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Engineers and land surveyors in Iowa are licensed and regulated by the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board. The Professional Licensing Bureau is a resource for information about disciplinary action, license renewals, helpful resources, and more.
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Certified Public Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants, Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects.
List of Potentially-Disqualifying Criminal Convictions
In accordance with Iowa Code section 272C.15(2), the department provides the following list of specific convictions that may disqualify an applicant from receiving a license, permit, or registration. In addition, any offense specified in the laws of another jurisdiction or prosecuted in a municipal, federal, military, or foreign court that is comparable to a conviction listed herein may disqualify an applicant from receiving a license or registration.
Please be advised that just because you have been convicted of one of the offenses listed does not mean you are automatically prevented from obtaining a license or registration. The following offenses are only disqualifying if:
- The actions taken in furtherance of the offense are customarily performed within the scope of practice of the profession; or
- The circumstances under which the offense was committed are circumstances customary to the profession.
Additionally, even if your conviction is disqualifying, you are entitled to submit proof of rehabilitation to the licensing authority to demonstrate your current fitness to safely practice in the profession.
If you are interested in applying for a license, permit, or registration and have been convicted of an offense on this list, you may petition the licensing authority for an eligibility determination, or submit all relevant information as part of your application for licensure or registration, pursuant to Iowa Administrative Code 481. If you have questions about what criminal history information to include with your license or registration application or how to submit a petition for eligibility determination, please contact staff for assistance.
- Prohibited acts, including manufacture, sale, delivery, or possession of controlled substances, in violation of Iowa Code §§ 124.401, 124.402, 124.403
- Manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of minors in violation of Iowa Code § 124.401C
- Conspiracy to manufacture for delivery or delivery or intent or conspiracy to deliver amphetamine or methamphetamine to a minor in violation of Iowa Code § 124.401D
- Tampering with, possessing, or transporting anhydrous ammonia or anhydrous ammonia equipment in violation of Iowa Code § 124.401F
- Distribution to persons under eighteen in violation of Iowa Code § 124.406
- Use of persons under eighteen in drug trade in violation of Iowa Code § 124.406A
- Gatherings where controlled substances unlawfully used in violation of Iowa Code § 124.407
- Accommodation offense (marijuana) in violation of Iowa Code § 124.410
- Drug paraphernalia offense in violation of Iowa Code § 124.414
- Pseudoephedrine purchase in violation of Iowa Code § 124.213
- Prohibited acts regarding drugs, devices, and cosmetics in violation of Iowa Code chapter 126
- Unlawful possession of prescription drug or device in violation of Iowa Code § 155A.21
- Prohibited acts in violation of Iowa Code §§ 155A.23, 155A.24
- Sexual Abuse; Lascivious Acts with a Child; Indecent Exposure; Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse; Indecent Contact with a Child; Lascivious Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation; Sexual Misconduct; or Invasion of Privacy in violation of Iowa Code chapter 709
- Sexually motivated offense in violation of Iowa Code § 708.15
- Sexually motivated offense in violation of Iowa Code § 726.10
- Sexually motivated offense in violation of Iowa Code § 692A.126
- Prostitution; Pimping; Pandering; or Leasing Premises for Prostitution in violation of Iowa Code chapter 725
- Dissemination or Exhibition of Obscene Materials to Minors; Admitting Minors to Premises Where Obscene Material is Exhibited; Rental or Sale of Hard-Core Pornography; Public Indecent Exposure; or Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in violation of Iowa Code chapter 728
- Any offense classified as a sex offense in Iowa Code § 692A.102
- Failure to comply with sex offender registry requirements in violation of Iowa Code § 692A.111
- Escape from sexually violent predator custody in violation of Iowa Code § 229A.5B
- Any offense classified as a “forcible felony” in Iowa Code § 702.11
- Murder; Manslaughter; Attempted Murder; Solicitation to Commit Murder; or Homicide or Serious Injury by Vehicle in violation of Iowa Code chapter 707
