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Engineering News Headlines

November 28, 2012 - NCEES Credentials Evaluations named official educational credientials evaluator for Records Program. View News Release
November 12, 2012 - Future changes to NCEES exams and supporting materials. View Memo...
October 12, 2012 - Sunset Advisory Commission Report - Report on the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and the Self-Directed Semi-Independent Agency Project act was released October 12, 2012. View Report
June 19, 2012 - TBPE Board Appointments Announced - Full Story...
June 11, 2012 - NCEES announces changes to FE exam, effective January 2014. Full Story...
May 3, 2012 - TBPE has been recognized by the Quality Texas Foundation for dedication to quality and high performance, and is the only state regulatory agency to be recognized during the 2012 review cycle. Full Story...
April 26, 2012 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Exams and Supporting Materials Full Story...
July 25, 2011 - The Texas Board of Professional Engineers was recognized by Texas Quality Foundation for demonstrating systematic approaches to organizational management Full Story...
June 21, 2011 - Overlap Resolved: A Joint Statement by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners - Full Story....
May 25, 2011 - TBPE Announces Launch of Online License Application Program - The new online system allows individuals to apply and pay license application fees online - Full Story...
June 2, 2011 - NCEES announces transition to computer-based testing. Full Story...
May 11, 2011 - NCEES announces changes to October 2011 Exams. Full Story...
February 28, 2011 - NCEES has selected electronic testing company Pearson VUE for computer-based delivery of the FE and FS exams. Full Story...
December 3, 2010 - NCEES announces changes to 2011 exams Full Story...
November 23, 2010 - NCEES Approves New Standard for Engineering Education Credentials Evaluations Full Story...
September 2, 2010 - NCEES has introduced a new 16-hour Structural exam, to be administered for the first time in April 2011. Full Story...
June 18, 2010 - NCEES News Release About Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico Full Story...
March 15, 2010 - Additional Certifications FAQ Full Story...
February 25, 2010 - Joint Advisory Committee Resolution Full Story...
December 10, 2009 - NCEES renames FE exam module Full Story...
December 4, 2009 - P.E.s Wanted for Volunteer Service Full Story...
October 26, 2009 - NCEES Changes Agricultural PE Exam Full Story...
October 9, 2009 - Software Engineering Exam Development Full Story...
August 31, 2009 - Revision to Requirement for Design Professionals Regarding Submitting Construction Documents Full Story...
July 8, 2009 - HB 2649: Additional Certifications for Professional Engineers Full Story...
June 30, 2009 - Changes Pending for NCEES Full Story...
March 18, 2009 - NCEES revising structural engineering exam. Full Story...
November 21, 2008 - TBPE Board rule 133.43 regarding experience evaluation has changed. Full Story...
November 4, 2008 - NCEES Announces New Electrical and Computer PE Exam Specifications Full Story...
October 15, 2008 - Residents Repairing Storm Damage May Need to Have a Windstorm Inspection Done Full Story...
October 6, 2008 - Temporary Qualified Windstorm Inspectors Full Story...
October 3, 2008 - Licensed Structural Engineers Needed Full Story...
September 24, 2008 - A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) was recently signed between the TBPE and Engineers Australia. Full Story...
August 18, 2008 - The Workshop On Renewable Energy will be held on Thursday October 23rd at UT’s Thompson Center. Full Story...
August 8, 2008 - The Texas Department of Insurance has issued a bulletin for professional engineers who are also appointed to perform windstorm inspections. Full Story...
August 6, 2008 - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Full Story...
July 28, 2008 - Board selects Shannon McClendon as secretary. Full Story...
May 31, 2008 - Austin American Statesman article on Engineers and Architects Full Story...
April 16, 2008 - Board announces examination fee change for October, 2008 Exams Full Story...
February 6, 2008 - TDI Starts Authentication Process of Professional Engineers Appointed as Qualified Inspectors Full Story...
December 20, 2007 - TBPE Announces PE 100,000 Full Story...
 December 2007 - Petroleum PE Exam grades will be delayed Full Story...
 November 2007 - Effective with the April 2008 administration, several NCEES examinations and exam supporting materials will change as noted below Full Story...
August 16, 2007 - Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, TBPE Board member, vice chancellor of engineering for The Texas A&M University System and dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been nominated to serve on the Federal Emergency Management’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council. Full Story...
100th Anniversary of NCEES Full Story...
May 28, 2007 - 70th Anniversary of TBPE Full Story...
November 2006 - NCEES Update - Changes to Approved Calculator List for 2007 Examinations Full Story...
September 21, 2006 - NCEES Exam Fee Increase for October 2008 Exams Full Story...
May 2, 2006 - Governor Perry appoints new Board members Full Story ...
May 1, 2006 - NCEES Exam Fee Increase for October 2006 Exams Full Story...
April 14, 2006 - TBPE announces Nadkarni will replace James Nichols as presiding officer of the Board. Full Story...
March 21, 2006 - Texas Transportation Forum in Austin on June 8-9, 2006 Full Story...
January 11, 2006 - Attorney General Opinion Issued on Whether a Professional Engineer May Prepare Plans and Specifications for A Public Building Without Engaging the Services of a Licensed Architect Full Story...
November 10, 2005 - NCEES Memo - Changes to Approved Calculator List for 2006 Examinations Full Story...
December 9, 2005 - TBPE Modifies Requirements for Licensure by Waiver of Examination Full Story...
September 1, 2005 - Stamping Documents For Another State or Country Full Story...
August 11, 2005 - Board Votes to Set Late Fees Full Story...
July 14, 2005 - Board of Architectural Examiners Requests AG Opinion on Comprehensive Building Design Full Story...
June 1, 2005 - NCEES Exam Policies and Procedures Full Story...
May 17, 2005 - NCEES Memo - Changes to NCEES Examinations Full Story...
February 22, 2005 - NCEES Calculator Policy Update Full Story...
November 12, 2004 - NCEES Policy for Calculators Beginning with April 2005 Exams Full Story...
November 2, 2004 - Exam Reimbursement Available for Veterans Full Story...
November 8, 2004 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Exams Full Story...
August 23, 2004 - Standard Firm Renewal Increased Full Story...
June 21, 2004 - Updated list - NCEES Policy for Calculators Full Story...
March 1, 2004 - Hand Scoring of Examinee Answer Sheets Full Story...
January 30, 2004 - Renewal Fees Raised $5 Full Story...
January 23, 2004 - Engineering Evaluations of Residential Foundations Full Story...
January 5, 2004 - Updated list - NCEES Policy for Calculators Full Story...
Dec. 08, 2003 - Gov. Perry Designates Nichols Chair of TBPE Full Story...
November, 2003 - New NCEES Policy for Calculators Full Story...
October 23, 2003 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Examinations Full Story...
July 23, 2003 - Examination Fee Increases Proposed for 2004 Full Story...
June 23, 2003 - Discontinuation of Manufacturing Engineering Examination Full Story...
June 17, 2003 - Sales Taxes on Engineering Services Full Story...
May 12, 2003 - The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) guidelines for the evaluation, repair and design of residential foundations have been completed. Full Story...
March 26, 2003 - NCEES Announces Changes to Structural II Exam Starting April 2004 Full Story...
January 2, 2003 - Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists created Full Story...
October 11, 2002 - New Board Members Appointed Full Story...
August 20, 2002 - The National Society of Professional Engineers has released a new brochure entitled "Get Full Credit for Your Construction Experience Toward Licensure as a Professional Engineer" Full Story...
July 26, 2002 - Resolution Reached on Texas A&M Bonfire Full Story...
July 9, 2002 - An Attorney General's opinion was completed and issued Full Story...
April 25, 2002 - The Tex as Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Full Story...
 April 20, 2002 - Status Of Exam Irregularity At Arlington Site Full Story...
April 10, 2002 - The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Full Story...



