61G15-22
EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/25/2019
61G15-22.0001 License Renewal
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendment is to update the language to include an extension period for active or inactive license members who are serving on federal active military duty.
SUMMARY: Update rule language.
61G15-22.0001 License Renewal.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3) Members of the Armed Forces and Spouses.
(a) Members of the United States Armed Forces serving on active duty, or having been discharged within the twenty-four (24) months preceding renewal; or spouses or surviving spouses of active duty members, may renew a license as specified in sections 455.02(1) and (2), F.S. Applications for renewal shall be made by remitting to FEMC Form FBPE 040, 12/18, Renewal Application Military Change of Status, which is incorporated by reference herein and may be obtained from www.fbpe.org/index.php/licensure/other-forms or at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-10315.
(b) The active or inactive license of a member of the Florida National Guard or United States Armed Forces Reserve shall not expire while that member is serving on federal active duty, and shall be extended through the period of federal active duty and for up to ninety (90) days thereafter, as provided by section 250.4815, F.S.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/27/2021
61G15-22.0002 Licensure Change of Status, Reactivation; Reinstatement of Void Licenses
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendments is to update the required procedures for reinstatement of void licenses and expand the means of obtaining required CE hours.
SUMMARY: Update void license reinstatement requirements and methods of obtaining CE hours.
61G15-22.0002 Licensure Change of Status, Reactivation; Reinstatement of Void Licenses.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3) Reinstatement of Void Licenses. Persons previously licensed as professional engineers in Florida may not re-apply for licensure by examination or by endorsement pursuant to Section 471.013 or 471.015, F.S. Rather, pursuant to Sections 455.271(6) and 471.019, F.S., any person previously licensed as a professional engineer in Florida whose Florida license has become void must apply for reinstatement of the previous license. Application for reinstatement shall be made on form FBPE/023, Change of Status Application, referenced in subsection (1). In addition to a completed application form, all applications for reinstatement shall be accompanied by the following.
(a) No change.
(b) Documentation of satisfaction of any disciplinary obligations imposed against the void license; and
(c) Passage of the Board’s Laws and Rules Study Guide; and
(d) Documentation of one of the following:
- No change.
- Applicants not currently in active practice as a professional engineer must provide proof of completion of thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education, including two (2) hours of professional ethics and a one (1) hour course in Florida Laws and Rules. With the exception of the one (1) hour Florida Laws and Rules course, which can be taken online, the remaining thirty-five (35) hours must be either in-person or synchronous live streaming / videoconference / interactive webinar OR obtained through distance learning CE courses provided by a national or Florida statewide engineering society or association in-person courses; other online or distance learning courses will not be accepted.
(4) No later than December 31, 2026, the Board shall review and consider amendment, modification, or repeal of this rule if review determines this rule creates barriers to entry for private business competition, is duplicative, outdated, obsolete, overly burdensome, or imposes excessive costs. Failure by the Board to act in accordance with this provision will result in the expiration of this rule on December 31, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/29/2019
61G15-22.001 Continuing Education Requirements
61G15-22.006 Demonstrating Compliance; Audits; Investigations
61G15-22.009 Exemptions
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: 61G15-22.001 – The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the rule’s language to allow the professional ethics class to be obtained from any US jurisdiction; it no longer has to be Florida Board approved. 61G15-22.006 – The Board proposes the rule amendment to update the rule based on the statutory changes in Sections 2 and 7, Chapter 2019-86, Laws of Florida, and to specify that licensees with reinstated void licenses will be included in the biennial continuing education audit. 61G15-22.009 – The Board proposes the amendment to clarify the scope of the exemption from CE requirements only applies to new licensees by examination, not to endorsement or reinstated licenses.
SUMMARY: Update rules text.
61G15-22.001 Continuing Education Requirements.
(1) Each licensee shall complete eighteen (18) continuing education hours during each license renewal biennium as a condition of license renewal. Four (4) hours shall relate to the licensee’s area(s) of practice; one (1) hour must be related to professional ethics; and one (1) hour shall relate to chapter 471, F.S., and the rules of the Board. The remaining hours may relate to any topic pertinent to the practice of engineering as defined in rule 61G15-22.002, F.A.C.
