A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend the laws relating to the regulation of engineering and land surveying.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 89C‑3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑3.  Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Chapter:
…
(8a)	Professional engineer, retired. – A person who has been duly licensed as a professional engineer by the Board and who chooses to relinquish or not to renew a license and who applies to and is approved by the Board after review of record, including any disciplinary action, to be granted the use of the honorific title "Professional Engineer, Retired".
…
(9a)	Professional land surveyor, retired. – A person who has been duly licensed as a professional land surveyor by the Board and who chooses to relinquish or not to renew a license and who applies to and is approved by the Board after review of record, including any disciplinary action, to be granted the use of the honorific title "Professional Land Surveyor, Retired".
…."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 89C‑11 reads as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑11.  Secretary; duties and liabilities; expenditures.
The secretary of the Board shall receive and account for all moneys derived from the operation of the Board as provided in this Chapter, and shall deposit them in one or more special funds in banks or other financial institutions carrying deposit insurance and authorized to do business in North Carolina. The fund or funds shall be designated as "Fund of the Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors" and shall be drawn against only for the purpose of implementing provisions of this Chapter as herein provided. All expenses certified by the Board as properly and necessarily incurred in the discharge of its duties, including authorized compensation, shall be paid out of this fund on the warrant signed by the secretary of the Board. At no time shall the total of warrants issued exceed the total amount of funds accumulated under this Chapter. The secretary of the Board shall give a surety bond satisfactory to the State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties assigned. The premium on the bond is a proper and necessary expense of the Board. The secretary of the Board may delegate to the executive director certain routine duties, such as receipt and disbursement of funds in stated amounts by a written authorization, which has the majority approval of the Board."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 89C‑12 read as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑12.  Records and reports of Board; evidence.
The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings and a register of all applicants for licensure, showing for each the date of application, name, age, education, and other qualifications, place of business and place of residence, whether the applicant was rejected or a certificate of licensure granted, and the date licensure was rejected or granted. The books and register of the Board shall be prima facie evidence of all matters recorded by the Board, and a copy duly certified by the secretary of the Board under seal shall be admissible in evidence as if the original were produced. A roster showing the names and places of business and of residence of all licensed professional engineers and all licensed professional land surveyors shall be prepared by the secretary of the Board current to the month of January of each year. On or before the first day of May of each year, the Board shall submit to the Governor a report on its transactions for the preceding year, and shall file with the Secretary of State a copy of the report, together with a complete statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Board attested by the chair and the secretary and a copy of the roster of licensed professional engineers and professional land surveyors."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 89C‑13 reads as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑13.  General requirements for licensure.
(a)	Engineer Applicant. – To be eligible for licensure as a professional engineer, an applicant must be of good character and reputation. An applicant desiring to take the examination in the fundamentals of engineering must submit three character references, one of whom shall be a professional engineer. An applicant desiring to take the examination in the principles and practice of engineering must submit five references, two of whom shall be professional engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experiences.
The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure:
(1)	As a professional engineer (shall meet one):
a.	Licensure by Comity or Endorsement. – A person holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of engineering, on the basis of comparable qualifications, issued to the person by a proper authority of a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of any foreign country possessing credentials that, based on verifiable evidence, in the opinion of the Board, of a standard not lower than that in effect in this State at the time the certificate was issued, may upon application, be licensed without further examination, except as required to examine the applicant's knowledge of laws, rules, and requirements unique to North Carolina.

b.	E.I. Certificate, Experience, and Examination. – A holder of a certificate of engineering intern issued by the Board, and with a specific record of an additional four years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, shall be admitted to the principles and practice of engineering examination. Upon passing the examination, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice professional engineering in this State, provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.
c.	Graduation, Experience, and Examination. – A graduate of an engineering curriculum of four years or more approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing, shall be admitted to the fundamentals of engineering examination, and with a specific record of an additional four years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, the principles and practice of engineering examination. Upon passing the examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice professional engineering in this State, provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.
d.	Graduation, Experience, and Examination. – A graduate of an engineering or related science curriculum of four years or more, other than the ones approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing or with an equivalent education and engineering experience satisfactory to the Board shall be admitted to the fundamentals of engineering examination and with a specific record of an additional eight years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, the principles and practice of engineering examination. Upon passing the examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice professional engineering in this State, provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.
e.	Long‑Established Practice. – A person with a specific record of 20 years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering shall be admitted to the principles and practice of engineering examination. Upon passing the examination, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice professional engineering in this State, provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.
At its discretion the Board may require an applicant to submit exhibits, drawings, designs, or other tangible evidence of engineering work which the applicant personally accomplished or supervised.