June 19, 2012 - TBPE Board Appointments Announced
Refer to the TBPE Press Release for the details.


June 11, 2012 - NCEES announces changes to FE exam, effective January 2014
The current specifications for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam will change in January 2014 in conjunction with the exam’s transition to computer-based testing (CBT). Press Release


May 3, 2012 - The Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) has been recognized by the Quality Texas Foundation for dedication to quality and high performance, and is the only state regulatory agency to be recognized during the 2012 review cycle.

This is the second consecutive year that the TBPE has been recognized for its commitment to quality. Press Release


April 26, 2012 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Exams and Supporting Materials

In the April 2013 exam administration, NCEES will implement changes to two examinations and introduce a new examination.
• PE Software Engineering—The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Software Engineering exam will be offered for the first time in April 2013. The new exam specifications will be posted on ncees.org. IEEE-USA (the sponsoring technical society) will publish study materials later this year.
• PE Industrial—The PE Industrial exam will have new specifications and move to a spring administration schedule in April 2013. October 2012 will be the last time this exam is offered in the fall. The new exam specifications will be posted on ncees.org. The Institute of Industrial Engineers (the sponsoring technical society) will publish revised study materials later this year.
• PE Civil—The PE Civil exam will have revised design standards for the Construction, Civil Structural, and Transportation modules starting in April 2013. The standards will be posted on the NCEES Website after the October 2012 exam.


July 25, 2011 - The Texas Board of Professional Engineers was recognized by Texas Quality Foundation for demonstrating systematic approaches to organizational management. - Press Release


June 21, 2011 - Overlap Resolved: A Joint Statement by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.
The Texas Legislature recently passed House Bill 2284 by Representative Hardcastle. The bill seeks to end a longstanding disagreement regarding building design that has existed among some members of the architectural and engineering communities. - Press Release.


May 25, 2011 - TBPE Announces Launch of Online License Application Program - The new online system allows individuals to apply and pay license application fees online.
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) announces the deployment of a new system that allows individuals seeking professional engineering licensure to apply online through a secure and
encrypted website. - Press Release


June 2, 2011 - NCEES announces transition to computer-based testing. Press Release


May 11, 2011 - NCEES announces future changes to exams and supporting materials. Press Release


February 28, 2011 - NCEES has selected electronic testing company Pearson VUE for computer-based delivery of the FE and FS exams. Press Release


December 3, 2010 - NCEES Announces Changes to 2011 Exams
Changes to the April and October exams for 2011 are outlined in this NCEES Memo.


November 23, 2010 - NCEES Approves New Standard for Engineering Education Credentials Evaluations
Beginning January 1, 2011, NCEES will begin using a new standard for its education credentials evaluations for engineering licensure candidates. Refer to the following document for further information: NCEES News Release


September 2, 2010 - NCEES has introduced a new 16-hour Structural exam, to be administered for the first time in April 2011.
NCEES has introduced a new 16-hour Structural exam, to be administered for the first time in April 2011. The new exam will replace the current Structural I and Structural II exams, which will be administered for the last time in October of this year. Member board administrators recently posed several questions about the new exam, and we have provided the answers here. Refer to the following press release for detailed information. Detailed exam specifications, news releases, and information about the transition to the new exam are posted on http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php.


NCEES News Release About Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico
The release was distributed on June 18, 2010. Refer to the following document: NCEES News Release.


Change in Texas Engineering Practice Act - Additional Certifications FAQ
Effective June 19, 2009, the Texas Legislature amended the Texas Engineering Practice Act in part by adding subsection “e” to § 1001.401. Use of Seal. The new subsection prohibits an entity from requiring an engineer to obtain additional certifications strictly to perform engineering services. We have written a Frequently Asked Questions page to aid in the interpretation of this added subsection.


Joint Advisory Committee Resolution
During the February 25, 2010, Texas Board of Professional Engineers Board (TBPE) meeting, the Board discussed the continued effort to resolve issues that result from the overlap between activities that constitute the practice of engineering and those that constitute the practice of architecture through the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) and the subcommittee of the JAC (Sub-JAC). After further discussion and consultation with legal counsel, the Board made the following resolution: JACResolution.pdf


NCEES Renames FE Exam Module
NCEES is renaming one of the modules for its Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The Other/General module will be known as the Other Disciplines module beginning with the April 2010 exam. While the content of the module has not changed, the new name more accurately reflects the examinees for whom the module is intended. All FE examinees take a common module in the morning and one of seven modules in the afternoon, choosing a discipline-specific module (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, or Mechanical) or the Other Disciplines module.

“In most cases, you should choose the module that best corresponds to your degree. If your degree is not in one of these major engineering disciplines, you should choose the Other Disciplines module,” said Tim Miller, P.E., director of exam services at NCEES. Miller explained that examinees with degrees that fall into the discipline-specific modules typically have higher pass rates when they select the module matching their degree rather than the Other Disciplines module. “The afternoon portion of the FE tests knowledge that’s usually gained in the final two years of an engineering degree, so it makes sense that examinees would perform better on the module corresponding to their specialty,” he said.

For more information on the FE exam, visit the NCEES Web site.


P.E.s Wanted for Volunteer Service
The TCEQ is looking for a few good engineers--an ideal opportunity for retired or semi-retired engineers with active P.E. licenses who want to use their skills to benefit others.

EnviroMentors are qualified professionals with technical or legal expertise on environmental issues who volunteer to help small businesses and local governments comply with state environmental rules, either through one-on-one contact or in a teaching situation. It provides an outstanding opportunity to make a contribution to people who cannot afford a consultant.

Many EnviroMentors are private-sector consultants. Some are engineers; others are successful operators (for example, a wastewater system operator) who provide peer-to-peer advice. All EnviroMentors are professionals whose job is to know the rules.

The program is managed by TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance (SBLGA) section, which provides confidential assistance without the threat of TCEQ enforcement to the customer. Therefore, EnviroMentor assistance is confidential and does not lead to inspections, citations, or fines.
For more information about the program, contact the TCEQ EnviroMentor Coordinator, Jane Scheidler, at 512-239-3545, jscheidl@tceq.state.tx.us or see the TCEQ Web site, http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/sblga/envimntr.html .


NCEES Changes Agricultural PE Exam

NCEES has introduced new specifications for its Agricultural PE exam, effective with the October 2010 exam administration. Exam specifications indicate knowledge areas to be tested and their relative weights of emphasis. As the developer of the exams used for engineering licensure in the United States, NCEES periodically conducts surveys of licensed engineers working in industry, government, private practice, and academia to gather information about the knowledge and skills required of professionals in a particular discipline. NCEES uses the results to update its exam specifications.

The new specifications are available on the NCEES Web site. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, which partners with NCEES in developing the exam, is planning to publish updated exam study materials in 2010.


