Help: managing multiple licenses?

Hi all

I am trying to understand how multiple licenses obtained from different states are to be managed. I am sure this is something many others are wondering about and there seems to be a lot of conflicting information on online forums. 

*)   Imagine a scenario where you first obtain a license from 'State A', by sitting the NCEES PE exam "for" that state. 

*)   A few years later, for whatever reason, you relocate to 'State B' and obtain a license from 'State B' by comity. 

*)   You are now working permanently in 'State B' and you no longer need the license from 'State A'. Question No.1: can you simply stop renewing it and keep the one from 'State B' or is the license from State B somehow dependent on you renewing the license from 'State A'? 

*)   You now need a license from 'State C' because of a new project you are working on. Question No.2: can you use your license from 'State B' to apply for a State C license by comity, or do you have to use the one from State A (your first original license)? 

In other words, I am trying to understand if there is a "hierarchy" between your licenses, with the first one being your "primary" license that needs to be maintained no matter what. 

Please have a look at the attached diagram which I created to clarify my questions. Which of the two scenarios is correct? 

Many thanks,
Paul 
 

I really dig the the flow chart....but yeah you need to keep your license where you took the test if you want to get additional states in the future. Your other licenses will be based on your original license, not other licenses that you have. If you let your original license lapse, your comity licenses will likely be okay (probably depends on state) but it would be harder to apply to new states. So scenario 2 would be more correct. As with most things in the PE license world, there is lots of nuance between jurisdictions, so I'm sure someone can come up with exceptions, but far and wide, you will want to keep your original license forever.

Think of your first license in State A as your base/home or default license (where you took and passed the PE exam).  Regardless of where you move to or obtain additional licenses in other states.  From my knowledge of the system, if this license lapses, it will cause a ripple in the grand scheme of things.  

For instance, I am licensed in my home state of WI.  I applied for and was accepted for licensure in IL by comity.  I only use the IL license for contract consulting and plan to allow that to lapse once the work is complete.  That will not invalidate my home licensure in anyway.  Should I plan to get re-licensed in IL (or any other state) I can do that accordingly.  If I were to allow my home license to lapse, I would no longer be able to gain licensure by comity in any other state until I addressed my home licensing issue(s).

cupojoe PE PMP said:

I really dig the the flow chart....but yeah you need to keep your license where you took the test if you want to get additional states in the future. Your other licenses will be based on your original license, not other licenses that you have. If you let your original license lapse, your comity licenses will likely be okay (probably depends on state) but it would be harder to apply to new states. So scenario 2 would be more correct. As with most things in the PE license world, there is lots of nuance between jurisdictions, so I'm sure someone can come up with exceptions, but far and wide, you will want to keep your original license forever.

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knight1fox3 said:

Think of your first license in State A as your base/home or default license (where you took and passed the PE exam).  Regardless of where you move to or obtain additional licenses in other states.  From my knowledge of the system, if this license lapses, it will cause a ripple in the grand scheme of things.  

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Thanks for your replies @cupojoe and @knight1fox3

Essentially you are both saying that the license where the test was taken needs to be kept in order to apply for other licenses in the future. Do you know if this is officially stated anywhere? 

What you are saying makes perfect sense, but at the same time I am also considering the following:

1) the PE exam is administered by the NCEES and is the same for all states

2) every time you apply for a license, you have to make a full application (education, references etc); all you would carry over is simply the result of the PE exam (again, provided and graded by the NCEES).

'State B' effectively makes a brand new assessment of your application. I would have thought that the comity process would essentially consist in a new application (which is made from sctratch) + the results of the NCEES PE exam. In a way I fail to see why it is essential to avoid letting the original license lapse. Are the results of the PE exam somehow inextricably linked to this first license? In other words, can't 'State B' get the results of the PE exam directly from the NCEES?  

Paul_uk said:

Essentially you are both saying that the license where the test was taken needs to be kept in order to apply for other licenses in the future. Do you know if this is officially stated anywhere?  

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Based on reading the rules and regulations set forth by NCEES, this is how I (and I believe others as well) interpret the standard and understand the process.

While you offer up other good questions, I would advise you to contact NCEES directly to obtain more definitive clarification as ultimately the decision/process will be bestowed upon them.  Good luck.  And if you remember to do so, post back with your findings.