The following shall be considered as minimum evidence that the applicant is qualified for certification:
(2)	As an engineering intern (shall meet one):
a.	Graduation and Examination. – A graduate of an engineering curriculum or related science curriculum of four years or more, approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing, or a student who is graduating within two semesters, or the equivalent, of the semester in which the fundamentals of engineering examination is administered, shall be admitted to the fundamentals of engineering examination. The applicant shall be notified if the examination was passed or not passed and if passed he shall be certified as an engineering intern if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
b.	Graduation, Experience, and Examination. – A graduate of an engineering or related science curriculum of four years or more, other than the ones approved by the Board as being of satisfactory standing, or with equivalent education and engineering experience satisfactory to the Board and with a specific record of four or more years of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board, shall be admitted to the fundamentals of engineering examination. The applicant shall be notified if the examination was passed or not passed and if passed, the applicant shall be certified as an engineering intern if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
(b)	Land Surveyor Applicant. – To be eligible for admission to examination for land surveyor intern or professional land surveyor, an applicant must be of good character and reputation and shall submit five references with the application for licensure as a land surveyor, two of which references shall be professional land surveyors having personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience, or in the case of an application for certification as a land surveyor intern by three references, one of which shall be a licensed land surveyor having personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience.
The evaluation of a land surveyor applicant's qualifications shall involve a consideration of the applicant's education, technical and land surveying experience, exhibits of land surveying projects with which the applicant has been associated, and recommendations by references. The land surveyor applicant's qualifications may be reviewed at an interview if the Board determines it necessary. Educational credit for institute courses, correspondence courses, or other courses shall be determined by the Board.
The following shall be considered a minimum evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional land surveyor or for certification as a land surveyor intern respectively:
(1)	As a professional land surveyor (shall meet one):
a.	Rightful possession of a bachelor of science degree in surveying or other equivalent curricula, all approved by the Board and a record satisfactory to the Board of two years or more of progressive practical experience, one year of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor if the applicant has successfully passed the first examination (Fundamentals of Surveying) on or before January 1, 2013, or if the applicant has not successfully passed the first examination on or before January 1, 2013, two years of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor, and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying. Upon passing the first examination and successful completion of the experience required by this subdivision, the applicant may apply to take the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying). An applicant who passes both examinations and completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.
b.	Rightful possession of an associate degree in surveying technology approved by the Board and a record satisfactory to the Board of four years of progressive practical experience, three years of which shall have been under a practicing licensed land surveyor if the applicant has successfully passed the first examination (Fundamentals of Surveying) on or before January 1, 2013, or if the applicant has not successfully passed the first examination on or before January 1, 2013, eight years of progressive practical experience, four years of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor, and satisfactorily passing any written and oral examination required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying. If the applicant has not successfully completed the first examination on or before January 1, 2013, the applicant may apply to the Board to take the first examination after obtaining the associate degree and completing four years of practical experience, two years of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor at the first regularly scheduled examination thereafter. Upon passing the first examination and successfully completing the practical experience required under this subdivision, the applicant may apply to the Board to take the second examination (Principles and Practice of Land Surveying). An applicant who passes both examinations and successfully completes the educational and experience requirements of this subdivision shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.
c.	Repealed by Session Laws 1998‑118, s. 11.
d.	Graduation from a high school or the completion of a high school equivalency certificate and a record satisfactory to the Board of seven years of progressive practical experience, six years of which shall have been under a practicing licensed land surveyor if the applicant has successfully passed the first examination (Fundamentals of Surveying) on or before January 1, 2013, or if the applicant has not successfully passed the first examination on or before January 1, 2013, 16 years of progressive practical experience, nine years of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor, and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examinations required by the Board, all of which shall determine and indicate that the candidate is competent to practice land surveying. If the applicant has not successfully passed the first examination on or before January 1, 2013, the applicant may be qualified by the Board to take the first examination upon graduation from high school or the completion of a high school equivalency certificate and successfully completing 10 years of progressive practice experience, six of which shall have been under a practicing licensed land surveyor.
e.	Repealed by Session Laws 1985 (Regular Session, 1986), c. 977, s. 7.
f.	Licensure by Comity or Endorsement. – A person holding a certificate of licensure to engage in the practice of land surveying issued on comparable qualifications from a state, territory, or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, possessing credentials that, based on verifiable evidence, in the opinion of the Board, of a standard not lower than that in effect in this State at the time the certificate was issued, may upon application, be licensed without further examination, except to take any examinations as the Board requires to determine the applicant's qualifications, but in any event, the applicant shall be required to pass an examination which shall include questions on laws, procedures, and practices pertaining to the practice of land surveying in North Carolina.
g.	A licensed professional engineer who can satisfactorily demonstrate to the Board that the professional engineer's formal academic training in acquiring a degree and field experience in engineering includes land surveying, to the extent necessary to reasonably qualify the applicant in the practice of land surveying, may apply for and may be granted permission to take the principles and practice of land surveying examination and the fundamentals of land surveying examination. Upon satisfactorily passing the examinations, the applicant shall be granted a license to practice land surveying in the State of North Carolina.
h.	Professional Engineers in Land Surveying. – Any person presently licensed to practice professional engineering under this Chapter shall upon application be licensed to practice land surveying, providing a written application is filed with the Board within one year next after June 19, 1975.
