The Nebraska Professional

Suelter Elected NCEES President-Elected

At the NCEES annual meeting, Council delegates elected Board Member Jason Suelter, P.E., S.E., as NCEES President-Elect for the 2026-27 term. Suelter will serve as NCEES President in 2027-28. 

For over 15 years, Suelter has been part of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) examination program; specifically, he has served on the NCEES structural exams committee, tasked with item writing and structural exam development. Additionally, he has served on several NCEES committees, demonstrating his dedication to the profession and its advancement.

Suelter is a licensed civil and structural professional engineer with more than 25 years of professional structural engineering experience. He was appointed to the Nebraska Board in 2020. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Benedictine College and a Master of Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to his Nebraska license, Suelter is licensed in more than 30 other jurisdictions.

Executive Director Wilbeck Receives 

NCEES Meritorious Service Award

Jon Wilbeck, executive director of the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects, was awarded the NCEES Meritorious Service Award by NCEES President Elizabeth Beckett, P.E., for his dedicated service to NCEES and the engineering profession. Wilbeck was recognized on August 20, 2026, during NCEES’ 105th annual meeting in Henderson, Nevada.

Wilbeck has served the Nebraska board since 2008, first as the compliance officer and then as the executive director. He oversees board staff, including compliance, public information, licensing, and administrative staff. Wilbeck has demonstrated leadership through service as a member of the NCEES Committee on Member Board Administrators, Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines (UPLG), and Special Committee on Bylaws. During his time on the UPLG Committee, the committee completed a successful five-year review of the NCEES Model Law and Model Rules. In 2013, he served as the Central Zone secretary-treasurer.

Through his leadership, service, and commitment to the professions, Wilbeck has made lasting contributions to the Nebraska Board, NCEES, and the public they serve.

Architect Trenton Reed Appointed to the Board

The Board welcomes Trenton L. Reed, AIA, NCARB, of Lincoln, Nebraska, as the newest member of the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects. Reed is a licensed architect and Principal at Reed Design Architects. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Board comprises eight members: four professional engineers, three architects, and one public member appointed by the Governor. One architect and one professional engineer must be a faculty member from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s respective college. Each member serves five-year terms. 

For more information about becoming a board member, please click here or contact ED Wilbeck.

Board Celebrates 89 Years of 

Protecting Nebraska Communities

Have you ever stopped to consider who designed the building you are in right now? Were they qualified to design it? And what regulations were in place to ensure they were qualified to do so, helping protect your safety today?

Safe buildings start with qualified professionals. 

For 89 years, the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects (the Board) has worked behind the scenes to help protect the health, safety, and welfare of Nebraska’s communities. Created in 1937, the Board regulates the practice of architecture and engineering by licensing and monitoring architects and professional engineers and enforcing the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (the Act). Through this, the Board helps protect the places where Nebraskans live, learn, work, and gather—often without us giving it a second thought.

But isn’t that the point?

We all depend on safe buildings every day and shouldn’t have to question their safety. Nebraska’s severe weather, including tornadoes, flooding, and winter storms, makes thoughtful architectural and engineering design especially important. Through licensure, the Board helps ensure that professionals meet established standards of competency and professionalism, thereby protecting the people who depend on the places they design.

So, when is a Nebraska-licensed architect and/or professional engineer required on a building project? If you’re unsure, you’re not alone. The Act and Chapter 10 of Board Rules outline when one or both must be engaged. Additionally, the Board is here as a resource to provide information and guidance and help you know where to turn when questions arise.

As Nebraska continues to grow, the Board remains committed to safeguarding life, health, and property, and promoting public welfare, and helping protect the people and places that make Nebraska home.

To learn more about the Board’s history, please click here.

Upcoming NBEA Webinar: 
Supporting Safe Communities

Join the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects for a free webinar on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. CT and gain essential insight into when the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (the Act) requires a Nebraska-licensed architect and/or professional engineer on a building project.

Whether you're a building official, jurisdiction representative, contractor, or community member, this webinar will provide practical guidance on when a building project in your community may need to involve a Nebraska-licensed design professional.