Paul_uk said:

Paul_uk said:

'State B' effectively makes a brand new assessment of your application. I would have thought that the comity process would essentially consist in a new application (which is made from sctratch) + the results of the NCEES PE exam. In a way I fail to see why it is essential to avoid letting the original license lapse. Are the results of the PE exam somehow inextricably linked to this first license? In other words, can't 'State B' get the results of the PE exam directly from the NCEES?  

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The comity process is suprisingly difficult. I never understood why the referral form isn't standardized across each state. I don't know if it published anywhere, all I have is anecdotal, as I knew someone who let their home license lapse. More accurately he thought he asked an admin to cut a check and have the form sent, but the check never made it.

My understanding of the inner-workings of the system is the NCEES just administers the test, they don't keep track of the scores. When you take the test they give the score to the state they administered the test for. That state is now the official record of the score, not NCEES. When I went to get a NCEES record I even had to have the state send the scores to the NCEES records department. At the end of the day, I'd recommend you pick a first state that doesn't have burden-some requirements for continuing education and just pay the $50 every two years so it never becomes a problem.

Once you are licensed if you plan on getting other states in the future, the NCEES record program has been helpful (though far from perfect). They are supposed to be redoing the program after June of this year, so we'll have to wait and see how the various states respond to that.

Just be sure to properly maintain all PDH requirements for each state license that is held. :thumbs:

knight1fox3 said:

Just be sure to properly maintain all PDH requirements for each state license that is held. :thumbs:

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I'd recommend picking a state that doesn't have PDH requirements. Though sooner or later "Big PDH" will lobby to get all states on a continuing ed system.

cupojoe PE PMP said:

I'd recommend picking a state that doesn't have PDH requirements. Though sooner or later "Big PDH" will lobby to get all states on a continuing ed system.

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I wouldn't.  PDH requirements keep actively practicing PE's on their toes with new technologies and evolving rules/regulations.  

knight1fox3 said:

I wouldn't.  PDH requirements keep actively practicing PE's on their toes with new technologies and evolving rules/regulations.  

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If you are going to pick a home state to take the test in, picking a state without PDHs (or at least an easy to comply with state) will reduce record keeping later. Plus if he goes to get California later, it will only be one set of records to keep. Some states require the PDH instructor to be registered with the state separately (Florida), or require state specific PDHs (Indiana). If you are practicing in that state, those might make sense, but the original question was asking if he could drop the home state, so picking one that is easy to comply with the rules makes a lot of sense.

cupojoe PE PMP said:

I'd recommend picking a state that doesn't have PDH requirements. Though sooner or later "Big PDH" will lobby to get all states on a continuing ed system.

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Washington is one such state.  And you both are correct, you need to keep the home base license in good standing or you have to end up retaking the exam later on.

knight1fox3 said:

Think of your first license in State A as your base/home or default license (where you took and passed the PE exam).  Regardless of where you move to or obtain additional licenses in other states.  From my knowledge of the system, if this license lapses, it will cause a ripple in the grand scheme of things.  

For instance, I am licensed in my home state of WI.  I applied for and was accepted for licensure in IL by comity.  I only use the IL license for contract consulting and plan to allow that to lapse once the work is complete.  That will not invalidate my home licensure in anyway.  Should I plan to get re-licensed in IL (or any other state) I can do that accordingly.  If I were to allow my home license to lapse, I would no longer be able to gain licensure by comity in any other state until I addressed my home licensing issue(s).

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@knight1fox3i wouldn't let the IL one lapse.  I would ask them to set it to inactive...then if you ever need it again, all you would have to do is pay a fee and show you have the PDHs.  If you let it lapse, then you have to a bigger headache to get it back should you ever need it.

^ true.  But with my NCEES Record, it only took me 2 weeks at most to get the license.  Though I will look into the inactive request as well, thanks.

Without an NCEES record, I wouldn't let any license lapse.  If you don't need them, most states allow you to go "inactive" which maintains all of your existing paperwork but reduces or eliminates the renewal fees.

I plan on keeping my CO license active while I'm overseas because it's my "home state" because even my New Zealand engineering record is based off of it.

Dexman PE PMP said:

Without an NCEES record, I wouldn't let any license lapse.

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Agreed.  I just haven't had time to look at it in detail.  And I certainly will never allow my "home state" license to ever lapse either.

The inactive status is a good idea and eventually I will be able to look into it more.  Though I'm not up for renewal for awhile yet.