i.	Photogrammetrists. – Any person presently practicing photogrammetry with at least seven years of experience in the profession, two or more of which shall have been in responsible charge of photogrammetric mapping projects meeting National Map Accuracy Standards shall, upon application, be licensed to practice land surveying, provided:
1.	The applicant submit certified proof of graduation from high school, high school equivalency, or higher degree;
2.	The applicant submit proof of employment in responsible charge as a photogrammetrist practicing within the State of North Carolina to include itemized reports detailing methods, procedures, amount of applicant's personal involvement and the name, address, and telephone numbers of the client for five projects completed by the applicant with the State. A final map for one of the five projects shall also be submitted;
3.	Five references to the applicant's character and quality of work, three of which shall be from professional land surveyors, are submitted to the Board; and
4.	The application is submitted to the Board by July 1, 1999. After July 1, 1999, no photogrammetrist shall be licensed without meeting the same requirements as to education, length of experience, and testing required of all land surveying applicants.
The Board shall require an applicant to submit exhibits, drawings, plats or other tangible evidence of land surveying work executed by the applicant under proper supervision and which the applicant has personally accomplished or supervised.
Land surveying encompasses a number of disciplines including geodetic surveying, hydrographic surveying, cadastral surveying, engineering surveying, route surveying, photogrammetric (aerial) surveying, and topographic surveying. A professional land surveyor shall practice only within the surveyor's area of expertise.
(2)	As a land surveyor intern (shall meet one):
a.	Rightful possession of an associate degree in surveying technology approved by the Board, a record satisfactory to the Board of four years of progressive practical experience, two years of which shall have been under a practicing professional land surveyor, and satisfactorily passing a written and oral examination as required by the Board.
b.	Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑296, s. 1.
c.	Graduation from high school or the completion of a high school equivalency certificate and a record satisfactory to the Board of 10 years of progressive, practical experience, six years of which shall have been under a practicing licensed land surveyor and satisfactorily passing any oral and written examinations required by the Board.
d.	Graduation and examination. – A graduate of a surveying curriculum or other equivalent curriculum in surveying approved by the Board or a student who is graduating within two semesters, or the equivalent, of the semester in which the fundamentals of surveying examination is administered, in an accredited surveying program of four years or more shall be admitted to the fundamentals of surveying examination. The applicant shall be notified if the examination was passed or not passed, and if passed the applicant shall be certified as a surveying intern if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
The Board shall require an applicant to submit exhibits, drawings, plats, or other tangible evidence of land surveying work executed by the applicant under proper supervision and which the applicant has personally accomplished or supervised."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 89C‑21(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Board may reprimand the licensee, suspend, refuse to renew, refuse to reinstate, or revoke the certificate of licensure, require additional education or, as appropriate, require reexamination, for any engineer or land surveyor, who is found guilty of any of the following:
(1)	Fraud or deceit in obtaining or renewing a certificate of licensure or certificate of authorization.
(2)	Gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of the profession.
(3)	Conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime that is a felony, whether or not related to the practice of engineering or surveying; conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime, whether a felony, misdemeanor, or otherwise, where an essential element of the crime is dishonesty or when the crime is directly related to the practice of engineering or surveying; or conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, of any crime involving moral turpitude.
(4)	Violation of any provisions of this Chapter, the Rules of Professional Conduct, or any rules as adopted by the Board.
(5)	Being declared insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction and having not later been lawfully declared sane or competent.
(6)	Professional incompetence. In the event the Board finds that a certificate holder is incompetent the Board may, in its discretion, require oral or written examinations, or other indication of the certificate holder's fitness to practice engineering or land surveying and suspend the license during any such period."
SECTION 6.  G.S.89C‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑22.  Disciplinary action – Charges; procedure.
(a)	Any person may prefer charges of fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetence, misconduct, or violations of this Chapter, the rules of professional conduct, or any rules adopted by the Board against any Board licensee. The charges shall be in writing and shall be sworn to by the person or persons making them and shall be filed with the Board.
(b)	All charges, unless dismissed by the Board as unfounded or trivial or unless settled informally, shall be heard by the Board as provided under the requirements of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
(c)	If, after a hearing, a majority of the Board votes in favor of sustaining the charges, the Board shall reprimand, levy a civil penalty, suspend, refuse to renew, refuse to reinstate, or revoke the licensee's certificate, require additional education or, as appropriate, require reexamination.
(d)	A licensee who is aggrieved by a final decision of the Board may appeal for judicial review as provided by Article 4 of Chapter 150B.
(e)	The Board may, upon petition of an individual or an entity whose certificate has been revoked, for sufficient reasons as it may determine, reissue a certificate of licensure or authorization, provided that a majority of the members of the Board vote in favor of such issuance."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 89C‑25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 89C‑25.  Limitations on application of Chapter.
This Chapter shall not be construed to prevent or affect:
…
		
…."
SECTION 8.  This act is effective when it becomes law.