The Certificate of Authorization Application is the form a business entity files with the Montana Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors, part of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry's Business Standards Division, to obtain its certificate of authorization. It serves firms that offer professional engineering services, professional land surveying services, or both in Montana. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and the board's online application are published by the agency.
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What is Certificate of Authorization – Montana?
The Certificate of Authorization Application is the form a business entity files with the Montana Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors to obtain the certificate of authorization required before it practices professional engineering or land surveying in Montana.
The form cites 37-67-328, MCA, which requires a business entity registered with the Montana Secretary of State to obtain the certificate from the board before engaging in either practice. The same statute allows the entity to practice in Montana if at least one employee is licensed by the board and identified as being in responsible charge of the engineering or land surveying work performed in the state.
The application collects:
- the firm's name, contact person, mailing address, EIN and state of original incorporation;
- the services offered: professional engineering, professional land surveying, or both;
- the business organization type and whether any legal or disciplinary actions have been instituted against the entity;
- every Montana main office and branch office or business location;
- each licensee in responsible charge, with license number, business address and whether the licensee is responsible for engineering, land surveying, or both.
It ends with a declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the PE and/or PLS in charge. The form is dated Revised 08/2022. The board also accepts the application online, at the address printed on the form.
Who needs to file Certificate of Authorization – Montana?
A business entity registered with the Montana Secretary of State that will engage in professional engineering or professional land surveying in Montana needs a certificate of authorization from the board first. The entity must have at least one employee who is licensed by the board and identified as in responsible charge of that work in Montana.
Other conditions printed on the form:
- A business with one or more branch offices or business locations in Montana must list each one and at least one licensed employee in responsible charge of the work performed there.
- At least one licensee must be listed for each professional service the firm provides, and all listed licensees must hold active licenses.
Exclusion: a sole proprietor who is not required to register with the Montana Secretary of State is not required to apply for a certificate of authorization. The form refers registration questions to the Secretary of State at www.sos.mt.gov or 406-444-2034.
The declaration is signed by the PE and/or PLS in charge.
When to file Certificate of Authorization – Montana
Apply before the business entity engages in the practice of professional engineering or professional land surveying in Montana: 37-67-328, MCA, as quoted on the form, requires the certificate to be obtained first. The form prints no other filing deadline and no processing time.
Two later events trigger a notice to the board office. If a certificate holder no longer has a Montana licensee in responsible charge, it must notify the board and must not offer or provide engineering or land surveying services in Montana until a licensee in responsible charge is identified. If a PE or PLS designated in responsible charge leaves the certificate holder's employment, that person must notify the board office in writing within 45 working days, and the certificate holder must designate a replacement and notify the board in writing within 45 working days (ARM 24.183.408).
Documents you need
- Proof of registration with the Montana Secretary of State, which the form says to include with the application and which supports the statement that the entity is registered and in good standing.
- Copies of the documents that initiated each legal or disciplinary action and all final orders, only if you answered Yes to whether any such actions have been instituted against the business entity (37-1-105 MCA).
How to fill out Certificate of Authorization – Montana
Enter the firm's identifying details
Fill in Firm or Business Name, Business Contact Name and Contact Email Address. Then enter the Mailing Address, City, State, and ZIP Code, and the EIN.
Enter state of original incorporation
In State of Original Incorporation, write the state where the business entity was originally incorporated.
Select the professional services offered
Check one option: professional engineering services, professional land surveying services, or both professional engineering and land surveying services, as the business will offer them in Montana.
Confirm Secretary of State registration
Check the statement that the business entity is registered with the Montana Secretary of State and is in good standing. Have the proof of registration ready to submit.
Select the business organization
Check Partnership, Professional Corp., Other Corp. (LLC, LLP, S-Corp., etc.) or Sole Proprietorship.
Answer the legal or disciplinary question
Check Yes or No for whether legal or disciplinary actions have been instituted against the business entity. If Yes, attach the documents that initiated each action and all final orders.
