Engineering Licensing in Fort White, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida requires licensure for individuals who offer or perform services in engineering. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineer" means a person who, by reason of their knowledge of mathematics, physical sciences, and the principles of engineering, is qualified to practice engineering and whose professional advice, plans, designs, or specifications are used in the construction, alteration, or repair of structures or systems.

Any person offering engineering services in Fort White must hold the appropriate Florida professional license. This includes design work, feasibility studies, and professional consultation on construction projects.

How to Get Licensed

Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in Florida follows this process:

1. Education & Experience: Meet the requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.113, which typically requires a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program plus four years of progressive engineering experience, or equivalent combinations of education and experience.

2. Military Credit: If applicable, Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 allows credit for relevant military training and education toward licensing requirements.

3. Examination: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gain required experience, and pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam.

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

The DBPR website provides application forms, exam schedules, and detailed eligibility verification.

Local Requirements

Fort White is located in Columbia County, Florida. Permits for engineering work are issued through the Fort White Building Department. Contact the Fort White Building Department for specific permitting requirements and to confirm which projects require engineering drawings or professional certification.

Review the Fort White Municipal Code for any local amendments, additional design standards, or engineering review requirements that may apply to projects within town limits. Local code may impose stricter standards than state law.

Exemptions

Under Fla. Stat. § 489.103, certain work is exempt from licensure, including:

• Work performed by full-time employees of the federal, state, or local government
• Work on property owned by the person performing the work
• Certain routine maintenance and repair activities that do not involve design of new systems
• Work performed by registered architects within their scope of practice

Check the statute for a complete list of exemptions, as they are narrowly defined.

State Licensing Board Contact

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

References

• Fla. Stat. § 489.103 — Exemptions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.105 — Definitions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.107 — Construction Industry Licensing Board
• Fla. Stat. § 489.113 — Qualifications for practice; restrictions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 — Credit for relevant military training and education
• Fort White Municipal Code

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