New Hampshire Professional Engineer Licensing Law

New Hampshire Code · 18 sections

The following is the full text of New Hampshire’s professional engineer licensing law statutes as published in the New Hampshire Code. For the official version, see the New Hampshire Legislature.

RSA § 310-A:118

Definitions. – In this subdivision: I. "Board" means the board of professional geologists. II. "Business organization" means any enterprise, whether corporation, partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, association, business trust, real estate trust, or other form of organization; organized for gain or profit, carrying on any business activity within the state. III. "Geology" means the science dealing with the study of the earth, its origin, history, physical features and content; the investigation and interpretation of the earth's constituents including, but not limited to, its rocks, unconsolidated materials, minerals, solids, fluids, and gases, and of the natural and induced processes and forces acting on the earth; the geologic mapping of the earth's constituents and features, and the results of various processes and forces that have acted on the earth; and the geological application of the information derived from such study in the furtherance of the health, safety and welfare of the public and the environment. IV. "Licensed professional geologist" means a person who, by reason of advanced knowledge of geology and the supporting physical and life sciences, acquired by education and experience, is technically and legally qualified to engage in the practice of geology as defined in this section and has successfully passed the examination as may be required in this subdivision and who is licensed by the office or otherwise authorized by this subdivision to engage in the practice of the profession of geology. V. "Practice of the profession of geology" or "practice of geology" means the performance of work defined as geology in this subdivision including, but not limited to researching, investigating, consulting, geological mapping, describing the natural processes that act upon the earth's materials, predicting the probable occurrence of natural resources, predicting and locating natural or man-induced phenomena which may be useful or hazardous to mankind recognizing, determining and evaluating geological factors, and the inspection and performance of geological work and the responsible supervision thereof in furtherance of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the environment. The term shall not include the application of geologic information in the identification or determination of engineered solutions to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the environment. The term shall not include the practice of engineering, land surveying, architecture, soil science or wetland science for which separate licensure or certification is required. VI. "Responsible charge of work" means the independent control, supervision and direction of work requiring the use of initiative, skill, and judgment. Source. 2000, 297:3, eff. Aug. 20, 2000. 2024, 327:196, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 310-A:139

Exemptions; Practice of Professional Engineering. – I. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent or affect: (a) The practice of officers and employees of the government of the United States or the state while engaged within this state in the practice of geology for the federal government or the state. (b) Work customarily performed by archeologists, chemists, geographers, or oceanographers, providing such work does not include the design and execution of geological investigation, being in responsible charge of geological work, or the drawing of geological conclusions and recommendations. (c) The practice of engineering by a licensed engineer, the practice of architecture by a licensed architect, the practice of forestry by a licensed forester, the practice of land surveying by a licensed land surveyor, the practice of soil science by a certified soil scientist, or the practice of wetland science by a certified wetland scientist. (d) The practice of geology by any person under the direct supervision and control of a professional geologist, provided such work does not include being in responsible charge of final geological reports or decisions. (e) The practice of geology by any person in the employ of academic or research institutions, agencies of federal or state government, and not-for-profit research institutions. II. Professional engineers, when engaged in the lawful practice of professional engineering under RSA 310-A, shall not be precluded from performing work which is defined in this subdivision as within the practice of the profession of geology, nor by a requirement that such work be performed by a professional geologist. Source. 2000, 297:3, eff. Aug. 20, 2000. Licensing Landscape Architects Section

