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, territory, or country (hereafter referred to as jurisdiction) and who desires to become licensed by endorsement shall file an application, on forms provided by the Division, 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 structural engineering examination and the FE examination), including official conferred college transcripts 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 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)         The required fee set forth in Section 1480.195;

5)         Applicants who received their baccalaureate education in a foreign country, other than Canada and who were originally licensed after January 1, 1997 shall have the education evaluated at their expense. Applicants shall obtain the forms from NCEES Engineering and Surveying Credentials Evaluations, 200 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC  29607.  Evaluations completed prior to October 30, 2006 from Engineering Credentials Evaluation International (ECEI) are also accepted.  The Board has only approved NCEES and ECEI as evaluators for all degrees.  The Board will review all transcripts and the evaluation submitted to the Division to determine if the education meets the requirements set forth in Sections 1480.110 and 1480.120;

6)         Certification attesting the applicant has read and understands the Act and this Part; and

7)         In lieu of the documentation specified in subsections (a)(1) and (2), an applicant may submit a current NCEES Record.

8)         Documentation submitted from a foreign country shall be translated into English, at applicant's own expense, for review by the Division.

b)         The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, may require an applicant applying from a foreign jurisdiction to take and pass the required examinations specified in Section 1480.150 of this Part, to verify the applicant has satisfactory knowledge and competence using U.S. and International Building Codes, American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials ("AASHTO") Bridge Design specifications, American Society of Civil Engineers ("ASCE") Design Loads & Criteria for Buildings/Other Structures, the American Institute of Steel Construction ("AISC") Steel Construction and Seismic Design Manuals, Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic design, American Iron and Steel Institute ("AISI") Specifications for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, and applicable design standards to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

c)         The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, will accept an application from an internationally chartered structural engineer that applies through the NCEES United Kingdom Mutual Recognition Agreement ("MRA"), provided the applicant submits an NCEES Record meeting the requirements of the agreed upon NCEES MRA standards by NCEES and the UK Engineering Council, subject to review of the Board, to verify the experience is structural in nature and complies with Section 5 of the Act [225 ILCS 340/5].

d)         The Division 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 structural engineering education and experience, including whether the applicant has graduated from an approved program, 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 the Board accepts as evidence that the applicant has outstanding and proven ability in the practice of structural engineering.

e)         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.  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.

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

1)         Provide information as may be necessary;

2)         Appear for oral interviews before the Board; or

3)         If licensed prior to January 1, 1997, upon review of the educational requirements, have the applicant's education evaluated at the applicant's expense as set forth in subsection (a)(5).

g)         The Division 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 Division shall either issue a license by endorsement to the applicant or notify the applicant of the reasons for the deferral or denial of the application.  An applicant not qualified for licensure by endorsement shall automatically be reviewed under the provisions of Section 1480.140.

h)         If an applicant fails to submit all required items for licensure under the Act within three years after filing an application, the application shall expire and be denied.  The applicant may submit a new application for licensure accompanied by the required fee, and furnish proof of meeting the qualifications for licensure in effect at the time of new application.

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 1961, effective January 20, 2026)