Engineering Licensing in Fernandina Beach city, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida requires licensure for any person who offers to perform or performs engineering services for the public. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" includes consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, and supervision of construction or operation of public and private utilities, structures, machines, processes, and equipment.

If you are performing engineering work in Fernandina Beach—whether designing infrastructure, certifying construction plans, or supervising projects—you must hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license from the State of Florida unless you qualify for an exemption.

How to Get Licensed

  1. Meet Experience and Education Requirements: Fla. Stat. § 489.113 requires applicants to hold a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program (or equivalent) plus four years of responsible engineering experience, or equivalent combinations thereof.

  2. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam: You must pass the FE exam and obtain an Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate.

  3. Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam: After meeting experience requirements, pass the PE exam in your discipline.

  4. Apply to Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): Submit your application through the DBPR's Construction Industry Licensing Board, established under Fla. Stat. § 489.107.

  5. Military Credit: If you have relevant military training and education, Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 allows credit toward licensing requirements; include documentation with your application.

Local Requirements

In Fernandina Beach, engineering work falls under the jurisdiction of the city's Building Department. All engineering-related projects in the city must comply with the Fernandina Beach Municipal Code, available at https://library.municode.com/fl/fernandina_beach.

Review the municipal code for any local design standards, permit requirements, or additional certifications required before beginning work. Contact the Fernandina Beach Building Department for permit applications and local code interpretations specific to your engineering project.

Exemptions

Fla. Stat. § 489.103 exempts the following from licensure:
- Employees of licensed engineers acting under direct supervision
- Work on property the engineer owns or occupies personally
- Certain equipment vendors and manufacturers
- Federal, state, and local government employees performing official duties

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)