(a) The one (1) hour of professional ethics must be obtained from a professional ethics course approved for credit in any US jurisdiction.
(b) The one and (1) hour of laws and rules required by section 471.017, F.S., must be obtained from courses approved by the Board pursuant to rule 61G15-22.0105, F.A.C.
(c) Pursuant to section 471.017(3)(a), F.S., a licensee may earn the required professional ethics and laws and rules hours by serving as a member of the Legislature or as an elected state or local official.
(2) No change.
(3) Beginning with the Fifth Edition of the Florida Building Code, all licensees actively participating in the design of engineering works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code, as identified within section 553.73(1)(a), F.S., shall:
(a) Complete at least one (1) advanced Florida Building Code course within twelve (12) months of each edition of the Florida Building Code effective date,
(b) No change.
(4) No change.
61G15-22.006 Demonstrating Compliance; Audits; Investigations.
(1) No change.
(2) The Board will randomly audit a minimum of three percent (3%) of licensees to assure that the continuing education requirements are met.
(a) No change.
(b) Licensees whose void license was reactivated during the previous renewal cycle will be included within the group of licensees audited for the current renewal cycle.
(c) A failure to produce documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements during an audit will result in the opening of a disciplinary complaint against the licensee for violation of paragraph 61G15-19.001(6)(s), F.A.C. If a violation is proven, the penalty shall be within the guidelines established by sub-subparagraph 61G15-19.004(2)(g)4.i., F.A.C.
(3) through (4) No change.
61G15-22.009 Exemptions.
(1) New Llicensees who have achieved licensure by examination, pursuant to Section 471.013, F.S., shall be exempt for their first renewal period. This exemption does not apply to licensees by endorsement, licensees who directly registered for examination with NCEES, or to licensees upon reinstatement of previously void licenses. This exemption does not apply to the requirement of section 471.0195, F.S., regarding Advanced Building Code training.
(2) through (3) No changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/16/2020
61G15-22.009 Exemptions from Continuing Education Requirements
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendment is to update the exemptions from continuing education requirements for new licensees.
SUMMARY: Updates exemptions from CE requirements for initial biennial renewal.
61G15-22.009 Exemptions from Continuing Education Requirements.
(1) Licensees who have passed a Principles and Practices of Engineering Examination and become licensed in Florida during the current biennium achieved licensure by examination, shall be exempt from continuing education requirements for that same biennium their first renewal period. This exemption does not apply to licensees by endorsement, licensees who directly registered for examination with NCEES, or to licensees upon reinstatement of previously void licenses. This exemption does not apply to the requirement of Section 471.0195, F.S., regarding Advanced Building Code training.
(2) through (3) No change.
(4) Any licensee who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and maintains Florida licensure pursuant to section 455.02, F.S.
(5) No later than December 31, 2024, the Board shall review and consider amendment, modification, or repeal of this rule if review determines this rule creates barriers to entry for private business competition, is duplicative, outdated, obsolete, overly burdensome, or imposes excessive costs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 5/3/2020
61G15-22.011 Board Approval of Continuing Education Providers
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the amendment is to update the rule language to show the deletion of Certificates of Authorization and replace with engineering business organization.
SUMMARY: Update rule text.
61G15-22.011 Board Approval of Continuing Education Providers.
(1) No change.
(2) To demonstrate the education and/or the experience necessary to instruct professional engineers in the conduct of their practice for continuing education credit, an applicant for continuing education provider status must be a regionally accredited educational institution, a commercial educator, a governmental agency, a state or national professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of engineering, an engineer with a Florida license to practice engineering who is not under disciplinary restrictions pursuant to any order of the Board, a vendor with specific knowledge related to the licensee’s area of practice, or an engineering firm properly qualified as an engineering business organization that possesses an active certificate of authorization issued by the Board pursuant to section 471.023, F.S.
(10) No later than December 31, 2024, the Board shall review and consider amendment, modification, or repeal of this rule if review determines this rule creates barriers to entry for private business competition, is duplicative, outdated, obsolete, overly burdensome, or imposes excessive costs.