Engineering education initiative

The following timeline provides an overview of the NCEES additional education initiative. It includes links to related background materials that describe how the initiative has evolved.

Over the past decade, NCEES has focused on how it can increase the minimum foundational engineering education required to become a professional engineer. NCEES believes that by expanding the educational requirement, professional engineers will be better prepared to meet the demands they will face in professional practice and that the public will benefit from the higher standards for licensure.

2010–11

The Alternate Licensure Pathway Task Force was created to address the Engineering Education Task Force Motion 2 from the 2010 annual meeting (see 2009–10 entry below for details). The motion was to charge a group to investigate an alternate pathway to initial licensure that would allow a combination of assessed learning days and structured mentoring. The task force presented its findings as a motion for Council action at the 2011 annual meeting. The motion did not pass.

2009–10

The Engineering Education Task Force was charged with considering additional pathways to the education requirement. The task force presented two related motions at the 2010 annual meeting; both motions passed with friendly amendments (shown in the report with double strikethroughs and underlines). Related Licensure Exchange article: April 2010

2008–09

The Engineering Education Task Force (previously called the Bachelor's Plus 30 Task Force) was charged with developing a response to the 2009 Southern Zone resolution, developing a model for a clearinghouse, and writing a history of the initiative. At the 2009 annual meeting, the NCEES member boards voted on a resolution for the task force to be charged with exploring alternatives; the resolution passed. Related Licensure Exchange articles: April 2009 and October 2009

2007–08

The Bachelor's Plus 30 Task Force was established to build on the work of the 2007 UPLG Committee. At the 2008 annual meeting, the NCEES member boards voted to approve Model Rules definitions of acceptable coursework and approved course providers. The boards also passed a Southern Zone resolution to explore other alternatives to the additional education requirement. Related Licensure Exchange articles: December 2007, February 2008, April 2008, August 2008, and October 2008

2006–07

The Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines presented motions to revise the Model Rules definitions of Model Law Engineer and Model Law Structural Engineer to include the B.S. plus 30 requirement. This change passed at the 2007 annual meeting to make the Model Rules consistent with the related Model Law language that the member boards passed at the 2006 annual meeting. Related Licensure Exchange articles: April 2007 and October 2007

2005–06

The Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines presented motions at the 2006 annual meeting to add language to the Model Law and Model Rules requiring a master’s or equivalent for initial licensure. The motions passed as described in the annual meeting news release. Related Licensure Exchange articles: April 2006 and October 2006

2004–05

NCEES began the process of 
changing language in the Model Law through the work of the Licensure Qualifications Oversight Group. Related news release and Licensure Exchange article: news release, April 2005 Licensure Exchange article