Position Statement: It is the position of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) that only licensed professional engineers should be appointed to or employed in government positions (federal, state, and local) that have the responsibility for exercising engineering supervision and making engineering decisions.

Background: Licensed professional engineers are crucial in all levels of government service to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring infrastructure projects are analyzed, designed, managed, and maintained to the highest standards. The practice of appointing non-engineer administrators to positions, which, by definition, constitute the practice of engineering, is inconsistent with the goal of protecting the public health, safety and welfare and, as such, conflicts with licensure laws.