Board of Engineers and Architects

Jon Wilbeck, Executive Director, PO Box 95165, Lincoln, NE 68509-5165, 402-471-3060

The Board of Engineers and Architects was created to administer the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act which governs the practices of engineering and architecture in the State of Nebraska through licensure and regulation. The mission of the Board of Engineers and Architects is to establish requirements for education, experience, examination and enforcement for the practices of engineering and architecture through timely and quality regulatory services. A thorough review of applications and complaints is fundamental in meeting our mission. Information is an integral element of our enforcement component.

Safeguards life, health, property, and promotes public welfare of those in the State of Nebraska

Approximately 7,800 professional engineers, 1,850 architects, 2,085 organizations, 20 temporary engineeringarchitect permit holders, 340 engineer examinees, 25 architect examinees, 450 engineer and architect emeritus (per fiscal year)

Statutes cited in the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act, enacted by the Nebraska Legislature in 1997 named the Board as the Board of Engineers and Architects and replaced statutory provisions first enacted in 1937, which created the Board of Examine

1937

NA

Nebraska Revised Statutes 81-3401 to 81-3455

None

8

Governor

No

Three architect members, two appointed after consulting with the appropriate architectural professional organizations and one education member who is a faculty member of the University of Nebraska appointed upon the recommendation of the Dean of Architecture of the University of Nebraska; four professional engineer members, three appointed after consulting with the appropriate engineering professional organizations and one education member who is a faculty member of the University of Nebraska appointed upon the recommendation of the Dean of Engineering of the University of Nebraska; and one public member. Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Nebraska for at least one year immediately preceding appointment. Each architect or professional engineer member shall have been engaged in the active practice of the design profession for at least ten years, shall have had direct supervision of work for at least five years at the time of his or her appointment, and shall be licensed in the relevant profession.

$100day

Yes

Five Years, terminating on the last day of February

Terms Rotate

1

14

1

11

1

16

Yes

Shared - Expenses for the Board and for the programs overseen by the Board are paid from the same cash fund. The State Board of Engineers and Architects employs an Executive Director, six full time staff and one to two part time IT students.

Board: $ 459,347 Program expenditures: $135,220

Board: $ 531,157 Program expenditures: $127,050

Board: $ 473,650 Program expenditures: $130,000

None

Yes. As per Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-3432, expenses certified by the Board as properly and necessarily incurred in the discharge of duties, including compensation and administrative staff, and any expense incident to the administration of the act relating to o

The Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects held strategic or operational planning meetings on May 9, 2012, June 13, 2014, June 27, 2014, and April 14, 2015. In the 2013 Legislative Session, successful passage of LB7 amended Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-3436, 81-3437, 81-3450, and 81-3454 of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (Act) to define the design of the seal used by architects and engineers and its components. Changes defined the rules and regulations regarding the application of the seal, specifically deleting the requirement of a written signature to be provided for electronic transmission of signatures and seals and removed the requirement of a costly electronic revision approval system. In 2015, successful passage of LB23 amended the definitional language and added necessary definitions for consistency and simplicity throughout the Act. Statutes addressing the application and examination processes relating to engineers and architects were clarified. Sections were added relating to construction services and coordinating professionals. Language concerning seals was moved into a separate section. The majority of revisions in LB 23 were editorial in nature and were made to simplify and modernize the Act. To further define statute revisions and clarify the corresponding rules and regulations, revisions to Title 110 of the Nebraska Administrative Code were approved and became effective in November 12, 2013 and April 30, 2016. On October 14-16, 2013, the Board helped support the University of Nebraska Lincolns Building the 22nd Century Conference held in Omaha, Nebraska. The conference created a thoughtful vision of what the 22nd century built environment might look like, articulated key technological barriers to be transcended and identified underlying scientific questions that will need to be answered. On November 13, 2015, the Board sponsored a half-day continuing education seminar at Scott Conference Center in Omaha, which highlighted responsibilities of professional practice for architects and professional engineers. Because responsibilities to meet the needs of clients and also safeguard life, health, property and promote public welfare can be in conflict, the seminar addressed ethical decision making skills.