October 9, 2009 - Software Engineering Exam Development

At their August 2009 meeting, the National Council for Examiners of Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Board of Directors approved moving forward with the development of a Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam for the discipline of SOFTWARE ENGINEERING. The TBPE is inviting any and all qualified and interested Professional Engineers to assist this important effort as exam writers, exam committee members, and/or as the exam committee chair. Click link for more information.


August 31, 2009 - Revision to Requirement for Design Professionals Regarding Submitting Construction Documents

The Architectural Barriers Program issued revisions to Administrative Rule 68.50(a) changing the requirement for design professionals to submit construction documents from five days to twenty days following the date the drawings are issued. This change is required by HB-1055 and went into effect September 1, 2009. Refer to the TDLR Website for more information.


June 24, 2009 - HB 2649: Additional Certifications for Professional Engineers

During the 2009 Session, the 81st Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2649, which is in effect as of June 19, 2009. Section 3 of this bill amended the Texas Engineering Practice Act, Section 1001.401, as follows:

(e)  A license holder shall not be required to provide or hold any additional certification, other than a license issued under this chapter, to seal an engineering plan, specification, plat, or report.

This new section affects the requirements for engineering work set by any public or private entity, including but not limited to cities, counties, school districts, state agencies, private businesses, or any other groups or individuals that require seals on engineering work. These entities can not require a professional engineer licensed in Texas to obtain or possess any certifications in addition to their professional engineer license in order to perform or offer to perform engineering services.

Any current or future rule, regulation, code, or other requirement should be reviewed and modified if necessary to comply with the new statutory requirement.

The Texas Engineering Practice Act (TEPA) and Board Rules require that a license holder only practice engineering in areas in which they can demonstrate competency. If any licensed Texas professional engineer practices in an incompetent manner, practices outside of their area of competency, does not meet/follow applicable codes or regulations, or in some other manner violates the TEPA or Board Rules, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers should be notified.

Press Release

Changes Pending for NCEES

The NCEES Board of Directors recently authorized the dissolution of ELSES, LLC and going forward, ELSES will operate as a division of NCEES. This is simply a name change; there will be no changes to the method or manner in which services are provided to the Board. During the transition, the websites www.els-examreg.org and www.elses.org will still direct visitors to the correct place for registration and information.

March 18, 2009 - NCEES revising structural engineering exam.

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) will introduce a new 16-hour Structural PE exam in April 2011. The exam will replace the current Structural I and Structural II exams, which will be administered for the last time in October 2010. For further information on this exam, please refer to the following page: http://www.ncees.org/news/index.php?release_id=47.

November 21, 2008 - TBPE Board rule 133.43 regarding experience evaluation has changed.

Rule effective date December 11, 2008

Background of rule change:
The Board received a petition that stated that the version of rule 133.43 which became effective April, 2008 did not give adequate notice to license applicants who were actively working towards licensure under the previous rule. Based on the petition, the Board adopted the referenced rule which would make the previous version of the rule effective until January 1, 2009.

What that means…
This rule change would make the old rule (explained below) effective until January 1, 2009 and the current rule effective, as worded, after that date.
The previous version of 133.43 allowed for the Board to consider experience which was obtained in conjunction with an applicant’s education (i.e. prior to graduation), if it met certain conditions.

Namely: It must be substantiated in the supplementary experience record; accounted for proportionally to a standard 40-hour work week and it must show that, at the time the experience was gained, the applicant had successfully passed junior and senior level engineering courses and applied that engineering and knowledge in the claimed experience or that he or she received sufficient education and training under the supervision of an engineer.
The version of the rule that became effective in April, 2008 placed additional restrictions on the use of experience prior to graduation. That rule is temporarily suspended, but will be in effect on January 1, 2009.
Due to the shortness of the time period of the official rule and the relation to the application deadline for the April exam (December 12, 2008), we will be accepting applications under this rule as of November 21, 2008 (Date of posting the Board-approved rule in the Texas Register).

Click here to view the rule language.

Please contact David Howell, P.E. at 512-440-3054 david.howell@tbpe.state.tx.us or George Hartmann, P.E. at 512-440-3076 george.hartmann@tbpe.state.tx.us with any questions.

November 4, 2008 - NCEES Announces New Electrical and Computer PE Exam Specifications

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying has announced changes to its Principles and Practice (PE) of Engineering examination in electrical and computer engineering.

Beginning with the spring 2009 administration, the Electrical and Computer PE exam will no longer be a breadth and depth exam. Instead, the exam will consist of three separate exams divided by subdiscipline. The three subdisciplines within the Electrical and Computer PE exam will be as follows:

 Electrical and Computer – Power Examination
 Electrical and Computer – Computer Examination
 Electrical and Computer – Electrical and Electronics Examination

Consequently, as of the April 2009 administration, candidates for the Electrical and Computer PE exam will be required to specify during registration which one of these exams they wish to take.

The current Electrical and Computer PE exam includes a morning breadth exam and an afternoon depth exam consisting of three separate modules. The changes to the specifications which were announced in April came as a result of feedback received from a Professional Activities and Knowledge Study (PAKS) conducted by the NCEES subcommittee responsible for overseeing the Electrical and Computer PE exam.

“The results of the PAKS did not support the breadth examination in its current form,” said Frank Loudon, P.E., the chair of the NCEES electrical and computer exam subcommittee. “The majority of respondents indicated that the breadth knowledges presently examined are not important for engineers in the computer and power fields of practice. However, many of the breadth knowledges were rated as important for those in the other areas of electrical engineering.”

For more information on these new exam specifications, refer to the NCEES home page (www.ncees.org).

OCTOBER 15, 2008 - RESIDENTS REPAIRING STORM DAMAGE MAY NEED WINDSTORM INSPECTION

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is reminding all homeowners along the Gulf Coast that damage to their homes by Hurricane Ike must be repaired in accordance with the Texas Windstorm Building Code (TWBC) if the homeowner plans to obtain or maintain insurance from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). Refer to this press release for further information.

October 6, 2008 - Temporary Qualified Windstorm Inspectors

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) alerted the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) to an important news item regarding hurricane-damaged areas of the Texas coast. Follow the link below to read about TDI's acceptance of applications from licensed Texas Professional Engineers to become Temporary Qualified Windstorm Inspectors.

TDI's License Application Information

TDI's Windstorm Inspection Program Web site: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wind/index.html

October 3, 2008 - Licensed Structural Engineers Needed

NCEES is currently seeking licensed structural engineers to participate in an online survey for a Professional Activities and Knowledge Study, or PAKS, for the Structural PE exam.
Due date to contact NCEES is November 10, 2008. Click here for more information.

September 24, 2008 - A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) was recently signed between the TBPE and Engineers Australia.

The agreement will open up opportunities for Texas Professional Engineers to provide engineering services in Australia by making it much easier for suitably qualified engineers to be registered with Engineers Australia. For more information, please refer to the press release.

Engineers Australia News Page

August 18, 2008 - The Workshop On Renewable Energy will be held on Thursday October 23rd at UT’s Thompson Center.

Providing clean, renewable energy at an affordable price and delivering it efficiently to homes and businesses on the electric grid are just some of the topics that will be discussed at this one-day Renewable Energy Workshop hosted by the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at UT Austin and Austin Energy. These workshops are designed to provide a free exchange of information on topics of timely interest to the electric utility industry and its customers. For registration information refer to the website, http://www.utexas.edu/cee/tcc/wre/

August 8, 2008 - The Texas Department of Insurance has issued a bulletin for professional engineers who are also appointed to perform windstorm inspections. Bulletin

August 6, 2008 - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists

The MOU clarifies each agency's separate and common authority by developing a common process and methodology to identify for the purpose of regulation which professional services are engineering and which are geoscience.

