Engineering Licensing in Bal Harbour village, Florida

Who Needs a License

Any person who offers to perform or performs engineering services in Florida must be licensed as a professional engineer, unless exempt. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" means any professional service or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience, the adequate performance of which is dependent upon knowledge of engineering sciences and mathematics acquired by professional education and experience.

Work that triggers licensure requirements includes design of structures, systems, and facilities; preparation of plans and specifications; inspection and supervision of construction; and consultation on engineering matters. Fla. Stat. § 489.113 establishes that only licensed professional engineers may practice engineering or use the title "professional engineer" or "engineer" in a manner that implies licensure.

How to Get Licensed

Florida engineering licenses are issued by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers, which operates under Fla. Stat. § 489.107.

Steps:
1. Meet qualification requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.113, which include education (typically a four-year ABET-accredited engineering degree), work experience (typically four years under a licensed engineer), and passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineer (PE) exam.
2. Apply directly to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (not to Bal Harbour or Miami-Dade County).
3. Submit proof of education and experience verification.
4. Pass the PE exam administered by the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying).

Veterans or service members may receive credit for relevant military training and education toward licensure requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.1131.

Local Requirements

Bal Harbour village does not issue professional engineering licenses; all licensure is handled at the state level by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

When performing engineering work in Bal Harbour, you must comply with the Bal Harbour Municipal Code. Consult this code and contact the Bal Harbour Building Department for any local permitting, inspection, or municipal requirements that may apply to your engineering project. Miami-Dade County may also have additional building code requirements.

Exemptions

Fla. Stat. § 489.103 exempts certain work from licensure:
- Employees of the federal, state, or local government performing engineering duties solely for their employer
- Certain routine work on residential property (subject to limitations)
- Contractors or builders performing work in their licensed field without offering engineering services
- Consultation in specific technical fields not constituting the practice of engineering

Check Fla. Stat. § 489.103 carefully to confirm whether your work qualifies for an exemption.

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
• Bal Harbour Municipal Code

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