- Assault; Willful Injury; Administering Harmful Substances; Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon; Harassment; Going Armed with Intent; Use of Spring Guns or Traps; Hazing; Stalking; Abuse of a Corpse; or Female Genital Mutilation in violation of Iowa Code chapter 708
- Kidnapping; Child Stealing; False Imprisonment; Harboring a Runaway Child; Enticing a Minor; or Purchase or Sale of Individual in violation of Iowa Code chapter 710
- Human Trafficking or Solicitation of Commercial Sexual Activity in violation of Iowa Code chapter 710A
- Robbery; Aggravated Theft; or Extortion in violation of Iowa Code chapter 711
- Arson; Reckless use of Fire or Explosives; or Possession of Explosive or Incendiary Materials or Devices in violation of Iowa Code chapter 712
- Criminal Gang Participation or Gang Recruitment in violation of Iowa Code chapter 723A
- Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person; Child Endangerment; Wanton Neglect of a Resident of a Health Care Facility; Wanton Neglect or Nonsupport of a Dependent Adult; Bigamy; or Incest in violation of Iowa Code chapter 726
- Cruelty, neglect, or abuse of person with mental illness in violation of Iowa Code § 229.38
- Burglary in violation of Iowa Code chapter 713
- Theft or Fraudulent Practice in violation of Iowa Code chapter 714
- Computer spyware offense in violation of Iowa Code chapter 715
- Forgery; Tampering with Records; Credit Card offenses; Prohibitions Relating to False Academic Degrees, Grades, or Honors; or Identity Theft in violation of Iowa Code chapter 715A
- Falsifying Public Documents in violation of Iowa Code § 718.5
- Interference with Official Acts; Providing False Identification Information; Preventing Apprehension, Obstructing Prosecution, or Obstructing Defense; Assisting Prisoner to Escape, Possessing Contraband or Electronic Contraband; or Furnishing a Controlled Substance or Intoxicating Beverage in violation of Iowa Code chapter 719
- Perjury; Tampering with Witnesses or Jurors; False Representation of Records or Process; Malicious Prosecution; or Interference with Judicial Acts in violation of Iowa Code chapter 720
- Bribery in violation of Iowa Code chapter 722
- Disclosing the name of a person receiving substance abuse treatment or rehabilitation services in violation of Iowa Code § 125.33
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating a substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation facility without a license in violation of Iowa Code § 125.58
- Disclosing confidential child death data, records, or other information in violation of Iowa Code § 135.43
- Disclosing confidential domestic abuse death data, records, or other information in violation of Iowa Code § 135.111
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating a hospital without a license in violation of Iowa Code § 135B.15
- Failure to report conviction or entry of an abuse record in violation of Iowa Code § 135B.34
- Operation or use of radiation machines or radioactive material in violation of Iowa Code § 136C.4
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating a health care facility without a license; or interfering with or impeding the enforcement of Iowa Code chapter 135C in violation of Iowa Code § 135C.21
- Failure to report conviction or entry of an abuse record in violation of Iowa Code § 135C.33
- Establishing, operating, or managing a subacute care facility without a license in violation of Iowa Code § 135G.14
- Establishing, operating, or managing a psychiatric medical institution for children without a license in violation of Iowa Code § 135H.15
- Knowingly violating confidentiality requirements in violation of Iowa Code § 135L.3
- Knowingly violating any provision of law relating to communicable and infectious diseases and poisonings in violation of Iowa Code § 139A.25
- Violating acquired immune deficiency syndrome confidentiality requirements in violation of Iowa Code § 131A.11
- Unlawful receipt, delivery, use or disposition of a dead body in violation of Iowa Code chapter 142
- Vital statistics offenses in violation of Iowa Code § 144.53
- Life-sustaining procedure offense in violation of Iowa Code § 144A.10
- False Use of Professional Titles or Abbreviations; Forgery, Fraud; or Unlawful Drug Dispensing, Supplying and Prescribing in violation of Iowa Code chapter 147
- Prohibited acts in violation of Iowa Code § 147A.11
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating an elder group home without a certificate in violation of Iowa Code § 231B.15
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating any assisted living program without a certificate in violation of Iowa Code § 231C.15
