Certificates of Authorization
Chapter 7 of the Board Rules requires organizations practicing or offering to practice architecture and/or engineering in Nebraska to apply to the Board for a Certificate of Authorization.
Does your Organization need a Certificate of Authorization?
Your organization needs a Certificate of Authorization if it:
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Practices or offers to practice architecture and/or engineering in Nebraska, or
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Enters into an agreement to provide architectural and/or engineering services on a project in Nebraska, or
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Engages in design-build in Nebraska, or
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Bills for architectural or engineering services pertaining to projects in Nebraska;
AND
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Is a business entity created by law, including, but not limited to, a partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or joint venture.
Your organization does not need a Certificate of Authorization if it:
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Engages in activities that result ONLY in non-customized, non-project- or site-specific manufactured/fabricated products, which can then be specified by Nebraska-licensed architects or professional engineers; or
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Is a "public service provider," defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§81-3423 as "any political subdivision which appoints a municipal engineer or which employs a full-time person licensed under the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act who is in responsible charge of architectural or engineering work"; or
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Engages in the practice of architecture or engineering only for itself (not for the public or public use).
Any architect and/or professional engineer in responsible charge of their respective practices for the organization must be licensed to practice in Nebraska and must regularly perform professional services for the organization.
What are the application and renewal fees for a Certificate of Authorization?
The application fee is based on the total number of licensees regularly performing services for the organization:
The renewal fee is similarly based on the organization’s number of licensees:
“Number of licensees” is the total number of licensed architects and professional engineers regularly performing services for the organization, both in the U.S. and other countries, regardless of their jurisdiction of registration or licensure or if the organization is applying to practice only one profession. Do not count licensees who provide occasional part-time or consulting services.
How often must a Certificate of Authorization be renewed?
Certificates of Authorization must be renewed every two years. A renewal notice is sent to the organization via email at least one month prior to the expiration date. Certificates of Authorization cannot be renewed online or over the phone. Application and renewal fees must be paid by check, money order, or debit-generated ACH payment; the Board does not accept credit card payments for this application fee.
Important Technical Submissions Reminder for Organizations
Per Board Rule 6.5.3, if the work shown on technical submissions is being performed through an organization(s) as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-3436, the following information MUST be included on EVERY PAGE of the technical submissions:
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the organization(s) legal name or DBA,
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the organization(s) contact information, and
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the organization(s) certificate of authorization number(s)
For further information regarding organizational practice, please visit the Organizations Page at ea.nebraska.gov or read Chapter 7 of the E&A Regulation Act Handbook.
Board Welcomes New Office Specialist
The Board welcomes new Office Specialist Ariel Born, who joined the Board staff in June.
Being from an Air Force family, Ariel has resided in various locations but has called Nebraska home since 2008. Ariel has a strong background in customer service. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Minor in Art History from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Additionally, she is skilled in playing both the flute and alto saxophone.
As the Office Specialist, Ariel is responsible for data entry of license applications, and is the Board’s first point of contact for licensee applications, requests, and inquiries.
If you have any questions about license or examination applications, please email nbea.office@nebraska.gov, call (402) 471-2021, or visit ea.nebraska.gov.
UNL Wins 2025 NCEES Engineering Education Award
The Board extends its congratulations to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for being the $25,000 grand prize winner of the 2025 NCEES Engineering Education Award. The university received the award for a project completed by the Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction.
For the school’s project, Carson Headquarters, a team of architectural engineering students and 52 professionals—43 of those licensed professional engineers—were challenged to design and integrate the structural, mechanical, acoustic, electrical, and lighting systems for the six-story office building. The facility included open and private offices, conference rooms, training rooms, and lounge and break areas. The jury praised the project for leaning into industry codes and standards that focused on health, wellness, and environmental sustainability.
To see the team’s winning submission, please click here.
For more information, please click here.
NCEES Seeks Input from Licensed Chemical Engineers
NCEES is conducting a Professional Activities and Knowledge Study (PAKS) for the PE Chemical exam. Licensed chemical engineers—including those working in industry, consulting, the public sector, and academia—are invited to participate and help shape future exam content. The survey will remain open until July 18, 2025, and can be completed in approximately 20-40 minutes.
“These studies help NCEES ensure its licensing exams remain relevant to current professional practice,” explained Chief Officer of Examinations J. Lehmon Dekle, P.E. “The value of this PAKS depends on the number of people who participate, so NCEES is eager to get a large response from professional engineers across all areas of chemical engineering.”
