Civil Engineering Certification

Specialty Board Certification

CEC specialty board certification helps you stand out from your peers. It’s your next career step after earning your professional engineer license.

Become a board-certified engineer

Board certification for civil engineers is vital to elevating the level of professionalism needed to meet the challenges facing the nation’s infrastructure. Board certification benefits the public, owners of infrastructure, employers, and practicing civil engineers.

Founded by ASCE, Civil Engineering Certification is the only professional credential developed by civil engineers, for civil engineering. It recognizes civil engineers who have demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills in a specific specialty area, bringing more value to civil engineering stakeholders.

To be certified, you must meet the established qualification criteria for education, licensure, and experience, and pass the certification examination.

Benefits of Specialty Certification

Potential promotion and advancement opportunities.
Better compensation as seen in recent salary surveys.
Reduced professional liability insurance rates.

Board certifications

Take the next step in your career today and get board certified. Select your specialty area to learn more about board certification requirements.

Civil Engineering Certification Inc. (CEC) is expanding board certification to include additional specialties.

Download CEC Brochure (PDF)

ASCE eLearning webinar on CEC Board Certification

Watch the recorded ASCE eLearning webinar to learn more about the benefits of CEC Board Certification

Board certification steps

The baseline requirements apply to all civil engineering specialties. Based on specific Specialty Area Bodies of Knowledge (SABOK), an administrative unit (AU) may add or remove requirements, subject to CEC Board approval.

The baseline requirements set the minimum standards for applying for post-licensure board certification in civil engineering specialties. Board certification demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for competent practice, as outlined in the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (CEBOK3) and the relevant Specialty Area Bodies of Knowledge (SABOK).

1. Professional Characteristics:
1.1 Adherence to the ASCE Code of Ethics.
1.2 Strong communication skills.
1.3 Demonstrated project management and/or leadership abilities.
1.4 Commitment to continuing education and advancing the profession.

2. Education: Formal education in engineering and the specialty area supports achievement of the CEBOK3 and specialty area body of knowledge.
2.1 A bachelor’s degree in engineering or another related field, from an ABET-accredited program is required. Alternatively, a relevant postgraduate degree (master’s or PhD) may fulfill this requirement.
2.2 Thirty or more postgraduate education credit hours, or completion of recognized certificate program(s). Alternatively, additional work experience can also qualify (see Item 4.2 below for details).

3. P.E. License or Approved Equivalent:
3.1 A current P.E license or approved equivalent is required. In countries without this, additional work experience may substitute (see item 4.3 below).

4. Work Experience: Work experience may include planning, design, analysis, operations, management, governance, research, and/or teaching. The applicant must be currently actively engaged in the specialty area of civil engineering and have:
4.1 At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering after the first bachelor's degree, with 8 years in the specialty area.
4.2 Without postgraduate education (see item 2.2 above), 15 years of experience (13 in the specialty) is required.
4.3 If an applicant lives and works in a country without a P.E. license or equivalent (as per requirement 3), they must have at least 15 years of civil engineering experience, with 13 of those years in the specialty area.

5. Validation:
5.1 The applicable administrative unit validates achievement of the requisite CEBOK3 and SABOK outcomes in a manner appropriate for the certification. Validation applies to all applicants and follows a uniform process for each certification developed and administered by the applicable specialty board.

View the complete CEC eligibility requirements.
Below are the steps to apply for and earn your certification:
1. Select the certification specialty.
2. Submit your application and payment.
3. Application review.
4. Panel exam interview or computer-based exam.

Please see specialty certification pages for additional details. For questions on the steps to certification, email [email protected].
All board-certified engineers must recertify their credential on an annual basis.

To recertify, the following are required:
- Active Practice
  You must be actively practicing in your specialty area in civil engineering.
- P.E. License
  Maintain a valid license to practice engineering.
- Annual PDH Requirement
  Attest to attaining 20 PDHs including 2 PDHs in ethics annually.
- Code of Ethics
  Attest to adherence to ASCE Code of Ethics.
- Annual Fee
  Submit annual recertification fee.
- ASCE will notify you via email when your recertification deadline is approaching and provide detailed instructions on how to maintain your certification.
For questions on recertification, email [email protected].

Convince your employer

Board certification demonstrates advanced expertise, leadership, and commitment to the profession. Supporting your pursuit of becoming a Board-Certified Civil Engineer benefits not only your career, but also your organization’s reputation and impact.

Why employers should support certification:

Professional Credibility: Board-certified engineers are recognized for meeting rigorous standards—enhancing your team’s credibility with clients and stakeholders.
Visibility for Your Organization: Certified professionals are listed in the CEC public directory, increasing exposure and potential business opportunities.
Company Recognition: CEC highlights newly certified engineers on LinkedIn, offering immediate visibility and positive branding for your organization.
Leadership Development: Certification supports professional growth, helping your team lead projects, drive innovation, and manage change effectively.

Download and customize this template to request employer support for your certification journey.

Hire a board-certified engineer

Infrastructure challenges are increasingly complex, with new materials and technologies, a changing climate, and heightened public expectations. Including board-certified specialists on your team assures the most qualified and experienced engineering talent is working on these complex projects, delivering high-performing, future-ready infrastructure for your clients, stakeholders, and the public. Board-certified engineers can help reduce risk and improve project performance, and help you achieve project success.