Click here to view the MOU.

July 28, 2008 - Board Selects Shannon McClendon as Secretary

In an emergency Board meeting held at the TBPE office in Austin, Texas, Shannon K. McClendon, TBPE Board member since October 10, 2002, was nominated and selected to fill a vacant position on the Board as Secretary. The position was previously filled by Gerry E. Pate, P.E. of Magnolia, Texas. Pate's term expired on July 10, 2008. McClendon, who resides in Drippings Springs, Texas, is an attorney in private practice. She focuses on law affecting the electric industry.

McClendon's Bio

April 16 , 2008 - NCEES Exam Fee Increase for October 2008 Exams

The fees are as follows: PE Examination - $265, Structural II PE Examination - $720. The FE exam will not change, it will remain at $120.

February 6, 2008 - TDI Starts Authentication Process of Professional Engineers Appointed as Qualified Inspectors

The Texas Department of Insurance recently initiated a process to request that appointed engineers verify their submissions to ensure the integrity of the inspection process. This process will be in addition to the Department's current process of sending a copy of the Certificate of Compliance to the engineer of record. A letter outlining this process was recently sent to all Texas Licensed Professional Engineers appointed as Qualified Inspectors. A copy of the letter can be viewed by clicking here. Further information on this information can be found at the TDI website at: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/news/2008/news200830.html.

TBPE Announces P.E. 100,000

Dustin Mortensen, P.E. has been awarded the honor of being P.E. 100,000 after winning the TBPE Essay Contest and successfully passing the P.E. Exam.

Story with Photo

Petroleum PE Exam Grades Will Be Delayed

Our exam administrator, NCEES, is in the process of grading the engineering exams and releasing the results. We were recently notified by NCEES that the scores for the Petroleum discipline will not be available until late January 2008 at best.

This exam discipline requires cut-score studies to be completed before the scores can be released. The cut-score workshop for the Petroleum exam is currently set for January 15-16, 2008. When additional information is available, you will be notified through this email address.

Be assured that we will release the results of this exam as soon as possible after the completion of the cut-score workshops. We understand that you need to receive these scores as soon as possible and we will do everything within our power to expedite the process.

Future Changes to NCEES Examinations and Supporting Materials

Effective with the April 2008 administration, several NCEES examinations and exam supporting materials will change as noted below. For questions concerning these changes, please contact NCEES at www.ncees.org.

COLLEGE STATION, TX. Aug. 16, 2007 – Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor of engineering for The Texas A&M University System and dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been nominated to serve on the Federal Emergency Management’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council.
In this capacity, Bennett and other Council members will help ensure effective and ongoing coordination of the federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters. Specifically, the Council will focus attention in the development and revision of the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies.

The development of the National Advisory Committee was set into motion by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Members are appointed by the Administrator and represent a geographic and significant cross section of officials from emergency management and law enforcement, and include homeland security directors, adjutants general, emergency response providers from state, local and tribal governments, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations.

“The men and women nominated to serve on the National Advisory Committee are recognized experts across the range of emergency management disciplines,” said FEMA Administrator David Paulson. “Their extensive knowledge and diverse points of view will be a great asset as they advise us on how we can best respond to natural and manmade disasters together.”

Bennett, who was selected for the Emergency Management category, is the only Texan nominated to serve on the Council. Bennett is a leader in local, state and national homeland security and emergency response. He was the founding chairman of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Domestic Preparedness Consortium where he served for five years. He is Executive Director of the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center and the founder of Texas Task Force-1 (TX-TF1), a FEMA federal urban search and rescue team. He served as director of the team and was deployed to the World Trade Center following the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

He has chaired the advisory boards for both TX-TF1 and the Texas Fire Training School and has served as director of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), as well as head of the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Training Divisions of TEEX. He also has been a member of several governmental blue ribbon panels on topics related to terrorism policy and is regularly invited as a speaker at state and national conferences. He was a member of the ECO Terrorism Committee and the National Association of Universities and Land Grant Colleges, and currently serves on the DHS Executive Working Group for the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders program. From 1999-2002 he was the State of Texas Administrator for the Statewide Homeland Security Grant program.

Bennett joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1986 and prior to his current appointment, served as department head in industrial engineering; associate dean; associate vice chancellor; and director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and the TEEX.

Before coming to Texas A&M he held faculty positions at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the University of South Florida, as well as senior engineering positions at the Martin Co., Lockheed Research Laboratories and the Honeywell Aerospace Corp.

Bennett is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been recognized for his professional contributions by being elected a Fellow of both the Society of Logistics Engineers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers. He was awarded the Eccles Medal by the Society of Logistics Engineers for his contributions to logistics engineering and has been recognized as a distinguished educator through the awarding of the Albert G. Holzman Award by the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

In 2006, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Bennett to a five-year term on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, which licenses engineers, enforces the Texas Engineering Practice Act and regulates the practice of professional engineering in Texas.

70th Anniversary of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers
On May 28, 1937, the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers was created by the 45th Legislature. This occurred in the aftermath of the tragic New London School explosion which took the lives of over 300 students and teachers at the New London School in New London, Texas. For additional information, read the full story.

After a Century of Engineering Licensure, NCEES Continues to Fulfill a Vision of Leadership
This year marks the 100th anniversary of engineering licensure in the United States. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is celebrating this milestone by recognizing the successes of licensure’s past and preparing for its future. Refer to the NCEES website for additional information by following this link: http://www.ncees.org/anniversary/release.php

November 2006 - NCEES Issues List of Calculators Permitted in Examination Room

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has approved a list of calculators for the April and October 2007 exam administrations. Please visit http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/ for more the approved list and information concerning the calculator policy.
Each year, NCEES will review and revise the approved calculator list and then announce the updated list by November 15.

September 21, 2006 - NCEES Exam Fee Increase for October 2008 Exams

At the 2006 Annual Meeting of NCEES, the Council voted to approve an increase in the the cost of the PE exam effective starting with the October 2008 exam period. The new fees will be as follows: PE Examination - $230, Structural II PE Examination - $720.

May. 01, 2006 - Gov. Perry Appoints Greer and Bennett To Texas Board of Professional Engineers

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has announced the appointment of James Greer of Keller and G. Kemble Bennett of College Station to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. The board licenses engineers, enforces the Texas Engineering Practice Act and regulates the practice of professional engineering in Texas. Greer is vice president of asset management and engineering for TXU Electric Delivery. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas and is a member and past president of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). Greer is a past recipient of the Engineer of the Year, Young Engineer of the Year and Van Trump awards from the Fort Worth chapter of TSPE. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Greer received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and a master’s degree from the M.J. Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University. His term will expire Sept. 26, 2009.Bennett is vice chancellor for engineering for the Texas A&M University System. He is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and the Texas Board of Professional Engineering. Bennett is a fellow of the Society of Logistics Engineers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas. He is a member of the Texas Deans of Engineering, the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium, and served as the United States technical representative for maintainability engineering to the International Electrotechnical Commission. A graduate of Florida State University, Bennett received a master’s degree from San Jose State University and a doctorate of philosophy degree in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University. His term will expire Sept. 26, 2011.

These appointments are subject to senate confirmation during the 2007 Regular Session.

