MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Ford

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-13-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 73-13-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-13-23. (1) (a) The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for registration as a professional engineer:

(i) Graduation in an engineering curriculum of four (4) years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing or graduation in an engineering, engineering technology, or related science curriculum of four (4) scholastic years from a school or college other than those approved by the board plus a graduate degree in an engineering curriculum from a school or college wherein the same engineering curriculum at the undergraduate level is approved by the board as of satisfactory standing; a specific record of four (4) years of qualifying engineering experience indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering (in counting years of experience, the board at its discretion may give credit not in excess of three (3) years for satisfactory graduate study in engineering), and the successful passing of examinations in engineering as prescribed by the board; or

(ii) A specific record of eight (8) years or more of qualifying engineering experience subsequent to graduation from high school, indicating that the applicant is competent to practice engineering; and successfully passing examinations designed to show knowledge and skill approximating that attained through graduation in an approved four-year engineering curriculum, and to show competence in the use of such knowledge and skills in the practice of engineering. This subsection (1)(a)(ii) shall stand repealed from and after January 1, 2001.

(b) In considering the qualifications of applicants, engineering teaching may be construed as engineering experience.

(c) The satisfactory completion of each year of an approved curriculum in engineering in a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, without graduation, shall be considered as equivalent to a year of experience in subsection (1)(a)(ii) of this section. Graduation in a curriculum other than engineering from a college or university of recognized standing may be considered as equivalent to two (2) years of experience under subsection (1)(a)(ii); however, no applicant shall receive credit for more than four (4) years of experience because of undergraduate educational qualifications. This subsection (1)(c) shall stand repealed from and after January 1, 2001.

(d) The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a professional engineer, or the supervision of the construction of such work as a foreman or superintendent shall not be deemed to be the practice of engineering.

(e) Any person having the necessary qualifications prescribed in Sections 73-13-1 through 73-13-45 to entitle him to registration shall be eligible for such registration although he may not be practicing his profession at the time of making his application.

(f) No person shall be eligible for registration as a professional engineer who is not of good character and reputation or who presents claims in support of his application which contain major discrepancies.

(2) The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for enrollment as an engineer intern:

(a) Graduation in an engineering curriculum of four (4) scholastic years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing or graduation in an engineering, engineering technology, or related science curriculum of four (4) scholastic years from a school or college other than those approved by the board plus a graduate degree in an engineering curriculum from a school or college wherein that same engineering curriculum at the undergraduate level is approved by the board as of satisfactory standing; and

(b) Successfully passing a written examination in the fundamental engineering subjects.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.