PE — ABET-Accredited Pathway
Detailed licensing requirements and pathways
SOURCE SUMMARY
Traditional pathway requiring ABET-accredited engineering degree, 4 years experience, FE exam, and PE exam. Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2, Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02.; Extended experience pathway for engineers with ABET-accredited degree and 12 years experience. FE exam waived with sufficient experience. Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2, Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02.; Graduate degree pathway requiring bachelor's degree and post-graduate engineering degree (master's or higher), FE exam, PE exam, with reduced experience requirements. Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2, Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02.
Requirements at a Glance
Visual summary of what this pathway requires
Education
ABET
Bachelor
or
ABET
Bachelor
or
OTHER
Bachelor
or
BOARD_APPROVED
Bachelor
Exams
FE
PE
PE
FE
PE
Experience
3.0 years
Professional practice
Education Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EDUCATION
|
degree_level:
BS
discipline:
engineering
accreditation:
EAC/ABET
minimum_years:
4
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (i): TRADITIONAL PATHWAY WITH FE EXAM - Graduation from an approved engineering curriculum. APPROVED ENGINEERING CURRICULUM: An approved engineering curriculum refers to programs accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET).
|
The Board recognizes EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering degrees (4-year minimum) as meeting the approved engineering curriculum standard.
100% confidence
|
Examination Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXAM
|
exam:
FE
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (i): Passage of an examination on the fundamentals of engineering (FE Exam). FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING (FE) EXAMINATION: Administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
|
Must be passed before or during the experience accumulation period. Administered by NCEES.
100% confidence
|
|
EXAM
|
exam:
PE
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (i): Passage of an examination on the principles and practice of engineering (PE Exam). PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING (PE) EXAMINATION: Administered by NCEES, required for all pathways, must be passed before licensure can be granted.
|
Available in multiple disciplines. Computer Based Testing (CBT) available year-round for most disciplines. Pencil and paper exams: June 15 deadline for October exams, December 1 deadline for April exams.
100% confidence
|
Experience Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXPERIENCE
|
years_required:
4.0
progressive:
True
under_pe_ps_supervision:
False
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (i): Minimum four years' experience. QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Experience must be progressive engineering experience demonstrating competency in engineering practice.
|
Progressive engineering experience demonstrating competency including: design, construction, research, engineering cost studies, quality control, safety, environmental issues, systems application, and engineering process management. Cooperative education credit: up to 1 year may be granted for qualified experience in an approved cooperative education program.
100% confidence
|
Education Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EDUCATION
|
degree_level:
BS
discipline:
engineering
accreditation:
EAC/ABET
minimum_years:
4
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (ii): EXTENDED EXPERIENCE PATHWAY - Graduation from an approved engineering curriculum. APPROVED ENGINEERING CURRICULUM: programs accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET).
|
The Board recognizes EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering degrees (4-year minimum) as meeting the approved engineering curriculum standard.
100% confidence
|
Examination Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXAM
|
exam:
PE
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (ii): Passage of an examination on the principles and practice of engineering (PE Exam). Note: FE Exam not required with undergraduate engineering degree and 12 or more years of progressive engineering experience.
|
Available in multiple disciplines. Computer Based Testing (CBT) available year-round for most disciplines. FE exam waived for this pathway.
100% confidence
|
Experience Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXPERIENCE
|
years_required:
12.0
progressive:
True
under_pe_ps_supervision:
False
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (ii): Minimum 12 years' experience. QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Experience must be progressive engineering experience demonstrating competency in engineering practice.
|
12 or more years of progressive engineering experience required to waive FE exam requirement. Experience must demonstrate competency including: design, construction, research, engineering cost studies, quality control, safety, environmental issues, systems application, and engineering process management.
100% confidence
|
Education Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EDUCATION
|
degree_level:
BS
discipline:
board approved
minimum_years:
4
accreditation:
OTHER
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (iii): Graduation from a four-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree approved by the board.
|
Four-year baccalaureate degree approved by the board required as foundation for graduate engineering studies.
100% confidence
|
|
EDUCATION
|
degree_level:
MS
discipline:
engineering
accreditation:
BOARD_APPROVED
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (iii): Completion of post-graduate coursework in engineering curriculum leading to a master's degree or higher in engineering approved by the board. GRADUATE DEGREE CREDIT: The Board may grant toward experience requirements for registration as an engineer one (1) year of credit for graduation with a master's degree (or higher) in engineering from an approved curriculum.
|
Master's degree or higher in engineering from approved curriculum. Board may grant 1 year credit toward experience requirements for master's or higher degree.
100% confidence
|
Examination Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXAM
|
exam:
FE
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (iii): Passage of the examination on the fundamentals of engineering (FE Exam). FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING (FE) EXAMINATION: Administered by NCEES, Required for Pathways (i) and (iii).
|
Must be passed before or during the experience accumulation period. Administered by NCEES.
100% confidence
|
|
EXAM
|
exam:
PE
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (iii): Passage of an examination on the principles and practice of engineering (PE Exam). PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING (PE) EXAMINATION: Administered by NCEES, required for all pathways, must be passed before licensure can be granted.
|
Available in multiple disciplines. Computer Based Testing (CBT) available year-round for most disciplines.
100% confidence
|
Experience Requirements
| Type | Parameters | Required | Source | Citation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EXPERIENCE
|
years_required:
3.0
progressive:
True
under_pe_ps_supervision:
False
credit_for_graduate_degree:
1
|
Required
|
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners - Professional Engineer Licensure Requirements |
Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 2; Administrative Rules Chapter 0120-02. PATHWAY (iii): Minimum experience requirements (specific years to be determined based on graduate degree level). GRADUATE DEGREE CREDIT: The Board may grant toward experience requirements for registration as an engineer one (1) year of credit for graduation with a master's degree (or higher) in engineering from an approved curriculum.
|
Experience requirements vary based on graduate degree level. Board may grant 1 year credit for master's or higher degree, reducing typical 4-year requirement to 3 years. Experience must be progressive engineering experience demonstrating competency in engineering practice including: design, construction, research, engineering cost studies, quality control, safety, environmental issues, systems application, and engineering process management.
90% confidence
|