James Greer, P.E. Biography
G. Kemble Bennett, Ph.D., P.E. Biography

May 1, 2006 - NCEES Exam Fee Increase for October 2006 Exams

At the 2004 Annual Meeting of NCEES, the council voted to approve an increase in exam book costs, resulting in an increase in examination fees effective for the October 2006 exams. The new fees are as follows: FE Examination - $120, PE Examination - $200, Structural II PE Examination - $470.

April 14, 2006 - TBPE announces Govind Nadkarni, P.E., appointed presiding officer of the Board.
The Board is proud to announce that Govind Nadkarni, P.E. has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry as Chairman of the Board. Nadkarni has extensive experience with the Board, having been appointed to the Board is in 2000 and serving as vice-chair of the Board from 2004-2006. He has served as chairman of the General Issues Committee and as a member of the Policy Advisory and License Application Review Committees. Nadkarni has represented the Board at numerous NAFTA and NCEES activities. He is a distinguished engineer and businessman.

Nadkarni received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Gujarat University (India) and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California. He established Govind and Associates, Inc., in 1984, which includes Civil, Structural, Survey & Marine Design services. In 1989, he established Indtech, Inc., which includes Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Process Design services. Nadkarni serves as president of both firms. In 1993, he acquired Callins & Haggard, Inc., as an affiliate of Govind & Associates, Inc. He is a member of many professional societies, boards, and commissions including cultural, humanitarian, and technical groups;, and he has received numerous awards for his contributions. He was named Young Engineer of the Year for 1983-1984 and was awarded Engineer of the Year in 2003. Govind and his wife, Bhakti, reside in Corpus Christi, Texas and have two children.

March 21, 2006 - Texas Transportation Forum

The Texas Department of Transportation joins the Texas Transportation Institute, Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Texas Good Roads Transportation Association in hosting the First Annual Texas Transportation Forum in Austin on June 8-9, 2006.

The two-day conference reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System and identifies the state's efforts to address future challenges and opportunities. It also provides a venue for participants from across the state interested in the mobility of people and goods to discuss the tools provided by the Governor and the Texas Legislature that are being used to expand and improve our multi-modal transportation network.

For more information about the forum, go to www.TexasTransportationForum.com.

January 12, 2006 - Attorney General Opinion Issued on Whether a Professional Engineer May Prepare Plans and Specifications for A Public Building Without Engaging the Services of a Licensed Architect

On July 14, 2005, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners Chair Gordon Landreth and Representative Kino Flores submitted a request for an Attorney General's Opinion (Request No. 0360-GA) on the roles of architects and engineers in the design of buildings.

On January 11, 2006 the following Opinion was issued:
Opinion No. GA-0391 Go to: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/op50abbott/ga-0391.htm

Re: Whether a professional engineer may prepare all plans and specifications for a public building described in Occupations Code section 1051.703(a) without engaging the services of a licensed architect (RQ-0360-GA) http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/requests_ga/RQ0360GA.pdf

Summary: Chapters 1001 and 1051 of the Occupations Code maintain the practice of engineering and the practice of architecture as distinct professions. These chapters recognize that the two professions overlap concerning building design, but they do not precisely define the overlap's boundaries. On one hand, the provisions in chapter 1051 are subject to an exception for engineers engaged in the practice of engineering as defined in chapter 1001. On the other hand, neither the statutes nor Attorney General Opinion DM-161 establish that engineering includes all aspects of building design.

Chapters 1001 and 1051 of the Occupations Code do not provide a basis to answer categorically whether an engineer may comprehensively design a building without the involvement of an architect, and to that extent the Board of Professional Engineers' policy advisory opinion regarding building design, dated June 1, 2005, is not correct. Rather, the answer to that question will depend on whether the adequate performance of the particular service or work requires a person with engineering education, training, and experience. Whether adequate performance of a particular service or work requires a person with engineering education, training, and experience is a question of fact that cannot be resolved in the opinion process.

November 10, 2005 - NCEES Issues List of Calculators Permitted in Examination Room - The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has approved a list of calculators for the April and October 2006 exam administrations. Please visit http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/ for more the approved list and information concerning the calculator policy.
Each year, NCEES will review and revise the approved calculator list and then announce the updated list by November 15.


December 9,  2005 - TBPE Modifies Requirements for Licensure by Waiver of Examination - The Texas Board of Engineers has adopted rules that modify the requirements for licensure by a waiver of examinations. Waivers of the Principles and Practice (PE) Examination will now be limited to engineering educators with a Ph.D. and those that are currently licensed in another U.S. state, Canada, or Mexico. All other applicants for licensure as a Professional Engineer will be required to take the PE exam. All applicants wishing to apply for a waiver of the PE examination must be received at the Board office or postmarked by midnight, December 31, 2005. The Board rules were proposed at the August 11, 2005, Regular Quarterly Board Meeting, and were published in the September 16, 2005, issue of the Texas Register for comment. The Board approved the rules for adoption at the November 30, 2005, Regular Quarterly Board Meeting, and the rules will be published in the Texas Register. The adopted rules become effective January 1, 2006.

To view the entire webpage on waiver requirements, go to the following page: http://engineers.texas.gov/lic_waiver.htm

For further information, contact the board at:
Phone:  512-440-7723, Fax:  512-440-0417, Email: info@engineers.texas.gov

September 1, 2005 - Stamping Documents for Another State or Country - Effective 9/1/05 from 79th Legislative Session - SECTION 5. Section 1001.401(b), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A plan, specification, plat, or report issued by a license holder for a project to be constructed or used in this state must include the license holder's seal placed on the document. A license holder is not required to use a seal required by this section if the project is to be constructed or used in another state or country.

August 11, 2005 - Board Votes to Set Late Fees

During the 79th regular legislative session, HB1817 was passed amending the Engineering Practice Act. One provision of the bill allows the Board to set the fee for late renewal payments. Pursuant to this change in the Act, the Board voted at the August 11, 2005, Regular Board Meeting to approve the following late renewal fees for Professional Engineers: $75 for late renewals up to 90 days; an additional $75 for a total of $150 for late renewals over 90 days. This fee change will be effective September 1, 2005.

July 14, 2005 - Board of Architectural Examiners Requests AG Opinion on Comprehensive Building Design

Texas Board of Architectural Examiners Chair Gordon Landreth and Representative Kino Flores have submitted a request for an Attorney General's Opinion (Request No. 0360-GA) on the roles of architects and engineers in the design of buildings. You can download it here or you can visit the TBAE website to see the request: www.tbae.state.tx.us/documents/AGOpinion.pdf.

Please pass this information along to others that might not receive this message. If you want to submit a brief on this matter to the Attorney General's Office, the due date is August 12, 2005. An opinion is due no later than January 2, 2006.

For update on this story, see January 12, 2006 above.

June 1, 2005 - Candidate Information Packet and Examination Policies and Security Procedures

The NCEES Examination Policy (EAP 1) has been amended to require Member Boards to provide an information packet to each candidate applying to take NCEES Examinations. NCEES has prepared a document that contains pertinent information concerning the examination, security procedures, and other important policies. You can view the document at http://www.ncees.org/candidate_info.pdf.

May 17, 2005 - Summary of NCEES Memo Concerning Changes to Examinations

Below is a summary of the May 17, 2005, memo provided to the Board concerning upcoming changes to the NCEES Examinations.