RSA § 310-A:141

Definitions. – In this subdivision: I. "Landscape architect" means a person who, by reason of professional education or practical experience, or both, is qualified to engage in the practice of landscape architecture as attested by licensing as a landscape architect. II. "Landscape architectural practice" means the performance of professional services in connection with the development of land areas where, and to the extent that the dominant purpose of such services is the preservation, enhancement or determination of proper land uses, natural land features, ground cover and planting, naturalistic and aesthetic values, the setting, approaches or environment for structures of other improvements, natural drainage and the consideration and determination of inherent problems of the land relating to erosion, wear and tear, blight or other hazards, to the extent that such services protect public health, safety and welfare. The practice of landscape architecture shall include the location, design, and arrangement of such tangible objects and features as are incidental and necessary to the purposes outlined in this paragraph, but shall not include the design, assessment, analysis, or evaluation of structures or facilities with separate and self-contained purposes, streets or highways, utilities, storm and sanitary sewer systems and appurtenant structures, and water and sewage treatment facilities such as are exclusive to the practice of professional engineers, natural scientists, or architects as defined in this chapter. Furthermore, this practice shall not include the making of land surveys or final land plats for official approval or recording, the official mapping of soils, or the analysis, testing, and reporting of soil and bedrock conditions, delineation of wetlands or determination of soil, surface, or groundwater related to hazardous waste contamination. The practice of landscape architecture shall include: (a) Production of graphic and written material for use in the planning and design of land development programs including: (1) Preparation, review, and analysis of master plans and land development plans incidental to the practice of landscape architecture. (2) Reconnaissance, planning, construction documents and specifications, and construction supervision incidental to the practice of landscape architecture. (3) Providing professional services for feasibility studies and site selection incidental to the practice of landscape architecture. (4) Providing professional advice on land preservation, restoration, conservation, reclamation, rehabilitation, management, and development incidental to the practice of landscape architecture. (b) Consultation, research, stewardship, analysis, investigation, reconnaissance, and construction overview. III. "Board" means the board of landscape architects. IV. "Business organization" means any enterprise, whether corporation, partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, association, business trus

RSA § 310-A:16

Applications. – Applications for licensure or for a temporary permit shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the office, shall contain statements made under oath, showing the applicant's education and a detailed summary of the applicant's technical work, and shall contain not less than 5 references, of whom at least 3 shall be licensed professional engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's professional experience. Source. 1981, 485:1. 1989, 247:8. 1995, 136:5, eff. July 23, 1995; 284:13, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2024, 327:256, eff. July 1, 2024. 2025, 161:17, eff. Sept. 13, 2025. Section

RSA § 310-A:18

Certificates; Seals. – The office shall issue a license, upon payment of the registration fee, to any applicant who has satisfactorily met all the requirements of this subdivision. The issuance of a license by the office shall be prima facie evidence that the person named in the license is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a licensed professional engineer while the license remains valid. Each licensee shall upon licensure obtain a seal of the design meeting the criteria established by the board, bearing the registrant's name and the legend, "Licensed Professional Engineer." All papers or documents involving the practice of engineering under this subdivision, when issued or filed for public record, shall be dated, and bear the signature and seal of the licensed professional engineer who prepared or had responsibility for and approved them. It shall be a class B misdemeanor for the licensee to stamp or seal any documents with such seal after the license of the licensee has expired or has been revoked, unless such license shall have been renewed or reissued. Source. 1981, 485:1. 1995, 136:5, eff. July 23, 1995; 284:60, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2021, 197:175, eff. July 1, 2021. 2022, 314:32, eff. July 1, 2022. 2024, 327:258, eff. July 1, 2024. 2025, 161:18, eff. Sept. 13, 2025. Section

RSA § 310-A:18-a

Seals for Temporary Permits. – All documents and papers issued under a temporary permit to practice engineering shall be stamped or otherwise noted to indicate the professional engineer's temporary permit number, the beginning and ending date of the temporary permit period, and the project name or identifying title. All such documents and papers shall be signed by the temporary permit holder. Source. 1989, 247:9. 1995, 284:57, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. Section