- Establishing, conducting, managing, or operating an adult day services program without a certificate in violation of Iowa Code § 231D.11
- Knowingly and willfully failing to report a suspected case of child or dependent adult abuse in violation of Iowa Code §§ 232.75; 235B.3
- Dependent adult abuse in violation of Iowa Code § 235B.20
- Disclosure by third-party payor or peer reviewer of confidential mental health information in violation of Iowa Code § 228.7
- Wrongful use, disclosure, or tampering of DNA in violation of Iowa Code § 81.6
- Prostitution house offense in violation of Iowa Code § 99.1A
- Solicitation in violation of Iowa Code chapter 705
- Conspiracy in violation of Iowa Code chapter 706
- Ongoing criminal conduct in violation of Iowa Code § 706A.2
- Money laundering in violation of Iowa Code § 706B
- Feticide; Nonconsensual Termination; Failure to Preserve the Life of the Fetus; or Murder of Fetus Aborted Alive in violation of Iowa Code chapter 707
- Performing an abortion on a minor in violation of 135L.3
- Prohibited actions with respect to fetal body parts in violation of Iowa Code § 146D.1
- Assisting suicide in violation of Iowa Code § 707A.2
- Human reproductive cloning in violation of Iowa Code § 707C.4
- Terrorism; Soliciting or Providing Material Support or Resources for Terrorism; Obstruction of Terrorism Prosecution; or Threat of Terrorism in violation of Iowa Code chapter 708A
- Unlawful possession or distribution of bacillus anthracis or any substance containing bacillus anthracis in violation of Iowa Code § 708B.1
- Criminal transmission of a contagious or infectious disease in violation of Iowa Code § 709D.3
- Criminal Mischief; Unauthorized Computer Access; Trespass; or Critical Infrastructure Sabotage in violation of Iowa Code chapter 716
- Unauthorized Sale or Offer for Direct Sale of Prescription Drugs; Use of Encryption; or Transmission of Unsolicited Bulk Electronic Mail in violation of Iowa Code chapter 716A
- Unlawful disposal, transportation, treatment, or storage of hazardous waste in violation of Iowa Code chapter 716B
- Bestiality in violation of Iowa Code § 717C.1
- Violation of a no-contact order in violation of Iowa Code § 664.7
- Riot, Unlawful Assembly; Failure to Disperse, or Disorderly Conduct in violation of Iowa Code chapter 723
- Firearm and weapon offenses in violation of Iowa Code Chapter 724
- Electronic and Mechanical Eavesdropping; Exposing Persons to X-Ray Radiation; or Transacting Business Without a License in violation of Iowa Code chapter 727
- Genetic testing offense in violation of Iowa Code § 729.6
- Hate crime in violation of Iowa code § 729A.2
- Using a juvenile to commit certain offenses or contributing to juvenile delinquency, 709A
- False reports of incendiary or explosive device or material; Threat of placing or attempting to place any incendiary or explosive device or material in violation of Iowa Code chapter 712.
Application Forms & Resources
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Forms and resources for use by applicants for a professional engineering or land surveying license in Iowa.
For more information about the requirements for licensure as a professional engineer, refer to Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 193C—Chapter 4.
- Engineer Reference Form (191.72 KB) .pdf
- Required when applying for a professional engineer license on the basis of examination or by comity.
- Ethics Questionnaire (146 KB) .pdf :
- Required when applying for a professional engineer license on the basis of examination or and by comity.
- Professional Engineer Project Statement Form (49.65 KB) .pdf :
- Required when applying for a professional engineer license on the basis of examination.
- Unlicensed Supervisor Form (66.57 KB) .pdf :
- Required if the applicant's direct supervisor is not a licensee.
For more information about the requirements for licensure as a land surveyor, refer to Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 193C—Chapter 5.
All applicants for the Fundamentals of Land Surveying and Professional Land Surveyor exam needs to submit an application with the Engineering and Land Surveying Board. The application must be approved before registering for the exam with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Note: Applications will be reviewed at the next regularly-scheduled board meeting.
- The Fundamentals of Land Surveying exam is a computer-based exam administered throughout the year by the NCEES.
- The national portion of the Professional Land Surveyor exam is computer-based and administered throughout the year by the NCEES.
- The Iowa State Specific Land Surveying Examination is administered by the Iowa Board twice a year (April/October) for initial licensees, and throughout the year for comity applicants.
