Timeline of Professional Licensing in NJ and USA

1891 – California passes first Surveyor licensure law.

1907 - Wyoming passes the first engineering licensure law.

1920 - At a meeting in Chicago, the Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (Predecessor to NCEES) is founded by 7 of the 10 state boards with engineering and surveying licensing laws.  New Jersey declines to join at this time.

1921- The New Jersey Board was created pursuant to the adoption of New Jersey Public Law of 1921, Chapter 224.

1922  - The first 23 New Jersey licenses were granted by the Board

1931 - The New Jersey Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors joins the CSBEE (Predecessor to NCEES)1938 - New Jersey enacts P.L. 

1938, Chapter 342,  a significant change in licensing patterned  after the NCEES model Law.1954 – New Jersey “Map Filing Law” enacted

1965 - The first national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination is administered by NCEES.

1966 -The first national Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination is administered by NCEES

1973 - The first national Fundamentals of Land Surveying (FLS) examination is administered by NCEES.

1974 - The first national Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (PLS) examination is administered by NCEES.

1980 - New Jersey offers the EIT exam

1983 – New Jersey offers PE exam

1989 - New Jersey “Building Design Services Act” enacted

1989 - New Jersey licensing law for surveyors requiring a degree from approved college