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LicenseReciprocity

Engineering License from New York to South Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Dakota Board of Technical Professions ↗

A PE license transfers from New York to South Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions, verify your New York license, and meet South Dakota's endorsement requirements. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record and are not retaken; South Dakota accepts a verified NCEES record as evidence of meeting comity requirements and requires no additional state engineering exam.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

South Dakota grants PE licensure by comity, so a Professional Engineer licensed in New York does not start over — but does file a full South Dakota application. Your New York license, ABET degree, qualifying experience, and FE and PE results reach the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions through your NCEES Record; the board's task is to confirm they meet South Dakota's practice act, not to re-test you. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record and are not retaken; South Dakota accepts a verified NCEES record as evidence of meeting comity requirements and requires no additional state engineering exam. Two things govern your timeline: keeping your New York license active and unencumbered while the South Dakota application is pending, and clearing any South Dakota-specific exam or statutes review before the license issues.

What changes, New York → South Dakota

Side-by-side: New York vs South Dakota (Engineering (PE)), verified 2026-07-21
New York (current)South Dakota (destination)
Application fee$377 (NY fee for licensure and first registration is $377 (the same fee applies to the endorsement pathway); transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 for the first board and $100 for each additional board, paid separately to NCEES)$100 (SD Board of Technical Professions comity/reciprocity individual application fee; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES. Individual biennial renewal is $80.)
Processing timeThe NYSED Office of the Professions does not publish a comity/endorsement processing time on its engineering pagesThe Board of Technical Professions publishes no comity turnaround; comity applications are processed once license verification (or the NCEES record) is received.
Licensing authorityNew York State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology (NYSED Office of the Professions)South Dakota Board of Technical Professions

The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Dakota sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm South Dakota's current requirements on the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold and verify an active PE license in another U.S. state (or foreign country).
  5. Submit a verified NCEES record (accepted as evidence of meeting comity requirements) or complete the ARSD 20:38:29 application items.
  6. Be fully licensed by the board before offering or practicing engineering in South Dakota.
  7. Meet the underlying degree-and-experience standard (EAC/ABET degree plus qualifying experience under SDCL 36-18A).
  8. Pay the fees ($100 (SD Board of Technical Professions comity/reciprocity individual application fee; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES. Individual biennial renewal is $80.)) and allow The Board of Technical Professions publishes no comity turnaround; comity applications are processed once license verification (or the NCEES record) is received..

Official links

South Dakota Board of Technical Professions ↗South Dakota application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: South Dakota → New YorkEngineering in New YorkEngineering in South DakotaAll engineering states

Frequently asked questions

Does South Dakota accept a New York PE license?

A PE license transfers from New York to South Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions, verify your New York license, and meet South Dakota's endorsement requirements. FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record and are not retaken; South Dakota accepts a verified NCEES record as evidence of meeting comity requirements and requires no additional state engineering exam.

Do I retake the FE or PE exam moving from New York to South Dakota?

FE and PE exam results transfer through your NCEES Record and are not retaken; South Dakota accepts a verified NCEES record as evidence of meeting comity requirements and requires no additional state engineering exam.

What does the New York-to-South Dakota comity application cost?

$100 (SD Board of Technical Professions comity/reciprocity individual application fee; transmitting an NCEES Record costs $175 first board / $100 each additional, paid separately to NCEES. Individual biennial renewal is $80.).

Can I keep my New York PE license after I'm licensed in South Dakota?

Yes — PE licenses stack. Keep the New York 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.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]