RSA § 310-A:189-b

Mold Assessment Certification Required. – I. For the purposes of this section: (a) "Mold assessment" means: (1) An inspection, investigation, or survey of a dwelling or other structure to provide information to the owner regarding presence, identification, or evaluation of mold; (2) The development of a mold remediation specification or protocol; or (3) The collection of a mold sample for analysis. (b) "Third party certification" means a certification approved by a national nonprofit organization whose programs are accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), CESB (Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards), NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies), or any other accrediting body that operates in compliance with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard for accrediting organizations. Certifications are credentials of industry knowledge granted to individuals by a certification body for a limited time. II. No person shall perform residential mold assessment services for remuneration unless that person possesses a valid national third party certification for mold assessment. The individual shall not own the designation; the designation shall be owned by the certifying body. Certification holders shall meet certain requirements set by third party certification organizations in order to be recertified. III. The board of home inspectors shall inform the public through its website that persons engaged in residential mold assessment shall be certified under paragraph II and shall provide links to the websites of the certifying organizations. IV. Any professional hired for remuneration by a homeowner, in which the primary work contracted for is not mold assessment, shall be exempt from this section. V. Any person who offers mold assessment services for a fee but does not comply with this chapter shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person or guilty of a class B misdemeanor if any other person. Source. 2015, 208:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016. Section

RSA § 310-A:19

Interstate Licensure; Temporary Permit. – I. [Repealed.] II. Applicants who are certified by the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) may apply for licensure by having their NCEE record sent to the office and by furnishing such other information on a standard application form as the office may direct. III. [Repealed.] Source. 1981, 485:1. 1989, 247:10. 1995, 136:6, eff. July 23, 1995; 284:14, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2024, 327:259, 262, IX, eff. July 1, 2024. 2025, 161:20, II, eff. Sept. 13, 2025. Section

RSA § 310-A:2

Definitions. – As used in this subdivision: I. "Board" means the board of professional engineers. I-a. "Business organization" means any enterprise, whether corporation, partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, association, business trust, real estate trust, or other form of organization; organized for gain or profit, carrying on any business activity within the state. II. "Professional engineer" means a person who by reason of advanced knowledge of mathematics and the physical sciences, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is technically and legally qualified to practice engineering, and who is licensed by the office or otherwise authorized by this subdivision to engage in the practice of engineering. III. "Practice of engineering" means any professional service or creative work requiring education, training, experience, and the application of advanced knowledge of mathematics and physical sciences, involving the constant exercise of discretion and judgment, to such services or work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, responsible oversight of construction, and responsible oversight of operation, in connection with any public or private utilities, structure, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects, wherein the public welfare, or the safeguarding of life, health, or property is concerned. IV. "Engineering surveys" means any surveying activities required to support the sound conception, planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of engineering projects by persons licensed under this subdivision, but shall exclude the surveying of real property for the establishment or reestablishment of land boundaries, rights-of-way, easements, and the dependent or independent surveys or resurveys of the public land survey system. V. "Engineer of record" means a professional engineer who seals drawings, reports, or documents for a project. The seal shall acknowledge that the professional engineer prepared, coordinated, or had subordinates prepare under the direct supervision of the professional engineer, drawings, reports, or documents for a project. The engineer of record shall not be responsible for engineering work performed and sealed by other professional engineers, including independent consulting engineers who work under the coordination of the engineer of record. Source. 1981, 485:1. 1995, 136:1, eff. July 23, 1995; 284:1-4, 57, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2024, 327:254, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 310-A:2-b

Jurisdiction of the Board of Professional Engineers; Regulation of Scope of Practice. – No agency or subdivision of the state shall adopt any rule, regulation, standard, code, ordinance, or policy that restricts or limits the scope of practice of any licensed professional engineer, whose practice shall be within the sole jurisdiction of the board of professional engineers. Source. 1995, 284:5, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. Section

