SB 6048
In CommitteeSenate
Professional engineers
Concerning the professional engineers' registration act.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill updates Washington’s Professional Engineers’ Registration Act to modernize licensing standards, board governance, and oversight of engineering and land surveying practices. It revises definitions, experience and education requirements, board membership rules, corporate authorization procedures, and continuing education requirements—while maintaining the existing framework for protecting public safety and ensuring qualified professionals.
- Clarifies and updates definitions in the Professional Engineers’ Registration Act, including new definitions for 'engineer-in-training', 'land-surveyor-in-training', and 'significant structures'.
- Revises board composition: maintains 7 members (5 engineers, 2 land surveyors), requires 10 years of post-licensure experience (5 immediately prior to appointment), and limits members to two consecutive 5-year terms.
- Adds authority for up to three 'pro tem' board members, who must be licensed for at least 5 years and serve up to 180 days unless extended by the director.
- Strengthens experience and education requirements for licensure: requires 8 years of progressive experience for professional engineers and land surveyors, allows up to 4 years of credit for education, and adds specific requirements for structural engineering licensure.
- Requires continuing professional development (CPD) hours for land surveyor renewals and updates renewal procedures—including deadlines and invalidation of expired licenses.
- Expands and clarifies rules for corporate and LLC authorization to practice engineering or land surveying, including requirements for designated licensed professionals and annual reporting.
Who is affected
- Individuals seeking licensure as engineers or land surveyors — Must meet updated education, experience, and examination requirements to become licensed as a professional engineer, structural engineer, professional land surveyor, engineer-in-training, or land-surveyor-in-training.
- Corporations and limited liability companies offering engineering or land surveying services — Must ensure their employees or designated representatives meet new requirements for corporate or LLC authorization to provide engineering or land surveying services in Washington.
- Governor and Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors — Will appoint and manage board members and pro tem members under new rules about qualifications, term limits, and compensation.
- Currently licensed professional engineers and land surveyors — Will receive updated fees for applications, registrations, and renewals, and may be subject to new continuing education verification requirements.
- General public and consumers of engineering/land surveying services — May benefit from clearer definitions of who must be licensed and when structural engineering services require a structural engineer license.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Clarifies when structural engineering services require a licensed structural engineer—especially for high-risk facilities like hospitals, emergency centers, and tall buildings—reducing risk of unsafe design and improving public safety outcomes in construction projects.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (RCW 18.43.020), as amended: defines 'significant structures' and clarifies when structural engineering services require a structural engineer licenseFormalizes the 'in-training' status for candidates, improving clarity for employers, regulators, and job seekers—helping early-career professionals signal progress toward licensure and enabling better tracking of workforce development pipelines.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (RCW 18.43.020), as amended: adds definitions for 'engineer-in-training' and 'land-surveyor-in-training'Mandates ongoing education for land surveyors, improving quality control and ensuring practitioners stay current with evolving technology, standards, and legal frameworks—benefiting consumers of surveying services and communities relying on accurate land boundaries.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 9 (RCW 18.43.080), as amended: requires continuing professional development (CPD) hours for land surveyor renewalsStrengthens oversight of firms offering engineering and land surveying services by requiring clear accountability to licensed individuals and annual reporting—reducing opportunities for unlicensed entities to operate under the radar.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 11 (RCW 18.43.130), as amended: expands and clarifies corporate/LLC authorization requirements, including annual reporting and designated licensed professionalsImposes term limits on board members to prevent entrenchment and encourage periodic renewal of perspectives—though the 10-year experience requirement may limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2 (RCW 18.43.030), as amended: board members limited to two consecutive 5-year terms
Potential Concerns (5)
Increases barriers to board membership by requiring 10 years of post-licensure experience (5 immediately prior), limiting turnover and potentially reducing diversity of perspectives on the board—especially for newer professionals, women, and people of color who may face systemic delays in reaching senior positions.
Local GovernmentIndustryRef: Sec. 2 (RCW 18.43.030), as amended: board members required to have 10 years post-licensure experience (5 immediately prior to appointment)Elevates experience and continuing education requirements, which may delay entry into licensed practice and increase time/cost burdens for aspiring engineers and land surveyors—particularly those without family support, who must work while studying, or who face barriers to continuous full-time employment.
EducationIndustryRef: Sec. 5 (RCW 18.43.040), as amended: requires 8 years of progressive experience for professional licensure (up to 4 years credit for education); Sec. 7 (RCW 18.43.060), as amended: requires 15 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) for land surveyor renewalsCorporate authorization rules restrict licensed professionals from serving as designated officers for multiple entities, reducing labor flexibility and potentially limiting opportunities for mid-career engineers/land surveyors to consult or moonlight—while fees are fully cost-recovered from licensees, shifting administrative burden onto individuals rather than general fund support.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 11 (RCW 18.43.130), as amended: corporate/LLC authorization rules require designated licensed professionals who are *not* designated for another entity; Sec. 9 (RCW 18.43.080), as amended: fees set by board to cover administrative costsCreates a dedicated revenue stream for the board that can be diverted to the general fund during certain biennia, weakening long-term program stability and risking future underfunding of licensing oversight—potentially compromising public safety if enforcement capacity is reduced.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 12 (RCW 18.43.150), as amended: fees collected under the bill are deposited into a dedicated account and may be transferred to the general fund during specified biennia if there is an excess balanceRestricts licensed professionals from serving as designated officers for multiple corporations or LLCs, limiting entrepreneurial opportunities and contract flexibility—especially for independent consultants, small firms, or those seeking part-time or fractional leadership roles.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 11 (RCW 18.43.130), as amended: corporate/LLC authorization requires designated professionals to be *exclusively* assigned to one entity; Sec. 5 (RCW 18.43.040), as amended: experience requirements may disproportionately impact those with nontraditional career paths
Who Is Most Affected
Aspiring engineers and land surveyors will face longer timelines and higher costs to obtain full licensure due to the 8-year experience requirement and new CPD obligations. While clearer definitions and structured 'in-training' status may help early-career professionals signal progress, the increased barriers disproportionately affect those without financial safety nets or flexible work arrangements.
Large engineering and land surveying firms benefit from clearer corporate authorization rules and fee-setting authority, while smaller firms may struggle with compliance burdens—especially the requirement that designated professionals be exclusively assigned to one entity, limiting flexibility for consultants and fractional leaders.
The Governor retains appointment authority but now faces stricter qualifications for board members. The Board gains more autonomy in fee-setting and administration, but its dedicated funding mechanism is vulnerable to legislative transfers during biennia with surplus balances—potentially weakening long-term operational stability.
Currently licensed professionals will face new CPD verification requirements and may be restricted from serving as designated officers for multiple firms. While the bill preserves existing licensing pathways, the added administrative and continuing education burdens fall disproportionately on mid-career professionals without institutional support.
The general public benefits significantly from clearer definitions of 'significant structures' and mandatory structural engineering licensure for high-risk facilities—reducing risk of catastrophic failure in critical infrastructure. However, if fee increases outpace inflation or if enforcement capacity is eroded by funding instability, long-term public safety may be compromised.