In this webinar, you will:

• Learn when a Nebraska-licensed architect and/or professional engineer is required on a building project.

• Ask questions during a live and interactive Q&A with Board staff. 

• Learn where to turn when questions about the Act arise.

We recognize that residents often contact local jurisdiction offices with questions about building projects, zoning requirements, and permit applications. While determining compliance with the Act remains the responsibility of the Board, this webinar is intended to help local officials and community members better understand the Act and assist with those questions or guide them to the Board for further assistance.

Through education and outreach, the Board strives to support local jurisdictions and communities by serving as a trusted resource on Nebraska's design professional requirements.

Click here to register for the free webinar on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 12 PM CT. You may also call in at +1 402-257-5560; Phone Conference ID: 910 476 853#. 

Please share this invitation with others in your community who may benefit.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at nbea.marketing@nebraska.gov or (402) 471-3044.

Latest Monthly Q&A Webinar 

Session with Board Staff

Thank you to those who attended the latest Monthly Q&A Webinar Session with Board Staff on Thursday, August 13, 2026! The conversation was centered around emeritus status and Board outreach and support to local jurisdictions, building officials, and community members.

The session is now available on the Board’s YouTube channel.

The next session will be on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 12 PM CT.

Be sure to join us on the second Thursday of each month at 12 PM CT. Each conversation will vary, and you never know what you may learn! 

No registration is required, and no question is too basic—we're committed to providing the information and resources you need to navigate licensure and professional practice with confidence.

To join the monthly Q&A sessions, use this recurring link. 

You may also dial in by phone. Please call +1 402-257-5560 and enter the phone conference ID: 796 558 53#. 

Important Reminders: 

• Board staff are not speaking on behalf of Board members.

• These sessions are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

• Please keep questions general and avoid sharing project-specific, personal, or identifying information.

• It is anticipated that the Board will not give CE credit for these sessions. As a result, Board staff WILL NOT provide attendance verification for continuing education credits. 

NCEES News

Changes will be made to the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams listed below. The exam specifications are posted on the NCEES website.

Fall 2026 Exam Changes; Effective October 2026

• The PE Architectural Engineering exam will be administered with new specifications.

Spring 2027 Exam Changes; Effective April 2027

• The PE Civil exams will be administered with new design standards. Exam specifications are not changing.

• The PE Control Systems exam will be administered with new specifications and design standards.

• The PE Fire Protection exam will be administered with new specifications and design standards.

• The PE Structural Engineering Lateral and Vertical Breadth sections will be administered with new specifications and design standards. The number of questions will not change. 

• The PE Structural Engineering Lateral and Vertical Depth sections will be administered with new specifications and design standards. The exams will consist of 48 questions.

NCARB is implementing a new rescheduling fee policy for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). Starting October 1, 2026, candidates may not reschedule their exam fewer than seven days before their exam appointment date. 

Under the current rescheduling policy, candidates pay a fee based on the number of times they reschedule an exam division, with a fee increase each time a candidate reschedules the same exam appointment. 

Under the new rescheduling policy, candidates will pay increasing fees based on the date of their scheduled appointment. Unlike the previous policy, candidates may reschedule an exam seat up to three times for free if they are at least 31 days away from their scheduled appointment. 

• Candidates can reschedule a previously scheduled exam seat up to three times 

• 31+ days out from appointment: Free 

• 15-30 days out from appointment: $75 

• Seven-14 days out from appointment: $150 

• Less than seven days out from appointment: No reschedules allowed 

As of October 1, exam cancellations will include a $200 fee, and candidates may not cancel exams less than seven days before their appointment. Candidates who have rescheduled their exam seat three times may cancel their exam appointment instead. When candidates cancel an exam, a new seat credit will be added to their My NCARB account, with an expiration date of one year out from their cancellation date. Candidates may schedule an appointment for new exam seat at any time.

View more on these changes on NCARB’s website.