February 22, 2005 - NCEES Calculator Policy Update

At its 2004 Annual Meeting, NCEES voted to revise the examination policy concerning materials permitted in the examination room so that only models of calculators specified by NCEES are allowed.

Some state / jurisdiction boards have asked for further clarification. The following models are the only calculators that will be permitted in the examination room for the April and October 2005 exam administrations: (Note that clarifications are listed in bold)

Please note that this list may change. For the most up to date list, visit the NCEES Calculator Policy page at http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/.

November 12, 2004 - NCEES Policy for Calculators Beginning with April 2005 Exams

At its 2004 Annual Meeting, NCEES voted to revise the examination policy concerning materials permitted in the examination room so that only models of calculators specified by NCEES are allowed.

The following models are the only calculators that will be permitted in the examination room for the April and October 2005 exam administrations:

NCEES policy prohibits calculators that communicate or that may compromise the security of the examination. Beginning with the April 2004 exam administration, NCEES began strictly enforcing this policy by banning calculators with text-editing and communication abilities. Of great concern is the ability to type in text, store it in memory, and then communicate via wireless or cable connections to another calculator, personal computer, printer, or other electronic device. NCEES published a list of banned calculators for the April 2004 examinations as well as a list of some of the calculators that were acceptable.

NCEES is now extending the ban to all calculators not on the above list to reduce confusion among candidates and proctors. Each year, an NCEES subcommittee on calculators will review and revise the approved calculator list. It will provide an updated list by November 15.

If an examinee is caught with any other calculator after the exam has started their exam will be taken and they will be dismissed from the exam. If this happens, there will be no refunds and no allowances made.

Please contact ELSES or NCEES with questions or concerns about calculators.

November 8, 2004 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Examinations

Effective with both the April 2005 and the October 2005 administrations, there will be changes that affect NCEES examinations. Each of these changes is described below. Prior to the examinations, the administrative procedures manual and proctor's manual will be revised to reflect these changes.

November 2, 2004 - Exam Reimbursement Available for Veterans
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers has been approved by the VA under the GI Bill for reimbursement of examination fees for the FE and PE exams. This approval allows veterans and other eligible persons to receive reimbursement for the cost of license examinations/tests from the VA. The effective date of approval is March 1, 2003.

This reimbursement is not from the state of Texas or the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. Please do not contact the Board for information or reimbursement. The reimbursement information is available at http://gibill.va.gov/support/counseling_services/.

August 23, 2004 - Standard Firm Renewal Increased
At a special called Board meeting to address budget issues, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers voted to increase firm renewal fees from $75 per year to $150 per year starting in FY 2005. The fee change was made to meet budget requirements for new agency programs and initiatives. The policy for licensed firms that pay late was not changed, all late payments will result in a doubling of the registration fee.

Due to scheduling issues, the program will begin with the October 1, 2004 renewals. This fee change will not effect sole proprietor registration fees, sole proprietor renewal fees, or the registration fee for firms.

June 21, 2004 - Updated list - NCEES Policy for Calculators

Based on research performed at the request of its Member Boards after the April 2004 exam administration, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has determined that the following calculators are prohibited inside NCEES exam rooms. Calculators with communication or text-editing capabilities will be banned from all NCEES exam sites. These include, but are not limited to, the following calculators:

Casio:

Hewlett Packard:

Texas Instruments:

Please contact ELSES or NCEES with questions or concerns about calculators.

March 1, 2004: Hand Scoring of Examinee Answer Sheets

At the request of several Member Boards, NCEES has initiated a service that will provide a verification of exam scores by hand scoring the examinee answer sheets upon request of the Member Board. A fee of $75 will be assessed for each request.

This is an optional service made available to each Member Board and requests for hand scoring must be submitted by the Member Board directly to the NCEES Scoring Department. Requests for hand scoring from individual examinees will not be accepted.

Requests for hand scoring will be honored up to sixty (60) days after the release of the examination scores to the Member Boards. Once a requests is received, NCEES will hand score using a template and provide written notification to the Member Board validating the score received. No specific candidates comments will be addressed.

January 30, 2004: Renewal Fee Increase
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers has determined that a $5 increase in yearly renewal fees will be necessary to meet operations and budget requirements. The Board has voted and approved this measure in at the October 2003 meeting.

The renewal fee change will appear on renewal statements beginning with the MARCH 2004 renewals.

Renewal rates will now be: $235 for nonexempt PE's and $35 for exempt PE's.

The Board has determined that the increase is necessary to meet the budget demands of the state budget shortfall and to provide for the new legislative mandates including Continuing Education and Policy Advisory Programs.

January 23, 2004 - Engineering Evaluations of Residential Foundations

Because of the types of soils that shrink and swell with changes in soil moisture in areas of Texas, many homes have or may experience foundation problems. A home is very likely to be an individuals single largest investment and the home owner and/or the insurance company that provides insurance coverage will want to know why the foundation is not functioning as desired and what must be done to mediate, remedy or repair it.

Professional engineers are routinely called upon to inspect and evaluate residential foundations and to provide professional opinions on what caused the foundation problems and recommendations for corrective action. While the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (Board) does not prescribe or dictate the step by step process a professional engineer must take when performing residential foundation evaluations or how detailed the evaluation must be, engineering societies and associations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Foundation Performance Association (FPA) have established guidelines for the evaluation and repair of residential foundations. Again, although not prescribed by the Board, these guidelines would appear to be a helpful resource for professional engineers and clients as an aid in deciding how a residential foundation evaluation may be performed and the expectations and/or limitations of different types of evaluation methods.

For further information, you can find residential foundation evaluation publications on of the following web sites:
ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
FPA - Foundation Performance Association

Board rules on practice and procedure do require, among other things, that professional engineers must be qualified by education and/or experience in residential foundation design and performance matters to make adequate and competent engineering determinations. The professional engineer must also ensure that his/her work and subsequent reports are not misleading and could not create misleading impressions, and that they must act as a faithful agent of the client. Also, the engineers should be able to fully support their opinions and/or recommendations.

Therefore, the Board expects that professional engineers will fully communicate with clients to ensure that both the professional engineer and the client understands what the expectations of an inspection are, how detailed an evaluation will be performed and what the limitations may be for differing levels of evaluations. The Board also expects that engineering reports will fully cover this same information.

While the Board can not provide recommendations to potential clients seeking a professional engineer, we can provide information on past complaints the Board may have received on its license holders. When deciding upon which professional engineer to hire, a potential client can call the Board office at (512) 440-7723 to determine if there have been any complaints or disciplinary action against the professional engineer. The potential client can also check our web page, engineers.texas.gov, to determine if an individual under consideration is currently licensed in Texas as a professional engineer and if the professional engineer's company is registered with the Board to offer and perform consulting engineering services.

January 5, 2003 - Updated list - NCEES Policy for Calculators
Based on additional research, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has determined that the following calculators are prohibited inside NCEES exam rooms. These calculators have communicating or text-editing capabilities or other features with the potential to compromise the security of NCEES exams. They join a list of calculators specified by NCEES in its August 2003 news release as prohibited inside NCEES exam rooms.

NEW Prohibited Calculators

In addition to the previously prohibited calculators:

The above calculators do not compose an all-inclusive list of calculators banned from the NCEES examinations. Based on NCEES Exam Policy 15, any calculator that has communicating or text-editing capabilities or other features that may compromise the security of NCEES exams is prohibited in the exam room. The above list specifies various models that NCEES has been requested to evaluate for appropriateness in the exam room.