For access to the online survey, please click here.
Number of U.S. Architects Fell by 4% in 2024
According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) annual Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, the number of U.S. architects fell by 4% to just over 116,000 in 2024, the first significant drop in several years. Since 2020, the number of architects has hovered close to 120,000. Now, there are fewer licensed practitioners in the U.S. than there were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conducted each year by NCARB, the survey provides exclusive insights into data from the architectural licensing boards of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NCARB’s data shows that a significant proportion of the U.S. architect population—approximately 13%—is over the age of 65. As these individuals begin to retire, the number of architects might continue to fall over the next several years. Despite 2024’s decrease in the number of practitioners, other areas of the licensure pipeline remain strong. The population of individuals pursuing licensure rose by 5%, and the number of reciprocal (out-of-state) licenses rose by 6%. Together, these factors indicate that while the profession’s generational makeup may be shifting, the architecture pipeline remains healthy.
For more insights into key data shaping the architecture community, please click here.
IPAL Policy Changes Effective July 1, 2025
Effective July 1, 2025, NCARB is implementing several policy changes to its Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program to encourage greater engagement with the program.
IPAL offers an additional, accelerated pathway to licensure for motivated architecture students. IPAL is incorporated as an optional path within an existing NAAB-accredited program, allowing architecture schools to integrate licensure requirements into their curricula. Currently, 33 NAAB-accredited programs at 28 schools across the country offer or are developing an IPAL option. IPAL provides students with an education that connects to real-world practice while shortening their time to licensure and expanding their career opportunities.
The changes include: a broader range of academic programs eligible for participation in IPAL, removing the requirement that IPAL students must complete the entire AXP at the time of graduation, and maintaining their exam eligibility post-graduation—without needing to change their jurisdiction—until they have passed all six ARE divisions.
Licensure Updates
Recently Resolved Compliance Cases
24.22 – Unlicensed Individual Practice - 81-3442(1)(a)
Summary: The Board was notified of the submission of unsealed plans to another state agency for the addition of a single-story building [Assembly (A) Occupancy] to an existing building comprising approximately 1,400 square feet for a total of 2,590 square feet in southeastern Nebraska. The plans did not bear the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer.
Action: This project was subject to the Act due to the building area comprising more than 1,000 square feet of A-Assembly occupancy. The Board authorized architecture and engineering remediation to bring the project into compliance with the Act. Per Board Rule 8.4, the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect and professional engineer to review the project for compliance with the Act. The Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action based on the successful completion of architecture and engineering remediation.
24.26 – Unlicensed Individual Practice - 81-3442(1)(a)
Summary: The Board was notified of the submission of unsealed plans to another state agency for the construction of a two-story building [Business (B) Occupancy] comprising approximately 11,985 square feet in central Nebraska. The plans did not bear the seals of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer.
Action: This project was subject to the Act due to the building area comprising more than 3,000 square feet of B-Business occupancy. The Board authorized architecture and engineering remediation to bring the project into compliance with the Act. Per Board Rule 8.4, the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect and professional engineer to review the project for compliance with the Act. The Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action based on the successful completion of architecture and engineering remediation.
24.44 – Unlicensed Practice of Architecture and Engineering - 81-3442(1)(a)
Summary: The Board was notified of the submission of unsealed plans to another state agency for the construction of a single-story building [Business (B) occupancy] comprising approximately 8,160 square feet in southeastern Nebraska. The plans did not bear the seals of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer.
Action: This project was subject to the Act due to the building area comprising more than 3,000 square feet of B-Business occupancy. The Board authorized architecture and engineering remediation to bring the project into compliance with the Act. Per Board Rule 8.4, the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect and professional engineer to review the project for compliance with the Act. The Board dismissed the complaint without prejudice based on the engagement of licensees.
25.09 – Unlicensed Practice of Architecture and Engineering - 81-3442(1)(a)
Summary: A complaint was submitted alleging that a metal building manufacturer (the Respondent) was engaging in the unlicensed practice of architecture and engineering in a commercial building project in central Nebraska.
Action: After review, the Board found the plans prepared by the Respondent constituted the practice of architecture and engineering. The Board found no formal administrative or legal action was warranted and issued a Letter of Caution to the Respondent, encouraging them to use greater care when preparing technical documents related to projects that require the involvement of licensed architects and/or professional engineers.
For further information regarding the enforcement process, please click here.
For a full list of disciplinary actions taken by the Board, please click here.
The Nebraska Professional Archive
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