Tennessee Professional Engineer License Requirements

To meet Tennessee professional engineer license requirements, you generally need an engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program, passing scores on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams, and at least four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE. Applications go to the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, which charges a $30 nonrefundable application fee and a $140 biennial registration fee once you’re approved.¹

The Four Education and Experience Pathways

Tennessee recognizes four routes to licensure, and the experience minimum depends on which one fits your background.²

Standard path: a four-year EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree (or a board-approved equivalent), both exams, and four years of qualifying experience.
Extended experience path: an approved engineering curriculum, the PE exam only, and 12 years of qualifying experience. This is the only path that skips the FE.
Post-graduate engineering path: a bachelor’s from a board-approved four-year program, a master’s or higher in engineering from an approved curriculum, both exams, and eight years of experience.
Engineering technology path: a four-year ABET/ETAC-accredited engineering technology degree plus a post-graduate engineering degree from an institution with an ABET/EAC-accredited undergraduate program, both exams, and eight years of experience.

Some experience can be earned before you finish school. Three or more years of pre-graduation work under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer can count. The board may also credit up to one year for a master’s degree in engineering or for qualified time in an approved cooperative education program, though not both stacked without board approval.

Your application also needs references from licensed professional engineers who can vouch for your competency and ethics. Any prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions, or ethical violations must be disclosed. Leaving them off can get the application denied outright.

The Two Required Exams

Both exams are developed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).³

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)

The FE covers core engineering principles and is usually taken during or shortly after an undergraduate program. Passing it earns you Engineering Intern (EI) status in Tennessee. EI certification doesn’t expire, doesn’t require renewal, and isn’t formally a prerequisite to applying for PE registration later.⁴ If you’re taking the 12-year extended experience path, you can skip the FE entirely.

Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)

The PE is discipline-specific and tests applied engineering judgment. All PE exams are now computer-based.⁵ Tennessee doesn’t add state-specific content. You generally need to meet the experience minimum for your chosen pathway before sitting for the PE.

Application Steps and Fees

Applications run through Tennessee’s online licensing portal. The nonrefundable application fee for registration by exam is $30, and once you pass and are approved, the biennial registration fee is $140.⁶

If you previously held a Tennessee registration and are reapplying, the application fee is $55 instead of $30. All application fees are nonrefundable whether the board approves the application or not.

If You’re Already Licensed in Another State

Engineers licensed elsewhere can apply through comity without retaking the FE or PE, as long as they meet Tennessee’s underlying requirements. The comity application fee is $55, plus the $140 biennial registration fee upon approval.¹

You’ll submit verification of your existing license, official transcripts, proof of passing the NCEES exams, and a record of your professional experience. If your original state’s education or experience thresholds were lower than Tennessee’s, expect the board to ask for more documentation. After that, comity licensees follow the same renewal and continuing education rules as anyone licensed here from the start.

Keeping the License Active

Tennessee PE licenses renew every two years for $140. Miss the deadline and a $10-per-month late fee applies for a six-month grace window, capping at $60.¹

Each cycle requires 24 professional development hours (PDHs). At least 13 of those must address health, safety, and welfare or technical competency. The remaining hours can come from ethics, business management, regulatory updates, and similar topics.⁷ Online courses, seminars, university classes, and industry conferences all qualify.

Keep your PDH documentation for five years after the reporting period ends. That means certificates of completion, attendance records, or comparable proof. The board audits a share of renewals each cycle, and thin records can delay renewal or trigger a disciplinary review.

If you want to step away from practice without giving up the credential, you can request retired status. To come back to active practice, you’ll notify the board, satisfy the continuing education requirements, and pay the biennial renewal fee.

Practicing Without a License

You can’t offer engineering services to the public in Tennessee, or call yourself a professional engineer, without a current registration. Unlicensed practice is a Class B misdemeanor, and each day of unlicensed practice counts as its own offense.⁸ The board can also assess civil penalties of $500 to $1,000 per statutory violation on top of any criminal exposure. Sealing documents after a certificate has expired or been revoked is separately unlawful.⁹

1
Legal Information Institute. Tennessee Comp R and Regs 0120-01-.05 – Applications – Engineer
2
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Engineers
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NCEES. Exams
4
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Engineer Interns
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NCEES. PE Exam
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Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineer Examiners. Fees
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Legal Information Institute. Tennessee Comp R and Regs 0120-05-.04 – Basic Requirements
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Justia. Tennessee Code 62-2-105 – Violations – Penalties
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Justia. Tennessee Code 62-2-306 – Effect of Certificate – Seal