Section 1480.170  Endorsement

a)         Any person who holds an unexpired certificate of registration or license to practice structural engineering, issued under the laws of another state or territory and who desires to become licensed by endorsement shall file an application, on forms provided by the Department, together with:

1)         Proof of meeting requirements substantially equivalent to those in force in this State at the time of original or subsequent licensure by examination in the other jurisdiction (i.e., a separate written 16 hour structural engineering examination and the Fundamentals of Engineering examination), including certification of education, and verification of experience;

2)         A certification by the jurisdiction of original licensure and certification from the jurisdiction of predominant active practice including the following:

A)        The time during which the applicant was licensed in that jurisdiction, including the date of the original issuance of the license;

B)        The basis of licensure and a description of all examinations by which the applicant was licensed in that jurisdiction and the date of passage of any such examinations; and

C)        Whether the records of the licensing authority contain any disciplinary action taken or pending against the applicant;

3)         If the qualifications of the applicant at the time of original licensure did not meet the requirements for licensure in this State at that time, the applicant may submit additional certifications of other jurisdictions to indicate meeting the qualifications in effect in this State at the time of any later licensure;

4)         A complete work history, on forms provided by the Department, indicating all employment since receipt of the baccalaureate degree;

5)         The required fee set forth in Section 1480.195;

6)         Applicants who received their education in a foreign country and who were originally licensed after January 1, 1997 shall have the education evaluated at their expense. Applicants shall obtain the forms from Engineering Credentials Evaluation International (ECEI), 211 East Lombard Street #357, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  The Board will review all transcripts and the evaluation submitted to the Department to determine if the education meets the requirements set forth in Section 1480.110 and 1480.120; and

7)         Proof of passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 or 213 on the computer-based test and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a minimum score of 50, for applicants who were originally licensed in another jurisdiction after January 1, 1997, who graduated from a structural engineering, architecture or related science program outside the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English.  In order to determine whose first language is English, the applicant shall submit verification from the school that the structural engineering, architecture or related science program from which the applicant graduated was taught in English.

b)         An endorsement applicant shall meet the requirements for seismic design set forth in Section 1480.175.

c)         The Department may, in individual cases, upon the recommendation of the Board, waive a portion of the examination requirements after consideration of the quality of an applicant's engineering education and experience, including whether he has graduated from an approved engineering curriculum, has achieved special honors or awards, has had numerous articles published in professional journals, has participated in the writing of textbooks relating to structural engineering, and any other attribute which the Board accepts as evidence that such applicant has outstanding and proven ability in the practice of structural engineering.

d)         In order to provide background in structural engineering experience, an applicant licensed as a structural engineer in another state or territory, and who has met all previously stated requirements may be requested to appear before the Board for an oral interview at which questions will be asked to determine the applicant's qualifications and knowledge of structural engineering (see Section 1480.160(e)).  Specifically, questions may explore the applicant's knowledge concerning the design of concrete, structural steel, timber, masonry and foundations and analysis procedures, design codes, materials and recommended practices for design and construction.

e)         When the accuracy of any submitted documentation, or the relevance or sufficiency of the course work or experience, is questioned by the Department or the Board because of lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given or a need for clarification, the applicant seeking a license will be requested to:

1)         Provide information as may be necessary;

2)         Appear for oral interviews before the Board; and/or

3)         Applicants who were licensed prior to January 1, 1997, upon review of the educational requirements, may be required to have their education evaluated at their expense as set forth in subsection (a)(6).

f)          The Department shall examine each endorsement application to determine whether the qualifications of the applicant at the time of original or subsequent licensure were substantially equivalent to the requirements then in force in this State.  After review of the application the Department shall either issue a license by endorsement to the applicant or notify such applicant of the reasons for the denial of the application.  An applicant not qualified for licensure by endorsement shall automatically be reviewed under the provisions of Section 1480.140.

(Source:  Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 12271, effective July 24, 2002)