Please contact ELSES or NCEES with questions or concerns about calculators. Mr. Davy McDowell is handling the calculator policy for NCEES.


Dec. 08, 2003 - Gov. Perry Designates Nichols Presiding Officer of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today announced the designation of James R. Nichols, P.E., of Fort Worth as presiding officer of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers for a term at the pleasure of the Governor. The Board licenses qualified engineers, enforces the Texas Engineering Practice Act, and regulates the practice of professional engineering in Texas.
Nichols has served as chairman emeritus of the board of Freese and Nichols, Inc., since 2002. He has been employed with the firm for 53 years, where he has served as chairman, president and partner in the firm. He was appointed to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers by then Gov. George W. Bush in 2000 and is former chair of the Board.
Nichols is a past president of the Texas Water Conservation Association and a life member of the National Water Resources Association. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, The Water Environment Association of Texas, the American Water Works Association and the Texas Council of Engineering Companies. He is a trustee of the Texas A&M Research Foundation and has also served as chairman of the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, All Saints Episcopal Hospital and Texas Wesleyan University and office or director of several community organizations. Nichols has received numerous professional, humanitarian and civic awards including Engineer of the Year for the State of Texas and Fort Worth’s Outstanding Business Executive.
Nichols received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M University.


November, 2003 - New NCEES Policy for Calculators

Please visit NCEES Licensure Exchange (pp. 6,7,15) for more information on the new NCEES policy for communicating and alphanumeric calculators. More information is also available at the NCEES website.

NCEES has identified the following calculators that will NOT be allowed at the FE or PE exams starting with April 2004:

Starting with the April 2004 exam, ELSES will be administering the examinations. Please contact ELSES or NCEES with questions or concerns about calculators.

October 23, 2003 - Notice of Future Changes to NCEES Examinations

Effective with the April 2004 administration, there will be changes that affect NCEES examinations. Each of these changes is described below.

Effective with the October 2004 administration, there will be changes that affect NCEES examinations. Each of these changes is described below.

July 23, 2003 - Examination Fee Increases Proposed for 2004

Two separate fee increases are proposed for the 2004 FE and PE exams in Texas. The increases are a direct result of fee increases imposed by the exam provider NCEES and administration fees from ELSES, LLC.

Spring 2004 Exams: Due to liability and exam security issues, the Board of Engineers has opted after much deliberation to contract exam administration services to ELSES, LLC, an affiliate of NCEES. The ELSES fee for exam administration is $40 per exam for all exams. The Board expects a smooth transition to ELSES services and that examinees should not expect any procedural changes as a result of this contract. Please note that there may be some changes in exam locations.

New Fee Schedule - Spring 2004
FE Exam: $90
PE Exam: $140
PE Structural II morning and afternoon Exam: $440

Fall 2004 Exams: NCEES Board of Directors and Council has approved a $30 fee increase for PE Exam scoring effective 10/04 for all states.

New Fee Schedule - Fall 2004
 FE Exam: $90
 PE Exam: $170
PE Structural II morning and afternoon Exam: $440

June 23, 2003 - Discontinuation of Manufacturing Engineering Examination

NCEES has been notified by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers of their intention to withdraw support of the Manufacturing Engineering examinations effective after the October 2003 examinations. In view of this action, the EPE Committee has recommended and the NCEES Board has directed that this examination be discontinued.

The last administration of the Manufacturing Engineering examination will occur with the October 2003 examination administration.

June 17, 2003 - Sales Taxes on Engineering Services
In most cases, sales tax is not charged on services provided by a licensed professional engineer. There is an exception to this contained in Title 34 of the Texas Administrative Code, which addresses Insurance Services. Effected in 1988, it charges the Texas Comptroller with enforcement and conducting audits of services performed for insurance companies.

Services performed for an insurance company are taxable. This includes building inspections, forensic engineering, testing of materials used in construction, and accident reconstruction, among others. Additional information is available on the Comptroller of Public Accounts website at http://www.cpa.state.tx.us. The specifics for this may be found under Rules: Title 34, Part I, Chapter 3, Subchapter O, Rule 3.355, (a) and (b).

May 12, 2003 - The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) guidelines for the evaluation, repair and design of residential foundations have been completed. These documents grew out of the response from many Section members to the residential foundation Policy Advisory issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) in 1998. Many ASCE practitioners expressed the opinion that technical guidelines, such as the Policy Advisory, should be created by a technical society such as ASCE rather than by the TBPE. A goal of the guidelines is to provide the TBPE with guidance in their evaluation of complaints brought against engineers practicing residential foundation engineering. Two Texas Section committees composed entirely of ASCE member Professional Engineers began work on these Guidelines in 1999. The Guidelines were adopted in October 2002 with an effective date of January 1, 2003.

The Guidelines are not intended to be Standards, but are guidelines only, reflecting the engineering opinions and practices of the committee members. They in no way replace the basic need for good engineering judgment based on appropriate education, experience, wisdom, and ethics in any particular engineering application. Thus, they are primarily suited as an aid for and use by engineers.

The Guidelines cost $15 each ($25 for both) and may be purchased and downloaded by clicking here.

March 26, 2003 - NCEES Announces Changes to Structural II Exam Starting April 2004 - The format for the Structural II Examination will be changing starting with the April 2004 administration.  The new exam will contain four problems and they will be scored as a composite.  There will be four problems covering bridges and four problems covering buildings.  An examinee that answers bridge problems in the morning will be required to answer bridge problems in the afternoon.  An examinee that answers building problems in the morning will be required to answer building problems in the afternoon.  Examinees will be required to pass the total exam in a single administration.  The scores will be reported to each Member Board as either pass or fail for the total exam.

January 2, 2003 - Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists created - Senate Bill 405 of the 77th Legislature created the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists to regulate the practice of geoscience in Texas. Licenses will be required by September 2003. For more information, view their website at www.tbpg.state.tx.us.

October 11, 2002 - New Board Members Appointed - Governor Rick Perry has appointed the following new Board members to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. The Board licenses engineers and enforces the Texas Engineering Practice Act.

Shannon McClendon of Dripping Springs is an attorney in private practice. She specializes in law affecting the electric industry and appellate work. McClendon is also the founder of Current Access, L.C., an information technology business. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association and the Gulf Coast Power Association. McClendon received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Her term will expire September 26, 2003.

Dr. Roland Haden P.E., of College Station is the former vice chancellor for engineering, dean of the college of engineering and director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station at Texas A&M University. He is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Haden is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degree from the California Institute of Technology and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. His term will expire September 26, 2007.

William “Bill” Lawrence of Highland Village is the founder and president of Dakiman Company, Inc., a conflict resolution firm. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s dispute resolution section and public contracts law section. Lawrence is also a member of the Texas Bar Association’s section of Dispute Resolution, the Global Arbitration Mediation Association and the Project Management Institute. He serves as the mayor of Highland Village and formerly served as a city councilman from 1998-2000. Lawrence received a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University in Alabama and a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law. His term will expire September 26, 2007.

Gerry Pate P.E. of Magnolia is the president of Pate Engineers, Inc., a consulting engineering firm. He is president of the Consulting Engineers Council of Texas and a member and past president of the Association of Consulting Municipal Engineers in Houston. Pate formerly served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Water Resource Use and Conservation and as chair of the Water District and River Authority Study Committee. He is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a board member of the John Cooper School, a private college preparatory school in The Woodlands. Pate received a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University. His term will expire September 26, 2007.

