Approved by the Committee on Licensure on December 10, 2024
Approved by the Public Policy Committee on March 28, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports advanced credentialling in specialty areas of civil engineering for professional engineering licensees who assume responsible charge. Advanced credentialling is defined as the attainment of adequate breadth and depth of engineering in that specialty area.
ASCE encourages institutions of higher education, governments, employers, engineers, and other appropriate organizations to endorse, support, promote, and implement specialty area credentialling for those civil engineers serving in responsible charge, to further protect and advance health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Issue
Professional Engineering (PE) licensure or equivalent constitutes the legal authority to practice engineering; however, the requirements do not ensure attainment of the necessary body of knowledge to practice in responsible charge in each specialty area of civil engineering. Credentials can include state or national board recognized licenses, designations, certifications, or other credentials. Licensees should recognize that there is an overlap in engineering specialties and credentialing.
As demonstrated by the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (CE BOK), civil engineers in responsible charge should attain a higher level of competence in their specialty area(s) than currently required for professional engineering licensure. This need becomes more essential for more complex civil engineering projects, as well as projects representing a greater risk to the health and safety of the public. Advanced credentialing in addition to licensing may be used to confirm such competency.
Rationale
ASCE, as the recognized leader of the civil engineering profession, has identified the need for licensed civil engineers who serve in responsible charge to attain knowledge aptitude in their chosen civil engineering specialty area(s) that goes beyond what licensure requires. An advanced credential in addition to licensure will serve to identify those civil engineers competent to serve in responsible charge in the various specialty areas of civil engineering. Specialty area credentialling in addition to licensure will protect and advance the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
ASCE Policy Statement 524
First Approved in 2008