RSA § 310-A:20

Engineering Certificates for Business Organizations. – I. The practice of or offer to practice professional engineering for others by individual engineers licensed under this subdivision through a business organization as officers, partners, associates, employees, or agents is permitted, subject to the provisions of this subdivision; provided that: (a) One or more of the corporate officers, of a corporation or one or more general partners, or associates is designated as being responsible for the engineering activities and engineering decisions of the business organization, and is a licensed engineer under this subdivision. (b) All personnel of the business organization who act in its behalf as professional engineers are licensed under this subdivision. (c) The business organization has been issued a certificate of authorization by the office of professional licensure and certification, as provided in this section. II. The requirements of this subdivision shall not affect a business organization or its employees in performing services for such business organization or its subsidiary or affiliated business organizations. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other engineering papers or documents involving the practice of engineering, when issued or filed for public record, shall be dated, and bear the signature and seal of the professional engineer who prepared them or under whose direct supervisory control they were prepared. III. A business organization desiring a certificate of authorization shall file with the office of professional licensure and certification an application, using a form provided by the office of professional licensure and certification, listing the names and addresses of all officers and board members, general and limited partners, associates, and any individuals duly licensed to practice engineering in this state who shall be in responsible charge of the practice of engineering in this state through the business organization, and any other information required by the office. The same form, giving the same information, must accompany the renewal fee. If there is a change in any of these persons during the year, such change shall be designated on the same form and filed with the office of professional licensure and certification within 30 days after the effective date of such change. If all requirements of this section are met, the office of professional licensure and certification shall issue a certificate of authorization to such business organization, and such business organization shall be authorized to contract for and to collect fees for furnishing engineering services. IV. No business organization shall be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, officers, or partners, by reason of its compliance with the provisions of this section, nor shall any individual practicing engineering be relieved of responsibility for engineering services performed by reason of such i

RSA § 310-A:25

Violations. – I. (a) It shall be a class B misdemeanor for any unlicensed natural person or a felony for any unauthorized business organization to: (1) Practice, or offer to practice, engineering in this state. (2) Represent by any verbal statement, sign, letterhead, card, or in any other way that they are professional engineers or able to perform engineering services. (3) Use or otherwise assume in conjunction with the personal name, or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that such person is a professional engineer licensed under this subdivision. (b) It shall be a class B misdemeanor for any natural person or a felony for any unauthorized business organization to: (1) Present or attempt to use the license or seal of another as one's own. (2) Give any false or forged evidence of any kind to the board or to any member of the board in obtaining a license. (3) Falsely impersonate any other licensee of like or different name. (4) Attempt to use an expired or revoked license. II. [Repealed.] Source. 1981, 485:1. 1995, 136:9, eff. July 23, 1995; 284:21, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2015, 276:52, eff. July 1, 2015. 2024, 327:262, XIII, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 310-A:27

Exemptions. – Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent or affect: I. [Repealed.] II. The work of an employee or a subordinate of a person holding an engineering license under this subdivision, provided such work does not include final designs or decisions and is done under the direct responsibility, checking, and supervision of a person holding an engineering license under this subdivision; III. The practice of officers and employees of the government of the United States while engaged within this state in the practice of engineering for the federal government; or IV. The practice of architecture by a duly licensed architect. Source. 1981, 485:1. 1989, 247:26. 1995, 284:22, 23, 58, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. Architects Section

RSA § 310-A:3

Board of Engineers; Establishment; Criteria; Terms; Compensation and Expenses; Meetings; Records and Reports; Roster. – I. A board of professional engineers is established to administer the provisions of this subdivision. The board shall consist of 5 persons appointed by the governor and council, 4 of whom shall be professional engineers, and one public member. The public member of the board shall be a person who is not, and never was, a member of the engineering profession or the spouse of any such person, and who does not have and never has had, a material financial interest in either the provision of engineering services or an activity directly related to engineering, including the representation of the board or profession for a fee at any time during the 5 years preceding appointment. II. Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state. Each professional engineer member shall have actively practiced professional engineering for the chief means of livelihood for at least 10 years prior to appointment and shall have held a responsible position in charge of such work for at least 5 years prior to appointment, which may include the teaching of engineering. III. Members shall be appointed for 5-year terms, except that no more than one appointed member's term may expire in any one calendar year. Appointments for terms of less than 5 years may be made in order to comply with this limitation. No appointed member shall be eligible to serve more than 2 full consecutive terms, provided that for this purpose only a period actually served which exceeds 1/2 of the 5-year term shall be deemed a full term. Upon expiration of a member's term, the member shall serve until a successor is qualified and appointed. The successor's term shall be 5 years from the date of expiration of the predecessor's appointment, regardless of the date of the successor's appointment. Vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of a specific term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. A board member may be removed for cause by the governor and council under RSA 4:1. IV. [Repealed.] V. The board shall hold at least 3 regular meetings each year and special meetings at such times as it may deem necessary. Notice of all meetings shall be given in such a manner as rules adopted by the board may provide. The board shall biennially elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. A majority of the members of the board who have been approved by the governor and council shall constitute a quorum. VI. (a) The board shall keep a record of its proceedings in accordance with the retention policy established by the office of professional licensure and certification. (b) The records of the board shall be prima facie evidence of the proceedings of the board, and a transcript of such records certified by the secretary of the board under seal shall be admissible in evidence with the same force and effect as if the original were

