Structural Engineer NJ License Process

Learn about the processes involved in getting and maintaining a structural engineering NJ license. See how Harbor Compliance can simplify the process.

Structural Engineer NJ License—Complete Guide

Every structural engineer in New Jersey needs a professional engineering license to undertake new projects.

However, the state of New Jersey compels engineers to also earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) to maintain their licenses. To save you time learning the complexities of the process, this guide tells you all you need to know about a structural engineer NJ license. We'll also discuss how Harbor Compliance can help your firm obtain and manage professional engineering licenses throughout the U.S.

What Is a Structural Engineer?

A structural engineer ensures that a building is capable of withstanding normal weather and weight conditions. By analyzing the type of raw material used and its properties, structural engineers in NJ predict how a building may react to certain structural loads.

The overall goal is to construct a building with materials that are resistant to these conditions and prevent the potential loss of human life. It's mandatory for any NJ structural engineer and company to follow the seven state laws and regulations, including:

1. Uniform Enforcement Act
2. State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Law
3. Title Recordation Act
4. Licensee Duty to Cooperate
5. Chapter 40 State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Regulations
6. Title Recordation Act
7. Building Design Services Act
8. Condominium Act

Professional Engineering License Requirements in New Jersey

Both NJ structural engineering firms and solo engineers are eligible to apply for a structural engineering license in New Jersey as long as they meet the state's requirements.

Engineering Company Licence Qualifications

For an engineering company to function according to law with an approved Certificate of Authorization (COA), they need to have two main qualifications:

1. A licensed registered agent—Companies must appoint a qualifying professional as the engineer-in-responsible-charge to be eligible for the license. While the term ‘licensed registered agent’ is sometimes used in this context, it’s not to be confused with the term ‘registered agent’ used for an individual or company appointed to receive legal notices on behalf of a business.
2. Certificate of Formation—Companies founded in New Jersey must submit a certified copy of their Certificate of Formation and annual report. Businesses outside of New Jersey need to submit a Certificate of Formation from their home state along with a Certificate of Authority to do business in New Jersey.

Individual Engineer License Qualifications

An individual can qualify for a professional engineering license in New Jersey in multiple ways. The table below shows the different requirements needed.

Note: Applicants with four or six years of experience must have at least two years of engineering experience within the U.S. Applicants with 15 years of experience must have at least eight years of engineering work experience for a U.S.-based company. All work experience should also be practiced under the supervision of an existing licensed NJ structural engineer.

Candidates who do not possess either an EAC/ABET- or TAC/ABET-accredited program degree can still apply to get a professional engineering license. However, their (undergraduate and graduate) education must be evaluated from either:

• NCEES
• Josef Silny and Associates
• Education Perspectives

How To Maintain a Structural Engineer NJ Licence

New Jersey requires its engineers to have a minimum of 24 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) every two years to be eligible for maintaining and/or renewing their license.

According to the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, each PDH credit is an hour-long session of education on professional engineering. This means that you'll need to complete at least 24 hours of continuous education every two years.

There are two main ways to earn PDH credits:

1. Advanced courses—Joining any ABET-accredited program that teaches professional engineering will count on your PDH credit list.
2. Equivalent education—Activities such as contributing to research papers, distance learning with an exam, and workshops all fall under equivalent education.

Individuals can renew their licenses every even year and also have the option to carry over any extra PDH credits to the next renewal period. However, they can only carry forward a maximum of 12 PDH credits.

Exceptions for Continuous Education

Professionals who cannot pursue continuous education due to physical incapability or serving in the army can have their PDH credit requirements waived. A written application with specific reasoning must be submitted 90 days before the beginning of the next renewal period.

If you're licensed as both a professional engineer and land surveyor, you'll have to gather a total of 36 PDH credits in professional engineering and land surveying.

All license renewal rules are ever-changing, and you may not always have the time to look up the current regulations. This is when the support of a compliance specialist becomes necessary. Doing so helps you dedicate more hours to your work and continuous education than to finding the latest information yourself.

Outsource Your License Management to Harbor Compliance

Harbor Compliance provides multi-state compliance solutions to individuals and engineering firms, helping them keep track of the ever-changing requirements. If you're running an engineering company, you can also rely on our service to complete your initial license application and manage renewals going forward.

More specifically, our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions help professionals from the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry obtain critical licenses, including:

• Engineering Firm
• Geoscience Firm
• Land Surveying Firm

With our proprietary Compliance Core™ algorithm, we compare your company licenses against 22,000+ regulatory requirements across the country.

Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance's Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions

Here's a list of some of the main benefits you get when you onboard Harbor Compliance for your licensing needs:

1. Save time—Our team of experts manages your entire company licensing and business registration processes. This includes every step, from preparing applications to keeping track of renewal dates, so you can focus more on your work.
2. Expert guidance—With experts who understand unique regulations and challenges, rest assured that you/your business will receive experienced support.
3. Fast response—Our specialists reply to any concerns promptly, giving you peace of mind.

The Process of Ordering Harbor Compliance's Service

Order our services by following these steps:

1. Go to the Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions service page.
2. Open the Contact Us form.
3. Fill out the form.
4. Click Let’s talk.

You can choose from the following three service options, depending on your needs:

1. Fully Managed—Our team handles most of the licensing process, including entity and tax registration and tracking your license's status. However, this service option applies only to company licenses.
2. Self-Managed—This option allows you to access our cloud-based software, which provides up-to-date requirements, applications, and filing procedures nationwide.
3. Hybrid—If both options seem good to you, pick our hybrid. It allows you to manage certain tasks in-house while leaving others to our dedicated team.

Additional Services by Harbor Compliance

Licensing services aren't our only forte. We offer multiple solutions that help companies stay on top of their state's regulatory requirements. Consult the table below for more info:

New Jersey Structural Engineering Licensing FAQs

Below, you'll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding a NJ structural engineering license. If you can't find what you're looking for, visit our Information Center.

Trust Harbor Compliance To Get Your Structural Engineer NJ License Effortlessly

Whether you're trying to maintain your structural engineering license or running an engineering firm and trying to stay on top of the regulatory requirements and updates, outsourcing such tasks can save you a lot of time and effort.

Rely on Harbor Compliance and our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions and stay updated and in good standing with the state of New Jersey. Sign up for our service, and let us handle the complexities of obtaining and managing your engineering firm licenses.

Explore our other services—get a free Harbor Compliance Score™ or schedule a demo of our platform. If you have specific queries, reach out to us or consult the table below for information on various engineering licensing requirements throughout the U.S.: