Engineering Licensing in On Top of the World CDP, Florida

Who Needs a License

In Florida, engineers performing professional engineering work must be licensed under Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes. Professional engineering is defined in Fla. Stat. § 489.105 and includes offering to perform or performing services such as consulting, designing, or supervising construction that requires the application of engineering principles and affects public safety, health, or welfare.

If you design infrastructure, buildings, utilities, or systems in On Top of the World CDP, or supervise construction involving engineering analysis and decision-making, you likely need licensure. The specific scope of regulated work is detailed in Fla. Stat. § 489.105, which defines the practice of professional engineering.

How to Get Licensed

Florida engineering licensure is administered by the Construction Industry Licensing Board under Fla. Stat. § 489.107.

Steps to licensure:

1. Meet qualifications. Per Fla. Stat. § 489.113, you must have a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent, plus relevant work experience (typically four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed engineer).

2. Military credit. If you have military training or education in engineering, Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 allows credit toward experience requirements.

3. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineering (PE) exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

4. Apply to the state. Submit your application, transcripts, work history, and exam results to the Construction Industry Licensing Board in Tallahassee.

5. Obtain your Florida PE license once approved.

Local Requirements

On Top of the World CDP is located in Marion County. Building permits for engineering work are issued by Marion County—not a separate town department, as On Top of the World is a Census Designated Place without municipal incorporation.

Contact the Marion County Building Department to pull permits for any engineering projects within the CDP.

Review the On Top of the World Municipal Code for any local amendments or additional requirements beyond state law.

Exemptions

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

• Work performed by employees of the federal government or state of Florida
• Routine or customary work by contractors (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) not constituting the practice of professional engineering
• Work on farms or in agricultural operations not affecting public safety

However, if engineering design, analysis, or supervision is involved, licensure is required regardless of the project type.

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
• On Top of the World Municipal Code

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