RSA § 310-A:6

Rulemaking Authority. – I. The board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to: (a) [Repealed.] (b) The qualifications of applicants in addition to those requirements set by statute, and including the qualifications for satisfactory evidence of good professional character; (c) How an applicant shall be examined; (d) The requirements for renewal of a license, including the requirements for continuing education; (e) [Repealed.] (f) Ethical and professional standards required to be met by each holder of a license under this subdivision and how disciplinary actions by the board shall be implemented for violations of these standards; (g) [Repealed.] (h) [Repealed.] (i) The design of an official seal; (j) [Repealed.] (k) [Repealed.] (l) What constitutes engineering experience for the purposes of RSA

RSA § 310-A:74

, it shall be a class B misdemeanor for any person to practice or to offer to practice land surveying in this state, or to represent by verbal claim, sign, letterhead, card, or in any other way that such person is a land surveyor or is able to perform land surveying services, unless the person holds a license under this subdivision. Admission to practice land surveying shall be determined upon the basis of individual personal qualification. III. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to give to a land surveyor the right to perform engineering design or other elements of the practice of engineering as defined in RSA

RSA § 310-A:8

Disbursements. – The office may make expenditures for the reasonable expenses of the board's delegate to meetings of, and membership dues to, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Source. 1981, 485:1. 1995, 284:10. 2013, 144:111, eff. July 1, 2013. 2015, 276:51, eff. July 1, 2015. 2024, 327:255, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 319-C:3

Exceptions. – This chapter shall not apply to the following: I. Any person, or any affiliate or employee of such person, under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission of this state, or the Federal Communications Commission, or the Interstate Commerce Commission , or any employee of such person, for the purpose of making electrical installations in the course of such employment. II. The electrical work and equipment employed in connection with the construction, installation, operation, repair or maintenance of any utility by a utility company in rendering its authorized service, or in any way incidental thereto. III. Any electrical equipment and work including installation, operation, maintenance and repair, in or about industrial or manufacturing plants or electrical generating plants performed by a person or persons in the regular employ of the plants. IV. Any electrical equipment and work, including installation, operation, maintenance and repair in, on or about other properties, equipment or buildings, residential or of any other kind, owned or controlled by the operators of industrial or manufacturing plants, provided such work is done under the supervision of an electrical engineer in the employ of said operator. V. The electrical work and equipment in mines, pipe line systems, ships, railway rolling stock or automotive equipment, or the operation of portable sound equipment. VI. Any electrical installations or equipment involved in the manufacture, test or repair of electrical equipment in the manufacturer's plant. VII. Installations in laboratories of exposed electrical wiring for experimental purposes only. VIII. Regular employees of owners or lessees of real property doing incidental electrical work, or persons whose occupation is the doing of miscellaneous jobs of manual labor in the course of which some incidental electrical work is done. IX. Installation of fuel oil, natural, propane, or other burnable gas furnace, or boiler equipment and controls connected thereto. IX-a. Any electrical installations in residential or commercial buildings performed by students enrolled in a high school vocational electrical program, college vocational electrical program, and apprenticeship training program, approved by the department of education, provided such work is performed under the supervision of either a teacher holding an electrician's license or by a licensed electrician who is a supervisor of students in cooperative education placements from such programs; and in those cases where the installation is in a new building being constructed as a part of the vocational program, that the installation will be inspected and approved by an individual or group of individuals chosen by the local school districts from persons nominated by the state board of electricians. Any person nominated by the state board shall hold a master's license issued by the office of professional licensure and certification. X. Any electrical work and equip

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