S 706

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 706
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE
"ENGINEERING ADVANCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 40-22-220,
RELATING TO LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINEERS, SO AS TO ALLOW QUALIFIED nondegreed
INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME LICENSED ENGINEERS THROUGH VERIFIED EXPERIENCE AND
RIGOROUS NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF
PUBLIC PROTECTION.
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that professional licensure can serve to
protect the life, health, and property of South Carolina's citizens through
competency-based regulation; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that qualified South Carolinians with
substantial field and design experience often face employment barriers due
solely to the absence of an academic credential, and that this Act provides a
fair, regulated pathway for such individuals to obtain certification and
employment opportunities through examination and oversight; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that the current degree-only pathway to
licensure restricts access for qualified, experienced professionals and
contributes to workforce shortages in key infrastructure sectors; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that passing the Fundamentals of Engineering
(FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examinations remains the
most objective measure of technical competence; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds  that a new Public Safety and Professional
Ethics Examination will ensure that all licensure applicants demonstrate
explicit understanding of their duty to safeguard the public; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that the South Carolina Board of Registration
for Professional Engineers and Surveyors shall continue to oversee applicant
review, experience verification, and disciplinary enforcement; and
Whereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly finds that expanding licensure pathways while
reinforcing safety and ethics aligns with South Carolina's values of fairness,
opportunity, and responsible governance. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "Engineering Advancement and Public Safety
Act."
SECTION 2.  Section 40-22-220 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
    Section
40-22-220. (A) A person having the
necessary qualifications prescribed in this chapter to entitle him to
registration is eligible for licensure. A person must pass
the Public Safety and Professional Ethics Examination approved by the board,
and be certified as an engineer-in-training as a prerequisite to
licensure.
    (B)
To be eligible for certification as an engineer-in-training, an applicant must
be of good character and reputation and be able to communicate effectively in
the English language. The minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an
applicant is qualified for certification as an engineer-in-training is:
       (1)
graduation from an EAC/ABET accredited engineering curriculum of four or more
years and passing NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examinations required by
the board;
       (2)
graduation in a bachelor's degree program, completion of an engineering
curriculum found to be substantially equivalent to an engineering curriculum
accredited by EAC/ABET, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering
examination;
       (3)
graduation in a bachelor's degree program, completion of an engineering
curriculum found to meet the NCEES Engineering Education Standard, and passing
the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination;  or
       (4)
graduation in a TAC/ABET accredited engineering technology curriculum of four
or more years from a school or college approved by the board as being in
satisfactory standing, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering
examination required by the board.; or
       (5) in lieu of the degree requirements
of this subsection, an applicant may be eligible upon presenting evidence
satisfactory to the board that the applicant has completed eight (8) years of
progressive engineering experience following graduation from high school, and
passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination.
    (C)
To be eligible for licensure and registration as a professional engineer, an
applicant must be of good character and reputation and be able to communicate
effectively in the English language. When the evidence presented in the
application does not appear conclusive to the board or does not warrant the
issuing of a license, the applicant may be required to present further evidence
for consideration by the board. The applicant also shall meet the requirements
of the other pertinent sections of this chapter. The minimum evidence
satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for licensure as a
professional engineer is:
       (1)(a) graduation in an EAC/ABET
accredited engineering curriculum of four or more years from a school or
college approved by the board as being in satisfactory standing;
  (b)
a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive
experience in engineering work, supervised by a licensed engineer and of a
character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent
to practice engineering;  and
  (c)
passing an NCEES examination required by the board;  or
       (2)(a) graduation in a bachelor's degree
program and completion of an engineering curriculum found to be substantially
equivalent to an engineering curriculum accredited by EAC/ABET;
  (b)
a specific record after graduation of four or more years of progressive
experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or of a
character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is competent
to practice engineering;  and
  (c)
passing the NCEES examination required by the board;  or
       (3)(a) graduation from a bachelor's
degree program;
  (b)
completion of an engineering curriculum that meets the NCEES Engineering
Education Standard;
  (c)
accrual of a specific record after graduation of four or more years of
progressive experience in engineering work:
  (i) supervised by a licensed engineer
or of a character satisfactory to the board;  and
  (ii) indicating that the applicant is
competent to practice engineering, and passing NCEES examinations required by
the board;  or
       (4)
if not needed to satisfy education requirements, a:
  (a)
master's degree in engineering from a school or college approved by the board
as being in satisfactory standing may count as one year of experience upon
approval by the board;  and
  (b)
doctoral degree in engineering from a school or college approved by the board
as being in satisfactory standing may count as a maximum of two years of
experience upon approval by the board.
       (5) successful completion of the
Fundamental Examination and upon completion of a minimum of twelve years of
progressive engineering experience, followed by:
  (a) supervision by a licensed engineer
or of a character satisfactory to the board; and
  (b) indication that the applicant is
competent to practice engineering and passing NCEES examinations required by
the board.
    (D)
The board shall admit the following individuals to an examination on the
Principles and Practice of Engineering and must license a person who passes the
exam as a professional engineer if he is otherwise qualified:
       (1)
an engineer-in-training with a bachelor's degree in engineering accredited by
EAC/ABET and with a specific record after graduation of four or more years of
progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or
of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is
competent to practice engineering;
       (2)
an engineer-in-training with:
  (a)
a bachelor's degree from a school or college approved by the board as being in
satisfactory standing then earns a master's degree in engineering from a school
or college that offers an EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate degree in the same
field of study, and establishes a specific record after the master's degree of
three or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by
a licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating
that the applicant is competent to practice engineering;
  (b)
a master's degree in engineering from an EAC/M-ABET accredited program,
establishes a specific record after graduation of three or more years of
progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or
of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the applicant is
competent to practice engineering;  or
  (c)
a non-EAC/ABET bachelor's degree, evaluated and approved by the board's
education consultant, and holding a Master of Engineering or Master of Science
in Engineering from a school or college that offers an EAC/ABET accredited
undergraduate degree in the same field of study and establishes a specific
record after graduation of four or more years of progressive experience in
engineering work supervised by a licensed engineer or progressive experience in
engineering work of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the
applicant is competent to practice engineering;
       (3)
an engineer-in-training with an earned doctoral degree in engineering
acceptable to the board and with a specific record after the doctoral degree of
two or more years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a
licensed engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that
the applicant is competent to practice engineering;  or
       (4)
a person who has earned a doctoral degree in engineering that is acceptable to
the board and with a specific record after the doctoral degree of two or more
years of progressive experience in engineering work supervised by a licensed
engineer or of a character satisfactory to the board, indicating that the
applicant is competent to practice engineering.
    (E) With respect to progressive
engineering experience:
       (1) in evaluating the work experience
required, the board shall consider the:
  (a) total experience record; and
  (b) progressive nature of the record.
       (2) Not less than one-half of the
required engineering experience must be:
  (a) of a professional grade and
character; and
  (b) performed under the responsible
charge of a licensed professional engineer.
       (3) For purposes of this chapter, the
term "progressive engineering experience" means that during the period of time
in which an applicant has made a practical use of acquired knowledge, he has
shown continuous improvement, growth, and development in the use of that
knowledge as revealed in the complexity and technical detail of the work
product or work record. The applicant must demonstrate that greater individual
responsibility for the work product has been continuously assumed over that
period of time.
       (4) In the calculation of progressive
engineering experience:
  (a) experience prior to graduation may
not be considered except that ABET accredited engineering cooperative
experience may be considered, with a maximum allowable credit of one year; and
  (b) experience obtained in a foreign
country, unless performed under the direct supervision of a professional engineer
licensed with a member of NCEES, may not be considered.
       (5) In evaluating progressive
engineering experience, the board may give the following maximum credit for
experience in the following areas of work:
  (a) graduate schooling or research in
an approved engineering curriculum resulting in award of an advanced
engineering degree, with a maximum allowance of two years of such experience;
  (b) progressive land surveying, with a
maximum allowance of two years of such experience;
  (c) teaching of engineering subjects
at the university level in an approved engineering curriculum, with a maximum
allowance of two years of such experience.
SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 10, 2025 at 02:25 PM