21 NCAC 56 .0505             EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES

(a)  Professional Engineer Licensure. A license to practice professional engineering expires on the last day of each calendar year. A licensee may renew their license through their online licensee portal on the Board's website during the renewal period beginning on the first day of December through the last day of January. An annual renewal fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) shall be payable to the Board. During the renewal process, a licensee shall provide their physical places of business and residential addresses, report compliance with continuing education requirements, and report any criminal convictions or disciplinary actions described herein. A licensee shall give notice to the Board of a change of business or residential address within 30 days of the change. A licensee shall give notice to the Board of any criminal convictions, including DWI but not including minor traffic offenses (offenses that are not a misdemeanor or felony) within 30 days of the conviction. A nolo contendere plea is equated to a conviction for reporting purposes. A licensee shall give notice to the Board of any disciplinary actions received in any jurisdiction on any engineering license resulting in a restriction on the licensee's practice within 30 days of the disciplinary action. A disciplinary action which restricts a licensee's practice includes revocation, suspension, denial of licensure, refusal to renew, refusal to reinstate, put on probation, restriction of practice area, or a voluntary permanent surrender of a license.

(b)  Engineering Intern Certificate. The Engineering Intern certificate does not expire and, therefore, does not have to be renewed.

(c)  Professional Engineer, Retired. The Board shall approve the application for use of the title for a person who has been duly licensed as a professional engineer by the Board, who chooses to relinquish or not to renew a license and has had no disciplinary action or criminal conviction that would support a determination that the licensee is not of good character and reputation. Conduct demonstrating lack of good character and reputation includes, but is not limited to:

(1)           Any felony conviction;

(2)           Any conviction involving fraud, dishonesty, false statements, or deceit;

(3)           Any disciplinary action by the Board involving fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct directly related to the practice of engineering; or

(4)           Any prior finding by the Board that the Licensee knowingly provided materially false information to the Board.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 89C-10; 89C-17; 89C-3(8a);89C-21;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. September 29, 1977;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2011; July 1, 2010; July 1, 2009; December 4, 2002; August 1, 2000; August 1, 1998; May 1, 1994;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. April 27, 2019;

Amended Eff. December 1, 2025.