Jurisdiction index

50-state PE licensing, corporate COA registration, comity and engineering rate index

Engineering licensure is state law. This index shows, for every state, the structural review tier we price against, the PE fee multiplier, the comity and firm-registration add-on, and which detailed guide covers it.

Sheet codeJ-01

Sheet045 / 062

Revision2026-11-06

DisciplineJurisdictions

SE-mandate / high-seismic states

CA, IL, WA, OR, NV, HI, UT

38+

States with firm registration / COA

for entities offering engineering

$425

Per added state (comity + COA)

house planning figure

Filter states

50 states + DC · house pricing tiers (12,000 sq ft MEP TI example = $6,600 base)
State	Structural review tier	Fee multiplier	MEP TI example	Comity + COA	Detail
Alabama (AL)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Alaska (AK)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Arizona (AZ)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Arkansas (AR)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
California (CA)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Guide
Colorado (CO)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Connecticut (CT)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Delaware (DE)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
District of Columbia (DC)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Florida (FL)	Threshold / HVHZ	1.30×	$8,580	$425	Guide
Georgia (GA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Hawaii (HI)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Calculate
Idaho (ID)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Illinois (IL)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Guide
Indiana (IN)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Iowa (IA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Kansas (KS)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Kentucky (KY)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Louisiana (LA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Maine (ME)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Maryland (MD)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Massachusetts (MA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Michigan (MI)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Minnesota (MN)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Mississippi (MS)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Missouri (MO)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Montana (MT)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Nebraska (NE)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Nevada (NV)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Calculate
New Hampshire (NH)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
New Jersey (NJ)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
New Mexico (NM)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
New York (NY)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
North Carolina (NC)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
North Dakota (ND)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Ohio (OH)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Oklahoma (OK)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Oregon (OR)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Calculate
Pennsylvania (PA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Rhode Island (RI)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
South Carolina (SC)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
South Dakota (SD)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Tennessee (TN)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Texas (TX)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Utah (UT)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Calculate
Vermont (VT)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Virginia (VA)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Washington (WA)	SE-mandate / high-seismic	1.35×	$8,910	$425	Guide
West Virginia (WV)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate
Wisconsin (WI)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Guide
Wyoming (WY)	Standard PE review	1.00×	$6,600	$425	Calculate

Detailed jurisdiction guides

J-02 · State guide: CaliforniaCalifornia (BPELSG) Engineering Guide: Seismic and Surveying Exams, DSA and HCAI SE Rules, PE Stamp Costs and the CA R&D CreditCalifornia BPELSG guide: PE vs SE authority, state seismic and surveying exams, 1.35x stamp fee math on a $3,800 floor, staffing rates and the CA 15% J-03 · State guide: TexasTexas (TBPELS) Engineering Guide: Mandatory Firm Registration, Windstorm Inspections, PE Seal Costs and Staffing RatesTexas engineering guide: TBPELS firm registration before you offer work, seal rules, coastal windstorm certification, 1.00x stamp fee math and franchi J-04 · State guide: FloridaFlorida (FBPE) Engineering Guide: Threshold Building Special Inspector Rules, HVHZ Miami-Dade Product Approvals and Seal FeesFlorida FBPE guide: F.S. 471 firm authorization, threshold buildings under F.S. 553.71, special inspectors, HVHZ product approvals and 1.30x PE seal f J-05 · State guide: New YorkNew York (NYSED Office of the Professions) Engineering Guide: PLLC and Certificate of Authorization Rules, NYC DOB TR1/TR8 Special Inspections and PE RatesNew York engineering guide: NYSED Article 145 corporate practice limits, PLLC/PC/DPC entities and the certificate of authorization, NYC DOB TR1 inspec J-06 · State guide: IllinoisIllinois (IDFPR) Engineering Guide: Mandatory Structural Engineer (SE) Licence, Chicago Plan Review and Midwest CAD and Staffing RatesIllinois IDFPR guide: why structural work needs an SE under the 1989 Act, design firm registration, Chicago plan review, 1.35x seal fee math and the 6 J-07 · Corridor guide: MichiganMichigan and the Detroit Corridor: Automotive Tier-1 Engineering Staffing Markups, NX and CATIA Seat Audits and PE LicensingMichigan and Detroit corridor guide: Tier-1 contract engineering markups and MSP fees, NX and CAE seat audits at $11,500 a seat, LARA PE rules and the J-08 · Corridor guide: MassachusettsMassachusetts and the Boston Corridor: MedTech ISO 13485 NPD Rates, Robotics Staffing Markups and the MA 10% R&D Tax CreditMassachusetts corridor guide: ISO 13485 NPD firm rates near $165/hr, robotics staffing markups, lab fit-out PE seal math, construction control and the J-09 · State guide: WashingtonWashington State (BRPELS) and the Seattle Corridor: SE Requirements for Significant Structures, Aerospace ITAR Staffing and PE Seal FeesWashington BRPELS guide: SE licence for significant structures, firm COA rules, 1.35x seismic seal fee math, ITAR aerospace staffing rates, no state R J-10 · Regional corridor guideOhio & Pennsylvania Industrial Corridor: COA Firm Licensing, Heavy Equipment FEA/CAD Outsourcing & PE Stamp BenchmarksOhio and Pennsylvania buyer guide: firm COA rules, PE stamp math ($2,600 per skid, $425 per extra state), $18-$26/hr offshore FEA and state R&D credit J-11 · Southeast corridor guideNorth Carolina (NCBELS) & Georgia (PELS) Corridor: Data Center & Industrial MEP PE Stamping, Firm COA Rules & Staffing RatesNCBELS and Georgia PELS buyer guide: firm licensing, data center MEP seal math (sq ft x $0.55), $425 per extra state, staffing markups and the GA 10% J-12 · Mountain West guideColorado (DORA) & Arizona (BTR) Corridor: High-Snow/Solar PV PE Stamping, Semiconductor Fab Staffing & AZ 24% R&D CreditColorado DORA and Arizona BTR guide: solar PE letters at $350 or $195 per site, $425 per extra state, fab staffing rates and Arizona's 24%/15% R&D cre J-13 · Machinery corridor guideIndiana & Wisconsin Manufacturing Corridor: SolidWorks/Creo VAR Benchmarks, Custom Machine R&D Credits & PE ComityIndiana and Wisconsin machinery guide: SOLIDWORKS $3,800 and Creo $3,300 seat benchmarks, floating seat math, staffing markups, R&D credits and $425 c J-14 · Federal corridor guideVirginia, Maryland & New Jersey Corridor: Cleared Defense/Federal Engineering Staffing Markups, Site-Plan PE Seals & COA RulesMid-Atlantic defense engineering guide: cleared staffing markup math, CMMC and ITAR limits on offshoring, site-plan PE seal formulas, firm rules and s J-15 · United Kingdom guideUnited Kingdom (Engineering Council CEng / IEng): Merged RDEC R&D Tax Relief (20%), UK CAD VAR Pricing & Off-Payroll (IR35) Engineering RatesUK buyer guide: CEng and IEng are titles, not licences; the merged 20% R&D credit nets about 15%; ERIS, IR35 off-payroll costs and CAD seat conversion J-16 · Canada guideCanada (PEO / EGBC / APEGA): P.Eng. Permit to Practice (CofA) Rules, SR&ED Federal/Provincial Tax Credits & Canadian CAD VAR RatesCanada buyer guide: PEO C of A and EGBC/APEGA permit rules, SR&ED 15% and 35% CCPC credits with the 80% contract rule, provincial credits and CAD in C J-17 · Australia guideAustralia (RPEQ Queensland / BPE Act / NER): Statutory Registered Engineer Rules, 43.5% R&D Tax Offset & Engineering Aid Indigenous PathwaysAustralia buyer guide: RPEQ in Queensland, Victoria and NSW registration, NER and CPEng, the 43.5% refundable R&D offset and 8.5%/16.5% premiums, work J-18 · India rate cardIndia Engineering GCC & CAD/FEA BPO Hub (Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai): 2026 FTE Rate Cards, ISO 27001 Audits & Attrition SLAsIndia engineering rate card: 2D CAD $12-$18/hr, 3D and FEA $20-$32/hr, $1,950-$3,600 per FTE-month, GCC vs BPO, ISO 27001, attrition SLAs and US Sec.