- Dodds Book (33.43 MB) .pdf
- Professional Land Surveyor Reference Form (48.58 KB) .pdf
- Required when applying for a professional land surveyor license on the basis of examination or by comity.
- Fundamental of Land Surveying Reference Form (219.29 KB) .pdf
- For fundamentals of land surveying examination applicants with an experience requirement.
All applicants for a professional land surveyor license by comity must submit an application with the Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Note: Applications will be reviewed at the next regularly-scheduled board meeting.
- Ethics Questionnaire (146 KB) .pdf
- Required with an application for licensure as a professional land surveyor.
- Professional Land Surveyor Reference Form (48.58 KB) .pdf
- Required when applying for a professional land surveyor license on the basis of examination or by comity.
- Fundamental of Land Surveying Reference Form (219.29 KB) .pdf
- For fundamentals of land surveying examination applicants with an experience requirement.
- Professional Land Surveyor Project Statement Form (31.27 KB) .pdf
- Required when applying for a professional land surveyor license on the basis of examination.
- State Specific Land Survey Exam Syllabus (434.53 KB) .pdf
- For preparation for the Iowa State Specific Land Surveying Examination.
- Unlicensed Supervisor Form (66.57 KB) .pdf
- Required if the applicant's direct supervisor is not a licensee.
- Verification of Record
- Information regarding the online verification for the NCEES.
- License by Verification Form (275.79 KB) .pdf
- Required when applying for a professional engineering or professional land surveying on the basis of license by verification pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.12.
Use this form in conjunction with the online application. The form may be completed electronically and does not need to be mailed.
Renewal Overview
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When a license is eligible for renewal, licensees have a few options for how to proceed. Below are summaries of those options.
Notice of Renewal
Approximately 45 days prior to the expiration date, notice may be sent to the most recent email address of record.
To ensure receipt of the renewal notice and other board correspondence, submit changes to your email address in a timely manner as required by Iowa Code. Failure to receive the renewal notice does not eliminate the responsibility for submitting a timely-filed renewal.
Renewal Options
- Renew to active status;
- Renew to inactive status;
- Allow license to lapse
Renew the license to active status.
To maintain an active license, which allows the continued practice of the profession in Iowa, submit a timely renewal, including payment of the renewal fee.
Continuing education is required for active renewal. Refer to board rules for specific continuing education requirements for the purposes of renewal.
Renew the license to inactive status.
Renewing a license to inactive status allows a licensee to maintain a current license as opposed to allowing the license to lapse. An application and renewal fee are still required for inactive renewal.
Note: Licensees who hold inactive licenses are prohibited from practicing in Iowa until the license has been reactivated.
Allow the license to lapse.
If a licensee is not practicing in Iowa and does not intend to return to practice in Iowa in the near future, the licensee may allow the license to lapse. Lapsed status signifies a license was not renewed and does not negatively impact its standing.
Lapsed licenses may be reactivated at a later date by submitting the appropriate application, continuing education course completion certificates, and fee(s).
Laws & Rules for Engineers and Land Surveyors
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Below are the statutes and administrative rules that pertain directly to the practice of engineering and land surveying in Iowa.
Laws are contained in the Iowa Code. They are enacted by the Iowa Legislature and provide statutory authority to the professional licensure boards.
Iowa Code & Administrative Rules for Other Professional Licenses
The following Iowa Code chapters and administrative rules apply to licensing boards within the department.
The following laws apply to professional licensing boards.
The following chapters from Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 193 and IAC 481 apply to professional licensing boards within the Department of Inspections, Appeals, Inspections, and Licensing.
Iowa Administrative Code 193
Iowa Administrative Code 481
Rulemaking notices, along with adopted rule changes, are published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin.
The preamble for each notice includes a summary of the proposed rule changes. The notice includes information about how to submit public comment when applicable. All comments are forwarded to the board for review prior to making a final decision on the outcome of rule change proposals.
Resources and Helpful Links
- License & Exam Verification
- Licensee Search—Licensed Engineers, Land Surveyors
- Searchable by name, license number or status
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
- Iowa Engineering Society (IES)
- National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)
- Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa (SLSI)
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