Professional Engineer:
2023 Administrative Rule changes and how they impact you and
those you mentor.
Introduction
• Kyle Lazell
Illinois Design Licensing Manager
• Oversee licensing for
Architects
Interior Designers
Landscape Architects
Professional Design Firms
Professional Land Surveyors
Professional Engineers
Structural Engineers
Administrative Rule changes
• Generally, the proposed Rules were revised to update the education,
experience, license requirements and application processes by
updating language in several Sections to comply with current
profession standards and eliminate waste.
Administrative Rule changes
• The changes are a result of collaborative efforts between the
Department and Licensing Board since 2017 to provide a
comprehensive update as many Sections have not been updated in
5-10 years and contain outdated information.
Administrative Rule changes
• There are several minor Rule changes that were implemented but are
not covered in this presentation as they are mostly considered “clean
up” revisions due to outdated language or changes to be in line with
current DPR practices.
Administrative Rule changes
• The Rule changes were adopted and effective as of January 6, 2023.
Administrative Rule changes
• The Illinois General Assembly website lists the current version of the
Administrative Rules.
• A link to 68 IAC Section 1380 is listed on the Professional Engineer
page of the IDFPR website under the Laws and Rules subsection.
Summary of major changes
• Examination Approval Process
• Application Process
• Non-Approved Education Criteria
• Approved Experience Changes
• PDH Course Requirements
• Carryover of PD Hours
• PD Limitations
• Standards of Professional Conduct
Examination Approval Process
Examination Approval Process
• Prior Process:
• All non-approved applicants must apply to the DPR for Board review of
education to be approved to sit for the exam(s).
Examination Approval Process
• Prior Process:
• This process is out of line with current national practice as it can create
missed opportunities for the exam candidate – depending on when the
application is submitted to DPR, when the application is reviewed by the
Board and when the next exam registration deadline occurs.
Examination Approval Process
• New Process:
• All applicants now apply directly to NCEES to register for the exam.
• As part of the registration, all applicants must review the attestation
statements – which specifies the Education, Examination, and Experience
requirements for enrollment as an Engineer Intern or for PE licensure and
that simply by passing the exam does not guarantee future
enrollment/licensure.
• The applicant must ACCEPT the attestation statements before being able to
register for the exam.
Examination Approval Process
Examination Approval Process
• New Process:
• Upon passing the exam, and possessing the necessary education and
experience, the applicant will then apply to DPR for Board review.
• If the applicant does not satisfy the requirements at that time, the
application is deferred approval until the applicant submits the required
items.
Application Process Change
Application Process Change
• As previously shared, the previous exam approval/application process
was not in line with current national standard and has been revised.
• Upon passing the exam, and possessing the necessary education and
experience, the applicant will then apply to DPR for Board review.
Application Process Change
• The requirements stay the same, only the order in which they may be
done changes.
Non-Approved Program Education
Criteria
Non-Approved Program Education
Criteria
• Section 1380.220 - Non-Approved Program:
• The Section name was revised to better reflect the category and for
consistency with other professions.
• Any applicant who does not possess an EAC/ABET Baccalaureate
degree, must complete an NCEES Credential Evaluation and meet the
NCEES Engineering Education Standard to satisfy the education
requirement for enrollment as an Engineer Intern or to be licensed as
a Professional Engineer.
Non-Approved Program Education
Criteria
• This change brings the PE profession into alignment with the national
standards.
• Note: An applicant applying under this Section requires eight years of
verified professional engineering experience to be licensed.
Approved Experience Changes
Approved Experience Changes
• Experience credit may be given for Both work experience and an
acceptable conferred Masters degree or PhD in Engineering gained
at the same time.
• This was changed to acknowledge the ability of the applicant to
successfully work and simultaneously take coursework to obtain an
advanced degree in engineering.
Approved Experience Changes
• Removal of charge time requirement
• The requirement of having 24 months of Primary Responsibility was removed
to be in line with national standards for the profession.
• Each license applicant must submit a minimum of four years of professional
engineering experience that is progressive in nature and demonstrates
growth in quality, responsibility and the capability of making independent
technical decisions, and be held accountable for the performance of the
licensee’s duties.
Approved Experience Changes
• Added - Acceptance of Foreign Experience
• Engineering experience gained outside the U.S. may be accepted toward
meeting the experience requirement for licensure if the experience meets
the prescribed requirements.