Vetted through a robust review process to confirm that they have attained advanced expertise and knowledge in a specialty beyond the P.E. license.
Extensive experience contributes to an overall reduction in project risk, liability, and minimizes the risk of delays and cost overruns.
A board-certified engineer’s work in key positions of a project team will improve project execution and ensure the overall success of complex infrastructure projects.

CEC Board Certified Engineer Directory & Events and Announcements

Board-Certified Engineer Directory

This tool helps owners, employers and the public locate board-certified engineers.

CEC Events and Announcements

Stay up to date on CEC events, webinars, news and announcements.

Support the advancement of the civil engineering profession by becoming a Civil Engineering Certification Supporter. By contributing $3,000 annually, your organization helps CEC maintain the rigorous standards of board certification, ensuring that board-certified engineers meet advanced expertise requirements through a robust vetting process.

Thank you to our 2025 Supporters:

Acknowledging Our 2025 Civil Engineering Certification Supporters

We are proud to recognize the organizations that have already committed to supporting the advancement of the civil engineering profession through specialty certification in 2025. Their generous contributions help ensure the rigorous standards of Civil Engineering Certification Inc. (CEC) programs, fostering excellence and innovation across the profession.

Join this distinguished group and showcase your commitment to elevating civil engineering. Learn more about becoming a Civil Engineering Certification Supporter below.

As a CEC Supporter, your brand will be visible to ASCE’s influential audience through a variety of recognition activities, including:

Website Presence: Your organization’s logo on CEC web pages and permission to post the CEC Supporter logo and statement with hyperlink to the CEC on your organization’s website.
Inclusion in Events: Recognition at various ASCE conferences through CEC exhibit booths with signage and materials, and at ceremonies honoring new Board-Certified Engineers.
Social Media Promotion: Annual individual organizational spotlight on CEC’s LinkedIn page highlighting your commitment to board certification and recognizing the number of board-certified employees within your organization, in addition to quarterly posts acknowledging CEC Supporters (with hyperlink to your organization’s website).

Join us in advancing the profession!

By contributing $3,000* annually, your organization helps CEC maintain the rigorous standards of board certification, ensuring that board-certified engineers meet advanced expertise requirements through a robust vetting process.

Reach out to [email protected] to learn more about how to make an impact by becoming a CEC Supporter.

*Supporter benefits are renewed annually. Note that while these 501(c)6 contributions are not considered a tax-deductible charitable contribution, they can be claimed as a qualified business expense.

Learn more about the CEC Board of Directors

CESB Accreditation

Civil Engineering Certification Inc. (CEC) proudly offers six Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)- accredited certifications, recognized for meeting the highest standards of expertise and professionalism.

Our newest Board Certification in Pipeline Engineering Water (BC.PLW), is not yet CESB-accredited, but it reflects the same commitment to excellence.

Learn more about CESB Accreditation

Testimonials

"The geotech certification has helped me and our company let many of our clients, colleagues, and the public know that we are dedicated geotechnical engineers who are capable of solving a variety of complex geotechnical problems."
Sujan Bhattacharya, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE

"I can easily say that, right after becoming a licensed professional engineer, getting my certification in water resources was the single most important post-collegiate career advancement move I made."
Rick Van Bruggen, P.E., P.H., CFM, BC.WRE

"The geotech certification demonstrates that I am serious about my chosen profession and confirms that my peers consider me to be an expert in field of geotechnical engineering."
Bob Goehring, P.E., BC.GE

"When our firm submits a statement of qualifications in competition with other firms, the documented qualifications of the project team members is a critical criteria that is considered by the evaluators. This certification makes me more valuable to our firm, and I am sure that is reflected in my compensation."
Terry Winn, P.E., BC.WRE, F.ASCE

"When we hire another chief engineer here at Rembco Engineering, we will give extreme preference to board-certified geotechs over any other applicants."
R. Michael Bivens, P.E., BC.GE

Civil Engineering Certification

Specialty Board Certification

Become a board-certified engineer

Board certifications

ASCE eLearning webinar on CEC Board Certification

Board certification steps

Convince your employer

Hire a board-certified engineer

CEC Board Certified Engineer Directory & Events and Announcements

Board-Certified Engineer Directory

CEC Events and Announcements

Thank you to our 2025 Supporters:

Acknowledging Our 2025 Civil Engineering Certification Supporters

CESB Accreditation

Testimonials

Contact us

For questions on board certification, please contact

Jennifer Hofmann

Director, CEC

Frank Kim

Program Manager, CEC

Civil Engineering Certification

Specialty Board Certification

Become a board-certified engineer

Board certifications

ASCE eLearning webinar on CEC Board Certification

Board certification steps

Eligibility for Certification

Certification process

Maintaining your certification

Convince your employer

Hire a board-certified engineer

CEC Board Certified Engineer Directory & Events and Announcements

Board-Certified Engineer Directory

CEC Events and Announcements

Acknowledging Our 2025 Civil Engineering Certification Supporters

Show your pride in being a CEC board-certified engineer with CEC-branded merchandise

CESB Accreditation

Testimonials

Contact us

For questions on board certification, please contact

Jennifer Hofmann

Director, CEC

Frank Kim

Program Manager, CEC