01How multi-state licensure works

Each state board licenses individual engineers and, in most states, the firms that offer engineering. An engineer licensed in one state gets a license in another by comity (endorsement), usually through an NCEES Record that carries exam results, education, experience and references. The firm then registers or obtains a certificate of authorization, naming a licensed engineer in responsible charge for that state.

Individual comity: application, NCEES Record transmittal, sometimes a state-specific exam (California seismic and surveying) or a laws-and-rules quiz.
Firm registration: required for business entities offering engineering in a large majority of states; some states restrict who may own the firm.
Seals: state rules govern seal design, digital signatures and what documents must be sealed.

02The three pricing tiers

Fees for review and seal follow the scrutiny the state demands of the engineer.

Tiers used by the PE fee calculator
Tier	States	Multiplier	Why
SE-mandate / high-seismic	CA, IL, WA, OR, NV, HI, UT	1.35×	SE licensure for structural or significant structures; seismic design
Threshold / HVHZ	FL	1.30×	Threshold building inspector (F.S. 553.71); Miami-Dade / Broward wind
Standard PE review	All other states and DC	1.00×	PE review under the state board

Local code amendments can still require an SE for specific structures in a standard-tier state; check the jurisdiction before quoting.

03Outside the United States

Four international guides cover the markets US engineering buyers most often work with: Canada (provincial regulators and SR&ED), the United Kingdom (Engineering Council titles and the merged R&D scheme), Australia (RPEQ and state registration) and India (GCC and CAD/BPO rate cards).

Benchmarks are typical 2025-2026 market ranges compiled by Engineer Aid, an independent desk not affiliated with the vendors named. Quotes vary by region, volume and timing; nothing here is legal, tax or engineering advice. Revised 2026-11-06.

Questions buyers ask

How do I get a PE license in another state?

Apply to that state's board by comity, usually transmitting your NCEES Record with exam results, education, experience and references. Some states add a state-specific exam or a laws-and-rules quiz.

Does my engineering firm need to register in each state?

In most states, yes. A business entity that offers engineering usually needs a firm registration or certificate of authorization and a designated licensed engineer in responsible charge in that state.

Which states are most expensive for PE stamps?

States that require Structural Engineer licensure or heavy seismic design, such as California, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii and Utah, typically run about 35% higher. Florida runs about 30% higher for threshold and high-wind work.

How long does comity licensure take?

Plan on several weeks to a few months per state, depending on the board, whether an NCEES Record already exists and whether a state-specific exam is required.