On Nov. 14, the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (NEARA) was updated by the Nebraska Legislature passing LB755. The NEARA, which ensures the licensing of architects and professional engineers, is administered by the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects.
The first major change to the NEARA affects the timing of candidates taking the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Examination. The change allows professional engineer candidates to take the PE Exam before gaining four years of engineering experience. Candidates must still meet the education requirement and pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination. The experience requirement of four years must still be met before a candidate is eligible for licensure as a professional engineer.
This change was intended to give candidates the flexibility to determine the best time for taking the PE Exam. However, the Board recommends that candidates wait to take the PE Exam until they have gained four years of experience, as research has shown that the candidates with four years of experience have a better chance of passing the exam. In addition, gaining four years of experience prior to passing the PE Exam significantly improves the ability of the candidate to attain a professional engineer license in other states.
The changes due to LB755 also impact architect candidates in Nebraska. Candidates will not be required to apply to the Board in order to gain approval to take National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) Architecture Registration Examination (ARE). Instead, they can register directly with NCARB when they are ready to sit for the exam. This change allows the Board to license architect candidates who have passed divisions of the ARE prior to graduation from an accredited architecture program.
All requirements related to education, examination and experience still have to be met before being eligible for licensure as either an architect or a professional engineer.
The changes made to the NEARA reduce unnecessary barriers to licensure and simplify the licensure process. At the same time, the changes will maintain the high standards of education, examination, and experience required to become licensed as an architect or professional engineer in Nebraska and thereby protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public.
More details at: https://ea.nebraska.gov/ea-act