CHAPTER 20:38:32

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Section

20:38:32:01        Examination required.

20:38:32:02        Architecture.

20:38:32:03        Engineering.

20:38:32:04        Land surveying.

20:38:32:05        Landscape architecture.

20:38:32:06        Petroleum release assessment or remediation.

    20:38:32:01.  Examination required. An applicant for admission to examination shall pay the required examination fee to the appropriate organization or vendor prior to admission to the examination.

    An examination vendor may be used to administer an examination. The policies and procedures of the examination vendor must be followed in accordance with the vendor's agreement with the board. Examination results must be reported as either pass or fail, treated as confidential, and transmitted electronically to the examinee using a method determined by the board office.

    Cheating or other violation of examination security provisions will result in automatic failure of the examination. No person may review any portion of any examination.

    An applicant must pass an examination on South Dakota licensure laws prior to licensure. The examination must be administered using an electronic format.

    An examinee seeking an accommodation for a disability shall make a request of the examination vendor with sufficient notice to enable arrangements for the accommodation.

    Source: 26 SDR 9, effective July 29, 1999; 30 SDR 204, effective June 24, 2004; transferred from § 20:38:17:01, 38 SDR 121, effective January 16, 2012; 51 SDR 56, effective November 20, 2024.

    General Authority: SDCL 36-18A-22(3).

    Law Implemented: SDCL 36-18A-25 to 36-18A-31, inclusive, 36-18A-33.

    20:38:32:02.  Architecture. An applicant for licensure as an architect shall pass the ARE in accordance with the NCARB ARE guidelines.

    An applicant may apply to NCARB for admission to the examination upon satisfaction of the architecture education requirement.

    A NCARB certification is evidence that the examination requirement has been met.

    Source: 26 SDR 9, effective July 29, 1999; transferred from § 20:38:17:06, 38 SDR 121, effective January 16, 2012; 47 SDR 73, effective December 21, 2020; 51 SDR 56, effective November 20, 2024.

    General Authority: SDCL 36-18A-22(3), 36-18A-27.

    Law Implemented: SDCL 36-18A-27.

    20:38:32:03.  Engineering. An applicant for licensure as a professional engineer shall pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination.

    An applicant who has satisfied the engineering education requirement or who is a senior within two semesters of graduating from an ABET-accredited engineering program approved by the board may register for the FE examination with NCEES. An applicant who passes the FE examination must be enrolled as an engineer-in-training or an engineering intern. Passage of the FE examination does not authorize any person to practice as a professional engineer or to imply that a professional title is held.

    An applicant who has passed the FE examination and has satisfied the engineering education requirement may register for the PE examination with the NCEES.

    An applicant who fails the FE or PE examination may retake the examination two times. If the applicant fails the examination three times, the applicant may submit only one new application for admission to the examination per calendar year thereafter. The board may review an applicant who has failed the examination three times and may require additional qualifying education or experience for licensure.

    Source: 26 SDR 9, effective July 29, 1999; 30 SDR 204, effective June 24, 2004; 34 SDR 107, effective October 31, 2007; transferred from § 20:38:17:07, 38 SDR 121, effective January 16, 2012; 51 SDR 56, effective November 20, 2024.

    General Authority: SDCL 36-18A-22(3), 36-18A-25.

    Law Implemented: SDCL 36-18A-1(3), 36-18A-25.

    20:38:32:04.  Land surveying. An applicant for licensure as a land surveyor shall pass:

    (1)  The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination, which is prepared and scored by the NCEES;

    (2)  The Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) examination, which is prepared and scored by the NCEES; and

    (3)  An open-book examination of South Dakota land surveying practice and laws.

    A current student or graduate of an educational program described in § 20:38:30:03 that has either successfully completed, or is currently enrolled in, a minimum total of eighteen semester credit hours of surveying courses within, or in addition to, the program of study may register for the FS examination with the NCEES. An applicant who passes the examination must be enrolled as a land surveyor-in-training or land surveying intern. Passage of the examination does not authorize any person to practice as a land surveyor or to imply that a professional title is held.

    An applicant who has passed the FS examination and has satisfied the land surveying education requirement may register for the PS examination with the NCEES.

    The South Dakota portion of the examination is an open-book, electronic examination that is two hours in length. Each applicant must complete the examination within thirty calendar days of the date of submission of the applicant's licensure application.

    An applicant who fails the FS or PS examination may retake the examination two times. If the applicant fails the examination three times, the applicant may submit only one new application for admission to the examination per calendar year thereafter. The board may review an applicant who has failed the examination three times and may require additional qualifying education or experience to grant licensure.

    Source: 26 SDR 9, effective July 29, 1999; 34 SDR 107, effective October 31, 2007; transferred from § 20:38:17:08, 38 SDR 121, effective January 16, 2012; 40 SDR 121, effective January 7, 2014; 51 SDR 56, effective November 20, 2024.

    General Authority: SDCL 36-18A-22(3), 36-18A-28.

    Law Implemented: SDCL 36-18A-1(16), 36-18A-28.

    20:38:32:06.  Petroleum release assessment or remediation. An applicant for licensure as a petroleum release assessor or remediator must pass the petroleum release examination, which is prepared and scored by the board. The examination is an open-book electronic examination over South Dakota procedures and rules pertaining to petroleum releases. Each applicant must complete the examination within thirty calendar days of the date of submission of the applicant's licensure application.

    An applicant may apply for admission to the examination upon satisfaction of the petroleum release education and experience requirements.

    An applicant who fails the petroleum release examination may retake the examination two times. If an applicant fails the examination three times, the applicant may submit only one new application for admission to the examination per calendar year thereafter. The board may review an applicant who fails the examination three times and may require additional qualifying education or experience to grant licensure.

    Source: 26 SDR 9, effective July 29, 1999; transferred from § 20:38:17:12, 38 SDR 121, effective January 16, 2012; 40 SDR 121, effective January 7, 2014; 51 SDR 56, effective November 20, 2024.

    General Authority: SDCL 36-18A-22(3), 36-18A-31.

    Law Implemented: SDCL 36-18A-31.