Engineering License from Pennsylvania to Alaska: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) ↗
A PE license transfers from Pennsylvania to Alaska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), verify your Pennsylvania license, and meet Alaska's endorsement requirements. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record (the Council Record verifies education, exams, and current registration) and are not retaken; Alaska adds two state-specific requirements for every engineer applicant, including comity applicants: a Board-approved arctic engineering course (the arctic and seismic requirement, 12 AAC 36.110) and an Alaska jurisprudence questionnaire covering AS 08.48, AS 08.01, and 12 AAC 36 and 12 AAC 02.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Alaska grants PE licensure by comity, so a Professional Engineer licensed in Pennsylvania does not start over — but does file a full Alaska application. Your Pennsylvania license, ABET degree, qualifying experience, and FE and PE results reach the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) through your NCEES Record; the board's task is to confirm they meet Alaska's practice act, not to re-test you. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record (the Council Record verifies education, exams, and current registration) and are not retaken; Alaska adds two state-specific requirements for every engineer applicant, including comity applicants: a Board-approved arctic engineering course (the arctic and seismic requirement, 12 AAC 36.110) and an Alaska jurisprudence questionnaire covering AS 08.48, AS 08.01, and 12 AAC 36 and 12 AAC 02. Two things govern your timeline: keeping your Pennsylvania license active and unencumbered while the Alaska application is pending, and clearing any Alaska-specific exam or statutes review before the license issues.
What changes, Pennsylvania → Alaska
| Pennsylvania (current) | Alaska (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 (Certification, licensure or registration application fee (49 Pa. Code 37.17(b)); a provisional endorsement license may be issued while remaining requirements are completed. Transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 for the first board and $100 for each additional board, paid separately to NCEES.) | $300 ($200 non-refundable application fee plus $100 registration fee ($300 total) for engineer registration by comity, payable to the State of Alaska; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES) |
| Processing time | 4–6 weeks (Pennsylvania advises allowing approximately 4 to 6 weeks for initial review of an application submitted through pals.pa.gov.) | No fixed turnaround published; the Board reviews comity applications only at its quarterly meetings (typically Feb, May, Aug, Nov), a complete application and fees must reach the Juneau office about 30 days before a meeting, and applicants are notified within ~3 weeks after the meeting |
| Licensing authority | State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists | Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Alaska sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Alaska's current requirements on the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current engineer registration in another jurisdiction obtained by the FE and PE examinations (the FE may be waived by verified experience under 12 AAC 36.090).
- Complete a Board-approved arctic engineering course, or its equivalent (arctic and seismic requirement, 12 AAC 36.110).
- Complete the Alaska jurisprudence questionnaire (AS 08.48, AS 08.01, 12 AAC 36 and 12 AAC 02).
- Verify responsible-charge experience: at least 24 months verified by a PE in the branch sought, or (if registered 5+ years) two current PE reference letters — the NCEES Record does not cover this section.
- Underlying standard: EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree plus qualifying progressive experience.
- Pay the fees ($300 ($200 non-refundable application fee plus $100 registration fee ($300 total) for engineer registration by comity, payable to the State of Alaska; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES)) and allow No fixed turnaround published; the Board reviews comity applications only at its quarterly meetings (typically Feb, May, Aug, Nov), a complete application and fees must reach the Juneau office about 30 days before a meeting, and applicants are notified within ~3 weeks after the meeting.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Alaska accept a Pennsylvania PE license?
A PE license transfers from Pennsylvania to Alaska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), verify your Pennsylvania license, and meet Alaska's endorsement requirements. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record (the Council Record verifies education, exams, and current registration) and are not retaken; Alaska adds two state-specific requirements for every engineer applicant, including comity applicants: a Board-approved arctic engineering course (the arctic and seismic requirement, 12 AAC 36.110) and an Alaska jurisprudence questionnaire covering AS 08.48, AS 08.01, and 12 AAC 36 and 12 AAC 02.
Do I retake the FE or PE exam moving from Pennsylvania to Alaska?
FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record (the Council Record verifies education, exams, and current registration) and are not retaken; Alaska adds two state-specific requirements for every engineer applicant, including comity applicants: a Board-approved arctic engineering course (the arctic and seismic requirement, 12 AAC 36.110) and an Alaska jurisprudence questionnaire covering AS 08.48, AS 08.01, and 12 AAC 36 and 12 AAC 02.
What does the Pennsylvania-to-Alaska comity application cost?
$300 ($200 non-refundable application fee plus $100 registration fee ($300 total) for engineer registration by comity, payable to the State of Alaska; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES).
Can I keep my Pennsylvania PE license after I'm licensed in Alaska?
Yes — PE licenses stack. Keep the Pennsylvania license active (its renewal and continuing-education/PDH clock run separately) and you hold both. Engineers working near state lines or nationally routinely carry several PE licenses at once, all sourced from a single NCEES Record.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Alaska AELS — Engineer by Comity Registration Application Instructions (form 08-4085; fees, arctic course, jurisprudence questionnaire, experience) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alaska AELS — Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (home) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NCEES — Records Program (comity transmittal fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 37 (fees 37.17; licensure by endorsement 37.20) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA Dept. of State - Engineers, Land Surveyors, Geologists board ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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