These appointments require Senate confirmation.

August 20, 2002 - The National Society of Professional Engineers has released a new brochure entitled "Get Full Credit for Your Construction Experience Toward Licensure as a Professional Engineer". It has helpful advice for the engineer preparing for the Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination. The brochure also has information on the PEC Mentoring for Licensure Program, a program created for those who would like assistance and advice about the application and exam process. To view and/or print out the brochure click on the following links: Page 1, Page 2 pdf icon

July 26, 2002 - Resolution Reached on Texas A&M Bonfire - The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Texas A&M University have reached a resolution regarding the bonfire collapse that occurred on Texas A&M property in November of 1999. On Friday, July 26, 2002, the Engineering Board approved an Agreement of Voluntary Compliance signed by Ray M. Bowen, Ph.D., P.E., President of Texas A&M, and Victoria J. L. Hsu, P.E., the engineering Board's executive director. The university's board of regents approved the agreement on July 25, 2002.

The agreement sets out certain requirements that Texas A&M agrees to comply with in the event that the bonfire tradition is resumed. By entering into the agreement, the university accepted responsibility for ensuring that any future bonfires held on Texas A&M property or that receive financial or other support from the university are in compliance with Section 19 of the Texas Engineering Practice Act, which requires that public works involving engineering be constructed with engineering plans and specifications prepared by a Texas licensed professional engineer and under the direct supervision of a Texas licensed professional engineer.

Texas A&M agreed that any future bonfires held on its property or that receive university support will be undertaken with its direct involvement and supervision. A&M also agreed that it will determine whether each such bonfire involves engineering and, if it does, it will ensure that the engineering plans, specifications and estimates have been prepared by a Texas licensed professional engineer and that the engineering construction is executed under the direct supervision of a Texas licensed professional engineer. "The agreement ensures that any future A&M bonfires will be constructed in compliance with the Texas Engineering Practice Act, furthering the engineering Board's goal of protecting the public," said Hsu, the Board's executive director.

After the collapse, the engineering Board conducted an investigation to determine whether Texas A&M or any of its officials should be disciplined by the Board for failure to have a professional engineer design and supervise the construction of the bonfire stack. The university maintained that decisions regarding stack design or placement of the logs were made by students and volunteers who worked on the bonfire and its involvement was limited to matters unrelated to the planning, designing, organizing, and construction of the bonfire.

Texas A&M provided financial and other support to the 1999 bonfire, such as hiring a bonfire advisor to advise students on their interaction with the community and university leadership and providing security and cleanup services. However, Texas A&M and the engineering Board agreed that if the Board brought an administrative action against the university in connection with the collapse, there would be significant legal and factual issues concerning whether the engineering Board has legislative authority to take action against Texas A&M as a result of the bonfire collapse.

"Because the university is willing to assume responsibility and comply with the Texas Engineering Practice Act for any future bonfires, we believe that it is in the public interest to accept Texas A&M's voluntary compliance rather than take administrative action against the university, considering the uncertain outcome and high cost to the state," said Hsu.

July 9, 2002 - An Attorney General's opinion was completed and issued. It confirmed the agency's current enforcement policy on using the title "engineer" on business cards, cover letters and other correspondence. For details, see the attached link to Attorney General Cornyn's Opinion.

April 25, 2002 - The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has been preparing guidelines for residential foundation engineering since 1999. The Board has been working closely with ASCE on this subject due to enforcement issues for residential foundation engineering.

Engineers and the general public are encouraged to review and submit comments if desired. Interested persons are also invited to call the Texas Section office for more information. On March 28, ASCE approved the release for public comment of two guidelines for residential foundation engineering. The documents are posted at: http://www.texasce.org/DocumentReview1.cfm.

April 20, 2002 - Status Of Exam Irregularity At Arlington Site - The Texas Board of Professional Engineers (Board) staff has reviewed the facts surrounding the examination irregularities at the University of Texas-Arlington site with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). NCEES furnishes the examinations and assists the Board in ensuring a fair and equitable examination for all examinees. The Board regrets the circumstances concerning the examination on April 20, 2002, which resulted from electrical problems that were beyond the control of the Board. We appreciate the cooperation and adaptability of most of the examinees during this crisis.

Unfortunately, after reviewing reports of the administration, the NCEES has concluded that the examination was compromised during the break time due to discussions between examinees concerning the examination. In terms of both professionalism and compliance with the instructions given during the examination, this behavior is unacceptable.

Each examinee was asked to read the instructions on the cover of the examination booklet. Instruction Number 11 clearly states:

"At the bottom of the second side of the answer sheet is a very important agreement between you, NCEES, and your local licensing Board. If you decide to not sign the agreement, raise your hand and a proctor will collect your examination materials uncompleted. By signing the agreement, you are legally bound to abide the terms of the agreement. If you do not abide by the terms, your exam score may be invalidated and/or you may be barred from retaking the examination. These terms include affirmations that the answers you provide are solely of your knowledge; you will not copy any information onto material to be taken from the exam room, you will not reveal in whole or in part any exam questions, answers or solutions to anyone during or after the exam, whether orally, in writing, or in any Internet "chat rooms" or otherwise. Once you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of the agreement, sign your name and provide the date." (emphasis added)

After the power outage occurred and before the examinees were allowed to leave the exam rooms, the room proctors orally instructed the examinees to not discuss or talk about the examination in any way.

While the Board believes that not everyone participated in these prohibited discussions, the failure of some unknown number of examinees to abide by the instructions has jeopardized the validity and reliability of the outcomes of all examinees. For all those who acted appropriately, we sincerely regret the need for the following decision and resolution.

Decision:
NCEES, with the concurrence of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, has decided to invalidate the morning portion of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination at the University of Texas-Arlington site.

Resolution:
A make-up examination for the morning portion of the examination will be offered on May 18, 2002. A formal letter will be sent to all examinees sometime this week as soon as the details of the make-up examination are determined. The make-up examination will be free but might require completing another scheduling form that will accompany the letter.

For those who believe that the power outage, examination delays, and related disruptions may have affected your performance on the afternoon portion of the exam as well, you may elect to take the whole examination again during the next regularly scheduled examination administration (October 26, 2002) at no charge.

Again, the Board regrets the necessity for these actions. They are being taken to ensure the integrity of the examination process and the validity of all scores obtained by individuals who tested at the University of Texas-Arlington site. The Board apologizes for the inconvenience and appreciates your understanding and cooperation.

April 10, 2002 - The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) notified the Board that there will be changes that affect NCEES examinations in 2003. The following exams will be changed:

PE Structural Design Standards - The Structural Design Standards of the Civil, Structural I, and Structural II Principles and Practice (PE) examinations will be changed. These standards will be available on the NCEES website in November 2002.

PE Transportation Design Standards - The Transportation Design Standards of the Civil Principles and Practice (PE) examinations will be changed. These standards will be available on the NCEES website at in November 2002.

PE Examination in Chemical Engineering - The Principles and Practice (PE) examination in Chemical Engineering will be under a revised specification. The new specification will be posted on the NCEES website in November 2002.

PE Examination in Architectural Engineering - The first administration of the PE Examination in Architectural Engineering has been scheduled for the April 2003 administration. Specification are available on the NCEES website in November 2002.

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