List all Montana business locations
Enter each Business Address in Montana and mark it Main Office or Branch Office.
List licensees in responsible charge
For each licensee enter the name, license number and business address, and mark Eng., Land Surv., or both for the services in responsible charge. List at least one active licensee for each service the firm provides, including branch offices.
Sign and date the declaration
Enter the name in the declaration, then have the PE and/or PLS in charge sign and date it. The declaration is made under penalty of perjury.
Review, download and assemble
Check every entry against your records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Add proof of Secretary of State registration, any disciplinary-action documents and your check, and submit through the channels under How to submit.
How to submit Certificate of Authorization – Montana
You can apply online or complete the form and submit it using the contact information printed at its bottom.
- Online: the form says the application may be made online at https://ebiz.mt.gov.pol, exactly as printed on the form.
- Using the form: submit the completed form with its attachments to the Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors, PO Box 200513 | 301 S Park, 4th Floor | Helena, MT 59620-0513. Phone: 406-444-6880. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.engineer.mt.gov.
Include proof of registration with the Montana Secretary of State. An application fee applies; the amount is printed at the top of the form. Make checks payable to Board of PE & PLS. If you answered Yes to the legal or disciplinary actions question, attach the required copies. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out proof of registration with the Montana Secretary of State; the form says to include it.
- Answering Yes to the legal or disciplinary actions question without attaching the documents that initiated each action and all final orders.
- Listing no licensee for one of the services the firm offers; at least one licensee must be listed for each professional service.
- Listing a licensee whose license is not active; the form requires all listed licensees to hold active licenses.
- Omitting a Montana branch office or business location, or not marking each address as Main Office or Branch Office.
- Making the check payable to anyone other than Board of PE & PLS.
- Leaving the declaration unsigned or undated; it is signed by the PE and/or PLS in charge.
- Continuing to offer engineering or land surveying services after the last Montana licensee in responsible charge has left, before a new one is identified.
- Applying as a sole proprietor who is not required to register with the Montana Secretary of State; such a sole proprietor does not need a certificate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Certificate of Authorization in Montana?
It is the certificate a business entity must obtain from the Montana Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors before engaging in professional engineering or professional land surveying in the state. The application form is this document, and 37-67-328, MCA is the statute it cites.
Who has to apply for a certificate of authorization?
A business entity registered with the Montana Secretary of State that will practice professional engineering or land surveying in Montana. It needs at least one board-licensed employee identified as in responsible charge of that work. A sole proprietor not required to register with the Secretary of State does not need one.
Can I apply for the certificate of authorization online?
Yes. The form says the application may be made online at https://ebiz.mt.gov.pol, as printed, or completed on the form and submitted using the contact information at its bottom. FillingPDF only lets you fill out and download the PDF; it does not submit it to the board.
What do I attach to the application?
Include proof of registration with the Montana Secretary of State. If you answered Yes to the legal or disciplinary actions question, also attach copies of the documents that initiated each action and all final orders, as 37-1-105 MCA requires.
Is there a fee, and how do I pay it?
Yes, an application fee applies, and the amount is printed at the top of the form. Make checks payable to Board of PE & PLS. For questions, the board's phone number on the form is 406-444-6880.
What happens if my licensee in responsible charge leaves?
Notify the board office. The departing PE or PLS must notify the board in writing within 45 working days, and the certificate holder must name a replacement and notify the board in writing within 45 working days. Until a Montana licensee in responsible charge is identified, the firm must not offer or provide services in Montana.
Who signs the Certificate of Authorization Application?
The PE and/or PLS in charge signs and dates the declaration at the end of the form. By signing, they state under penalty of perjury that the information is true and complete to the best of their knowledge.
Where do I send the completed application?
Use the contact information at the bottom of the form: Board of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors, PO Box 200513 | 301 S Park, 4th Floor | Helena, MT 59620-0513, phone 406-444-6880, email [email protected].
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