NCARB has released the 2026 edition of its annual data report, NCARB by the Numbers. The report, which is based on data from the 2025 calendar year, highlights the impact of changes the organization has made to align with a more accessible licensure process. The average time to complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) fell by 6 months in 2025, and the average time to complete the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) fell by 4 months. Most significantly, the overall time to licensure fell to 12.3 years—the lowest median time NCARB has seen in many years.

The 2026 edition also includes new insights into NCARB’s Pathways to Practice initiative. NCARB’s data shows that the current “single path” approach to the licensure process creates a variety of pinch points that can impact candidates based on a range of factors, including their career, education, and socio-economic background. By offering more flexibility in how candidates demonstrate their competency, NCARB can reduce the impact of these impediments and ensure that individuals of all educational and career backgrounds have a pathway to architectural practice, while still maintaining the level of rigor needed to protect the public.

To read the full report and explore interactive data charts, visit www.ncarb.org/nbtn. 

The eighth and final episode of the NCARB Podcast on Pathways to Practice is now available. Listen now, or catch up on episodes you missed this season.

In the final series installment, host Andy McIntyre talks with Mike Kolejka, chair of NCARB’s Policy Committee, about the policy and regulatory steps needed to implement new licensure pathways, including getting approval from the NCARB Board of Directors and the 55 U.S. licensing boards. NCARB Chief Programs Officer Jared Zurn also explains potential implementation timelines for future licensure pathways and candidate transition planning.

Stream all episodes now and catch up on season one—which focused on NCARB by the Numbers—by heading to the NCARB Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

Licensure Updates

Recently Resolved Compliance Cases

Case 25.31 - 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 single-story building [Storage (S) occupancy] comprising approximately 31,200 square feet. The exemption level for Storage (S) occupancies is less than 5,000 square feet, as noted in Neb. Admin. Code, Title 110, Rule 10.3.9.

Because this project exceeds 5,000 square feet, it is subject to the Act.

The plans did not bear the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer. 

Action: 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 evaluate the project for compliance with the Act. During this review, the remediation professionals identified deficiencies and recommended design solutions. The project owner corrected the identified deficiencies based on the recommendations from the remediation professionals. As a result, the Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action based on the successful completion of architecture and engineering remediation.

Case 26.13 - Unlicensed Individual Practice - 81-3442(1)(a)

Summary: The Board was notified of the submission of unsealed plans to another state agency for the renovation of a two-story building [Assembly (A) occupancy] comprising approximately 5,600 square feet. The exemption level for Assembly (A) occupancies is less than 1,000 square feet, as noted in Neb. Admin. Code, Title 110, Rule 10.3.1.

Because this project exceeds 1,000 square feet, it is subject to the Act.

The plans did not bear the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer. 

Action: 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 as a remediation professional to evaluate the project for compliance with the Act. 

During the project evaluation, the remediation professional determined that the project scope did not involve work constituting the practice of engineering, aside from mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Those systems were designed and constructed by licensed tradespeople (Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-3453(8)). Based on the defined scope of work, the remediation professional did not identify a need to involve a professional engineer. 

Because the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect as a remediation professional, the Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action.

Case 26.18 - 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 single-story building [mixed Business (B) and Storage (S) occupancies] comprising approximately 5,500 square feet. 

Any structure that contains two or more occupancies is governed by the most restrictive occupancy for purposes of determining whether the project is exempt (Neb. Admin. Code, Title 110, Chapter 10.3.11). The exemption level for Business (B) occupancies is 3,000 or more square feet (Neb. Admin. Code, Title 110, Chapter 10.3.2). The exemption level for Storage (S) occupancies is 5,000 or more square feet (Neb. Admin. Code, Title 110, Chapter 10.3.9). In this case, the most restrictive occupancy is Business (B), and therefore, the entire project is considered a Business (B) occupancy. 

Because this project exceeds 3,000 square feet, it is subject to the Act.

The plans did not bear the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer. 

Action: 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 evaluate the project for compliance with the Act.

Because the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect and professional engineer as remediation professionals, the Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action.

* * *

More information about the enforcement process is available.

The Board also maintains a list of formal disciplinary actions it has taken.