Engineering Licensing in Coconut Creek, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida law regulates professional engineering work. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" means professional services or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare.

You need a state engineering license if your work involves:
- Design of structures, systems, or processes
- Professional consultation on engineering matters
- Sealing or stamping engineering plans and documents

Specific scope depends on your engineering discipline (civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, etc.) as defined under Fla. Stat. § 489.105.

How to Get Licensed

State Application & Examination:

  1. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which administers licensing through the Construction Industry Licensing Board under Fla. Stat. § 489.107.

  2. Meet qualifications per Fla. Stat. § 489.113:

  3. Possess a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program (or equivalent)
  4. Complete required years of responsible charge experience (typically 4 years for bachelor's degree holders)
  5. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

  6. Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam in your discipline

  7. Military credit: If you have relevant military training and education, you may qualify for credit toward experience requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.1131.

  8. Submit application through DBPR with proof of education, experience documentation, and exam passage.

Contact DBPR directly for current application forms, fees, and exam scheduling.

Local Requirements

Coconut Creek Building Department handles engineering plan reviews and permits for local projects. Contact the Coconut Creek Building Department for:
- Permit applications
- Plan review procedures
- Local submission requirements

Municipal Code Reference: Review the Coconut Creek Municipal Code for any local amendments, additional professional standards, or town-specific engineering submission requirements that may apply beyond state law.

State licensure is required; local permits and compliance with Coconut Creek codes are separate and mandatory.

Exemptions

Per Fla. Stat. § 489.103, certain work is exempt from engineering licensure:
- Work performed by employees of licensed engineers under direct supervision
- Routine design or drafting work that does not require professional engineering judgment
- Work that falls below the threshold of "practice of engineering" as defined in statute

Exemptions are narrow. When in doubt, consult DBPR or a licensed engineer about whether your specific work requires licensure.

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)