Principles & Practice of Engineering Examination Application Instructions

Examinations are given each April and October. The application deadlines are January 1st for the April exam and July 1st for the October exam.

To be eligible for the exam in Kentucky, you must fullfill the following requirements:

• Graduated from an engineering program of four years or more accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) (engineering technology degrees are not accepted).

• Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.

• Four or more years of progressive engineering experience. The experience must be completed by the application date. With a master's degree in engineering, the experience requirement is three years. Please review 201 KAR 18:072 Section 1 for further information regarding experience.

Foreign degrees earned at institutions included in the Washington Accord are considered substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET degree and are acceptable. A listing of institutions and degree programs included in the Washington Accord may be found at www.abet.org.  All other foreign degrees must be evaluated by Center for Professional Engineering Education Services www.cpees.org.  The evaluation as well as your application must be received by the application deadline.

Check the "Principles & Practice of Engineering Examination" box on page one. Indicate the exam you wish to take. Kentucky offers all exams offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES):

• Group I exams given each April and October: Chemical, Civil, Electrical/Computer, Environmental, Mechanical, Structural I, and Structural II.

• Group II exams given each April only: Architectural, Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering

• Group II exams given each October only: Agricultural, Control Systems, Fire Protection, Industrial, Metallurgical, Mining/Mineral, Nuclear, and Petroleum

The test site will be Lexington Kentucky.

Part I Personal Data – complete all questions except #15. Indicate which address (business or residence) the Board should use.

Part II Education and Experience – Under Education include the complete name of the institution and the degree conferred. Read the instructions for the Experience Record, which are included on the application. Be sure to provide detail, especially for the engineering experience. Inadequate descriptions of engineering work may result in denial of experience credit.

Sign and date page 4. No fees are required with the application. If approved to sit for the exam, you will receive a letter instructing you to log onto the ELSES website at els-examreg.org to register for the exam and pay your nonrefundable exam fee. Do not register on this website until you have received an approval letter from the board office. Approximately two weeks prior to the exam, ELSES will mail admittance packets to those who have completed the registration process.

For those retaking the exam, you do not have to complete a new application. You simply log onto the aforementioned website and register for the exam.

Retake Limitation

After July 2006, an applicant who fails the same exam three times, regardless of the jurisdiction where the exam is administered, must reapply by completing the application in full and include evidence satisfactory to the board of gaining additional knowledge. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to review courses, college courses, and continuing education courses. You may not register on the ELSES website until you have receive an approval letter from the board office.