Engineering Licensing in Temple Terrace, Florida

Who Needs a License

In Florida, anyone who offers to perform or performs engineering services for the public must be licensed as a professional engineer. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, engineering includes designing structures, systems, and processes; preparing plans and specifications; and inspecting construction to ensure compliance with plans.

Temple Terrace is located in Hillsborough County, Florida. Work that requires a professional engineer's license includes structural design, site engineering, drainage design, and any engineering consulting that serves the public. If you are self-performing engineering work on your own property for non-public purposes, licensing may not be required—but any public-facing or client-based engineering work requires licensure.

How to Get Licensed

Florida licenses professional engineers through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), established under Fla. Stat. § 489.107.

Steps to licensure:

1. Meet qualifications under Fla. Stat. § 489.113: You must have an ABET-accredited engineering degree or equivalent, plus four years of responsible charge engineering experience (or meet alternative pathways with more experience).

2. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to become an EIT (Engineer in Training).

3. Complete four years of work experience under a licensed professional engineer's supervision.

4. Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam in your discipline (civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, etc.).

5. Apply to CILB (administered by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Submit your education records, work experience documentation, exam scores, and application fee.

6. Military service credit: If you have relevant military training and education, Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 allows credit toward experience requirements. Submit military transcripts and documentation with your application.

The CILB processes applications and issues your Florida professional engineer license once all requirements are verified.

Local Requirements

Temple Terrace requires engineering plans and inspections for projects requiring building permits. Contact the Temple Terrace Building Department to determine permitting requirements for your project and to confirm which local codes apply.

Review the Temple Terrace Municipal Code for local amendments, permit procedures, and design standards that may exceed state minimums. Local code may impose additional review or approval steps beyond state licensure.

Exemptions

Under Fla. Stat. § 489.103, exemptions include:

• Employees of the federal or state government performing engineering work within their official duties.
• Routine work by contractors (such as standard construction practices) that does not constitute engineering design.
• Engineering work performed on your own property for your own non-public use.

If your work falls into an exempt category, licensure is not required. However, if you are offering services to the public or clients, licensure applies regardless of project size.

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
• Temple Terrace Municipal Code

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