Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
(OP)
Hey everyone. I hope someone may know the answer my questions. What can a civil-structural P.E. stamp in Louisianna? What is the real difference between what an S.E. can stamp and what a civil-Structural P.E. can stamp?
The reason I ask is once I made a phone call to the Board of Engineers in Ohio and was informed that I could not stamp a structural design if I had not passed both the Structual I and II exams. I have a P.E. for another state but I took the Civil morning and Structural afternnon exam. According to Ohio I could get licensed in their state and legally stamp civil drawings (which I have no experience with) but not structural (which all my experience is in). I wonder which other states (particularly Louisianna) do this. I did get the vibe from the lady in Ohio that she would tell me anything to just get me off the phone.
The reason I ask is once I made a phone call to the Board of Engineers in Ohio and was informed that I could not stamp a structural design if I had not passed both the Structual I and II exams. I have a P.E. for another state but I took the Civil morning and Structural afternnon exam. According to Ohio I could get licensed in their state and legally stamp civil drawings (which I have no experience with) but not structural (which all my experience is in). I wonder which other states (particularly Louisianna) do this. I did get the vibe from the lady in Ohio that she would tell me anything to just get me off the phone.






RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
In my home state (Florida), licensing is non-discipline related. Many states are changing to discipline licensing, with structural being a separate discipline from civil. For those states, the likely qualification is an S.E. (both S-1 and S-2 exams...or the new 2-day structural exam). In other states, the civil P.E. will suffice.
I was licensed for about 15 years in Louisiana. As I recall, I only did a couple of projects there, both structural. I was licensed there as a civil. I have not been licensed there in 3 or 4 years, so not really sure of the qualifications now.
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
But yes - check the Ohio board website and their laws.
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
In WA, you are first licensed as a Civil, and part of the one day test is a few of structural questions, along with a myriad of other disciplines. That lets you design structures to three stories, I believe. Could be off by a story on that.
The structural exam, though, was two additional days, and all structural, all facets, which allows you to design anything structurally that YOU are comfortable with in the State of Washington.
My first project was a high rise bird house.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
The lady on the telephone was incorrect. In Ohio, as with many other states, we put the responsiblity upon the professional to design within their area of expertise and experience. So, if you are a PE and have only experience with structural design, it would be illegal for you to seal civil drawings (unfortunatley this provision is rarely enforced).
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
RE: Civil-Structural PE in Louisianna?
To get licensed as a PE in Ohio you need to pass the 16 hour structural exam, OR you can pass an 8 hour discipline exam. Either will allow you to design and seal all manner of buildings. The limit of your practice is defined by your skill set and your ethics.