How To Become a Structural Engineer in Texas—Quick Guide
If you want to work as a structural engineer in Texas, you may be wondering whether you need to obtain a special license from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (the Board). The short answer is no—you can provide structural engineering services with a regular Texas professional engineering license.
Even so, there are multiple requirements you must meet to secure a professional engineering license in Texas. In this guide, we’ll go over the main licensing criteria for individuals and firms and walk you through the process of obtaining a license. We’ll also introduce you to Harbor Compliance—a reputable service provider that helps engineering firms in Texas meet their licensing duties seamlessly.
What Does a Structural Engineer Do?
Put simply, a structural engineer is a type of civil engineer responsible for analyzing and ensuring the stability and strength of various structures like bridges, buildings, and tunnels. These professionals also prepare designs and plans to ensure the constructed structures are safe, practical, and long-lasting.
Like other engineering disciplines, structural engineering is largely regulated by the Texas Engineering Practice Act. However, the Board has also issued two brief guidelines that serve as an extension to the Act:
Structural Engineer in Texas—License Requirements
Now, let’s explore the different requirements individuals and firms must meet to obtain a license to practice structural engineering in Texas.
Individual License Requirements
There are four basic requirements individuals have to fulfill to secure a professional engineer license in Texas. These are as follows:
- Examination—You’ll need to pass at least three engineering exams to qualify for a license. These include an open-book test called the Texas Ethics of Engineering exam. The other two exams, Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE), are administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
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Work experience—If you have an engineering degree, you must accumulate at least four years of professional work experience (or eight years if you don't have a degree).
- Journal—Adding to the point above, make sure that your professional engineering experience is neatly recorded in a diary/journal with specific start and end dates for each project. Submit this log along with your license application; it will later be converted into a supplementary experience record.
- References—Applicants must submit a minimum of three references to prove their work experience. If you waive the exam requirement, you’ll have to provide five references instead.
- Education—Ideally, you should possess a four-year engineering degree accredited by EAC/ABET.
Apart from holding an accredited engineering degree, the Board allows individuals to satisfy the education requirement in three ways:
| Degree(s) | Accredited By |
|---|---|
| A combination of a bachelor’s degree in one of the physical, mathematical, or engineering sciences and a degree in an undergraduate engineering program | The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and EAC/ABET |
| Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology | TAC/ABET |
| Degree in mathematical, physical, or engineering sciences | The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors |
Regardless of which education path you choose, your degree(s) must contain at least:
- 20 hours of engineering sciences
- Eight hours of math (excluding trigonometry)
Note: Experience in the field of engineering must meet the board criteria and clearly reflect your skill in engineering judgment. The two most accepted types of experience are:
- Design
- Analysis
Firm License Requirements
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors does not issue licenses to firms. To legally offer engineering services in the state, you’ll have to register your company with the Board. In most cases, you’ll be required to have at least one company member who is a licensed professional engineer to be eligible for registration.
The Licensure Process for a Structural Engineer in Texas
The application process is quite straightforward and clearly outlined by the Board. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand it more simply:
- Check eligibility—Instead of submitting an erroneous application, first check whether you meet all the requirements for becoming a licensed professional engineer in Texas, especially the educational ones. At this point, you’ll also be expected to take and pass the FE exam before proceeding with the application process.
- Apply for the PE exam—If your application is approved, you’ll be allowed to apply for and take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.
- Revert back—If there are any discrepancies in your application details or the Board decides you’re not eligible, you’ll have to go back and resubmit the application with the correct information.
You must also submit a copy of your fingerprints with the initial application. This will allow the Board to conduct a criminal background check through the FBI or TXDPS. If you have a criminal record, you are required to submit details of it via a criminal history form.
Once you obtain your Texas professional engineer license, you’ll have to renew it annually by paying a renewal fee and proving that you have gathered the required continuing education (CE) hours. Failure to renew the license on time will result in the revocation of your rights to practice as an engineer and incur additional renewal fees. If your license has been expired for more than two years, you will have to undergo the licensing process from scratch.
