The National Society of Professional Engineers supports and encourages mobility of engineering licensure among US states, territories, and foreign countries as long as public safety, health and welfare is maintained. To provide mobility with foreign countries, Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) between the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) and their foreign equivalent should be encouraged, so long as the methods of establishing licensure in the two countries have been deemed equivalent in rigorousness. Each state board is encouraged to adopt regulations to allow international comity, understanding individual states may continue to have requirements unique to engineering in those states.

NCEES and the Engineers Council of the United Kingdom (EngC) signed an MRA in April 2024 and 26 state Boards agreed to consider adopting regulations to implement the MRA by signing on to it at the NCEES Annual Meeting in August 2024. The MRA builds on efforts by both organizations through the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) and International Professional Engineers Agreement (IPEA).

Applicants will be required to meet any State specific requirements, such as California’s Seismic and Surveying Exam, Alaska’s Cold Regions Course, or the various jurisprudence exams. Expedited licensure may assist with engineering shortages in some areas and provide access to highly technical expertise not currently available.¹