Engineering Licensing in Hawthorne, Florida

Who Needs a License

Under Florida law, professional engineers must be licensed to offer or perform engineering services to the public. [Fla. Stat. § 489.113(1)] defines regulated work as providing professional engineering advice, designs, plans, or specifications for public or private clients.

In Hawthorne and Alachua County, any engineer designing structures, systems, or infrastructure for residential, commercial, or industrial projects must hold a current Florida Professional Engineer license. This applies to work on building systems, site development, utilities, and any engineered construction that requires sealed plans or calculations.

How to Get Licensed

  1. Meet education requirements: Hold a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent. [Fla. Stat. § 489.113(2)]

  2. Gain work experience: Complete the required years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed professional engineer. [Fla. Stat. § 489.113]

  3. Apply to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers: The Construction Industry Licensing Board oversees professional engineer licensure. [Fla. Stat. § 489.107]

  4. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and later the Professional Engineer (PE) exam administered by NCEES.

  5. Credit for military training: If you have relevant military training and education, you may receive credit toward experience requirements. [Fla. Stat. § 489.1131]

Submit applications directly to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which administers the licensing board. Processing timelines vary; allow 4–8 weeks for standard applications.

Local Requirements

For projects in Hawthorne, obtain building permits through the Alachua County Building Department or the City of Hawthorne Building Department, depending on jurisdiction.

Review the Hawthorne Municipal Code for any local design standards, permit procedures, or amendments to state engineering requirements. Sealed engineering plans must comply with both state law and local code specifications.

Contact the Hawthorne Building Department to confirm which authority has jurisdiction over your project and what local documentation is required with permit applications.

Exemptions

[Fla. Stat. § 489.103] exempts certain activities from licensure:
- Employees of licensed engineers performing work under direct supervision
- In-house engineers working for corporations on non-public projects
- Federal employees performing engineering work for the government
- Certain routine maintenance and repair work

State Licensing Board Contact

Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
- Phone: 850-521-0500
- Website: https://fbpe.org/

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)