California PE license requirements
In California you pass the NCEES FE and PE exams first, then apply for licensure to the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) through BPELSG Connect once you meet the experience requirement. Civil engineers must also pass two California exams, Seismic Principles and Engineering Surveying, which cost $250 each from July 1, 2026.
Sources: BPELSG (applying for civil licensure; fee regulation effective July 1, 2026; board minutes), NSPE and licensing guides, checked October 11, 2026. Application fee as reported. Confirm with BPELSG before applying.
Key details
| Item | California |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) |
| Before booking the PE | Register with NCEES; apply to the board only after passing the FE and PE and meeting experience |
| Experience | Six years of combined education and experience; an accredited engineering degree counts for four, per NSPE |
| Civil-only state exams | Seismic Principles and Engineering Surveying; request in BPELSG Connect, taken in a later quarter |
| Fees | $250 per state civil exam from July 1, 2026; application fee about $250 (reported) |
| Comity | Licensed civil engineers from other states must still pass the two state exams |
Tips
- Plan the state exams early: you can’t take them in the same quarter you request and pay for them.
- Check status in BPELSG Connect, not by phoning the board.
- Prep for the state exams: some providers, such as Civil Engineering Academy, sell California seismic and surveying courses.
Official source & community discussion
BPELSG: applying for civil engineer licensure (official) →
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