Approved Experience Changes
• Added - Acceptance of Foreign Experience
• Experience gained outside of the U.S. shall be accompanied by certified
documents detailing the requirements to legally practice engineering in that
country and proof that the supervisor met those requirements at the time of
supervision. Applicant is responsible for providing translations into English as
necessary and at their expense.
PDH Course Requirements
PDH Course Requirements
• Beginning with the November 30, 2023, renewal:
• A minimum of one (1) hour of programs, courses or activities in the
area of Illinois statutes and rules that regulate professional engineers
and professional engineering is required.
• A minimum of one (1) hour of programs, courses, or activities in the
area of professional conduct and/or ethics is required.
• These were both added for consistency with national standards and DPR
practices for professions which require CE/PDHs.
Carryover of PD Hours
Carryover of PD Hours
• Beginning with the November 30, 2023, renewal:
• A maximum of 15 qualifying PD hours gained within six months from
the current renewal deadline and not used for the current renewal
period may be carried over to the subsequent renewal period.
• Does not include the requirements for the State statutes and rules,
professional conduct and/or ethics, or sexual harassment prevention
training, which must all be satisfied during each pre-renewal period.
Carryover of PD Hours
• PDHs used in this manner must
be documented on the
Department issued form and
must be maintained with copies
of the applicable course or
program certificate or other
evidence if needed for auditing
purposes or reinstatement of
licensure.
PDH Limitations
PDH Limitations
• Beginning with the November 30, 2023, renewal:
• A maximum of 12 PD hours may be earned within a 24-hour period,
where a period begins at midnight.
• This was added to be in line with a growing standard across the U.S. to ensure
that the licensee can sufficiently comprehend the course content & material and
retain that knowledge for future use.
Standards of Professional Conduct
Standards of Professional Conduct
• Section 1380.300 of the Administrative Rules was revised to adopt
the usage of the Rules of Professional Conduct Section in the NCEES
Model Rules.
• Will now cover:
• Licensee’s obligation to the Public
• Licensee’s obligation to the Employer and Clients
• Licensee’s obligation to other Licensees
• This language will be virtually identical within the SE and PLS
profession Rules.
Additional changes to note
• Acceptance of the NCEES Record
• Examination
• Restoration
• Revised Seal & Signature Requirements Section
• Revised Historical appendix Section
Additional changes to note
• Acceptance of the NCEES Record:
• With the removal of the Primary Responsibility aspect of the experience
requirement, we are now able to accept the NCEES Record as supplemental
documentation to the license application for all license applicants including
those applying for their initial
license.
• The VE-PNG form (DPR’s experience form) will no longer be applicable if
submitting the NCEES Record.
• DPR encourages the usage of the NCEES Record for all applicants as it will
benefit the applicant greatly now and in future career choices.
Additional changes to note
• Section 1380.230 Examinations:
• Language was added specifying that structural examinations are not
accepted for the Professional Engineer license in Illinois.
• This was added for clarity, mostly for those applying via Endorsement.
Additional changes to note
• Section 1380.270 Restoration:
• Language was added specifying that each licensee applying for restoration of
licensure must certify that he or she has read and understands the Act and
Rules.
• This was added to ensure that restoration applicants are familiar with the
current Act and Rules and to verify that if found in violation of the Act or
Rules, it is a known violation.
Additional changes to note
• Section 1380.270 Restoration:
• Language specifying the requirements for restoration of a Professional
Design Firm (PDF) was added.
• Mainly that the firm must apply to the department with:
• The applicable fee
• A copy of the Certificate of Good standing from the IL Sec. of State or in
the case of a sole proprietor, a copy of the letter/certificate received from
the county clerk where an assumed name has been filed.
• Proof (certification) that the managing agent-in-charge is still a full-time
employee of the firm OR appointment of a new managing agent on the
department’s PDF-BR form.
Additional changes to note
Revised Seal & Signature Requirements Section:
• Section 1380.295 was revised to include a definition for technical
submissions for a Professional Design Firm and added a reference to a
new Section (1380.ILLUSTRATION A) which was added for licensees to
know the minimum requirements and have a sample of what the license
seal/stamp should look like.
Additional changes to note
Revised Historical appendix Section
• Section 1380.APPENDIX A was revised to include NCEES and IDFPR
changes that took place within the last twenty years.
IDFPR changes to note
• The IDFPR website in the process of being redesigned to a more
user-friendly platform.
• The current projection is by Summer of 2023; however, a more
specific update will be shared when the time is closer.
