional conferences, and advocacy efforts to the civil engineering community.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Mechanical engineering organization that focuses on education and professional development.

Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC)
Reviews accreditation requirements and makes final decisions regarding the accreditation process.

National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES)
Develops, administers, and scores the exams used for engineering licenses.

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
NSPE is an advocacy group for professional engineers.

Revised March 25, 2025. Complete data last reviewed February 20, 2023.
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