As we’ve seen, obtaining and maintaining the license that lets you practice as a structural engineer in Texas is a complex and never-ending process. Failing to keep up with the requirements can have severe consequences, such as getting your rights to practice stripped away, along with the extra financial fees. To prevent this scenario, consider delegating your licensure work to an organization specializing in licensing matters, such as Harbor Compliance.
Harbor Compliance Makes Licensing for Engineering Firms More Manageable Than Ever
Entrusting your licensing duties to Harbor Compliance allows you to save both the time and effort needed to keep up with the ever-changing regulatory requirements—and invest them into expanding your structural engineering business instead.
Apart from decreasing your licensing and overall compliance workload, our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions reduce the risk of licensing lapses and late fees since you’ll have complete visibility into the status of all your individual and company licenses.
You’re free to choose from three service options depending on how much of your licensing work you wish to outsource:
- Fully managed—This option lets you delegate every licensing task, from researching the current state requirements to filing renewal forms.
- Self-managed—You’ll handle your licensing matters internally but will enjoy access to our proprietary software solutions, such as the License Manager and Compliance Core™ database.
- Hybrid—We’ll handle most of your licensing duties while you take care of the rest using our Software Suite.
Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance’s Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions
From a streamlined licensing process to peace of mind knowing your licensure matters are handled by experts—here are some of the advantages of partnering with Harbor Compliance:
- Nationwide database of licensing and compliance requirements—Our Compliance Core™ algorithm lets you cross-reference your company data with a vast database of over 22,000 up-to-date regulatory requirements across the U.S. You can easily integrate the database with our separate software tool, License Manager, and stay on top of every change in requirements without conducting resource-consuming, manual research.
- Reduced workload—From the initial business license registration to timely renewals, you can outsource your key licensing tasks to us and focus on your primary responsibilities.
- Expert guidance—Our team includes seasoned professionals who are well-versed in licensing matters for engineering firms. No matter how complicated your licensing journey might seem, we ensure that it is smooth sailing.
- Fast and personalized support—We’re always ready to address any questions you might have about regulatory requirements or licensing procedures. Our team is just a phone call or email away.
The Process of Ordering Harbor Compliance’s Service
If you’re interested in our services, feel free to schedule a quick call so that we can find the best solution for your needs. It only takes a few simple steps:
- Visit our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions service page.
- Click on the Contact Us button and fill out the provided form with details, such as your name, email address, and phone number. You can also include your company name and website.
- Let us know when you’d like to meet and share any questions for our team.
Additional Services by Harbor Compliance
Refer to the table below to discover our other popular services from our extensive portfolio:
| Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Tax services | |
| Entity lifecycle management | |
| Business licensing support | |
| Registered agent service | |
| Nonprofit formation | |
| Beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting | |
| Document filing and retrieval |
Texas Structural Engineer FAQs
This section addresses a few of the most commonly asked questions about structural engineering licensure in the state of Texas. Visit our Information Center for more detailed answers.
Engineers don’t need a special license to provide structural engineering services. However, they must hold a valid professional engineer license issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Yes. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors requires all licensed professional engineers to collect a minimum of 15 CE credits each year to maintain and renew their licenses. Engineers can carry forward 14 credits each year and accumulate a maximum of five credits by self-studying. Out of the required 15 credits per year, at least one must pertain to Ethics or Acts/Rules of Texas, and it cannot be carried to the next licensure period.
Licensed structural engineers can only practice basic surveying activities that help their current project’s development. However, they are not allowed to perform any activity outlined in the Professional Land Surveying Practices Act without a land surveying license.
Stay on Top of Your Licensing Matters With Harbor Compliance
Obtaining an engineering license in Texas and registering your business is necessary for taking on high-value public and private structural engineering projects. Partnering with Harbor Compliance makes the entire licensure journey simpler and easier than ever so you can concentrate on growing your structural engineering firm.
Ordering our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions is simple—provide your basic details, and we’ll schedule a short introductory call. You can also schedule a free demo to see how our advanced software solutions simplify your licensing tasks.
If you’d like to check your overall regulatory standing in all the jurisdictions you operate in, get your free Harbor Compliance Score™. If you notice any issues, feel free to contact us, and we’ll advise you on the best steps forward.
The table below contains more useful resources on engineering licensure across the U.S.:
