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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