Section 1480.150  Examination

a)         The examination for licensure as a structural engineer shall be divided into 3 parts.

1)         Fundamentals of Engineering.  This examination shall be 8 hours in duration and shall consist of problems or other examining techniques designed to evaluate the applicant's knowledge of the basic and engineering sciences and related subjects normally considered as the fundamentals of engineering.

2)         Structural I Examination.  This examination shall be 8 hours in duration and shall consist of problems or other examining techniques relating to designs in or to the practice of structural engineering as described in Section 5 of the Act.

3)         Structural II Examination.  This examination shall be 8 hours in duration and shall consist of problems or other examining techniques relating to designs in structural engineering, including seismic design.  Such problems may include, but not be limited to, bridges, buildings, foundations, and seismic and lateral forces.   

b)         The examination administered by the Department shall be provided by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).  The specific examination content shall be as determined by periodic evaluations of the test specifications by NCEES.

c)         The scoring of the examinations and determination of scores shall be as approved by NCEES.

d)         Separate scores shall be given for the Fundamentals of Engineering, Structural I and Structural II.  All scores shall be graded as pass or fail.  Once an applicant fails a Part of the examination, that Part shall not be waived.

e)         Candidates who fail an examination may not review their examination booklet or the associated answer sheets.  Rescoring of the examination or any individual problem is not permitted; however, a retabulation of the numerical score will be permitted.

f)          Retake of Examination.

1)         Applicants shall be required to retake only the Part on which a passing score was not achieved.

2)         If an applicant neglects, fails without an approved excuse (illness, military service, motor vehicle accident occurring on date of examination, etc.), or refuses to take the next available examination offered for licensure under this Act, the fee paid by the applicant shall be forfeited and the application denied.  If an applicant fails to pass an examination for licensure under this Act within 3 years after filing the application, the application shall be denied.  However, such applicant may thereafter make a new application for examination, accompanied by the required fee (Section 10 of the Act).  New applications shall include proof of meeting the qualifications for examination in effect at the time of such new application except as provided for in subsection (f).

g)         Successful scores of previously passed Parts of the examination shall be accepted for the purpose of licensure provided the applicant has met all other requirements for licensure as outlined in the Act.  For such purposes the most recent score on a Part shall be the score of record.  In no circumstances shall the Department accept a previous passing score on a Part for an applicant whose score of record is a failing score.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 18990, effective December 5, 2003)