President's Message
The Mississippi State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers was established by legislation in 1928 and was governed by a board of five engineers appointed by the governor. In 1962 the enabling legislation was expanded to include registration of land surveyors and the Board was expanded to include a single surveyor member. A subsequent amendment to the statute in 1983 added an additional surveyor board member, increasing the Board to seven members. The most recent modification to the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors was in 2004 when the Board was further expanded to include two engineers and one surveyor from each of the three Mississippi Supreme Court districts for a total of nine board members.
Over the past 18 months the current Board has worked toward updating and reorganizing the nearly 100 year-old statute. The most significant changes involved aligning the Mississippi code with the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) model law where feasible, avoiding duplication of language for engineers and surveyors, eliminating inconsistencies and archaic terminology. Substantive changes include comity licensure through international agreements, licensure procedures for military personnel, increased fee caps and increased number of organizations eligible to nominate candidates for the Governor’s consideration for appointments to the Board. The legislation has currently been passed by both houses of the legislature and will be forwarded to the Governor for his consideration.
For the past several years the Board has funded a biennial competitive grant program available to universities and community colleges with accredited engineering and/or land surveying curriculums in the State of Mississippi. This program has provided much needed funding for laboratory and surveying equipment. The FY2027 budget includes up to $600,000 available for this program. You can learn more about prior grant awards in our PEP Talks newsletters found at the following link.
This summer will mark the third year of the Board’s summer intern program. The program has been a resounding success with engineering students from Mississippi State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi College participating. The interns have provided valuable service to the Board while gaining a unique perspective on how the Board functions and the value of professional licensure. If you know an engineering or surveying student who might be interested in participating in this program, please have them contact the Board office.
The Board's mission is to safeguard life, health, property, and promote public welfare by providing a complete and thorough licensure process for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, ensuring that each is properly qualified to practice in the state of Mississippi. While the Board’s function is integral, it is the education, experience, diligence and integrity of the engineers and surveyors licensed by the Board that ensure that the mission is accomplished.
Thank you for your commitment to the engineering and surveying professions in the State of Mississippi. Please do not hesitate to call on us if we may assist you in any way.
Carey Hardin, PE
Board President 2024 – 2026
The Board is composed of nine (9) members - six (6) licensed professional engineers and three (3) licensed professional surveyors who are not licensed professional engineers. Board Members are appointed by the Governor. Each appointment is made from a list of nominees furnished by the Mississippi Engineering Society (MES) and by the Mississippi Association of Professional Surveyors (MAPS). Appointments are for a term of four (4) years, and each Board Member is eligible for re-nomination and reappointment. The Board shall annually elect the following officers: President, Vice President and Secretary.
Officers elected for the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year are identified below:
Board Members
|
Board President
Carey Hardin, PE Starkville, Mississippi
Post 3, 3rd District, Northern
Appointment expires 07/01/2022
|
Board Vice President
Blake Collins, PS Brandon, Mississippi
Post 7, 1st District, Central
Appointment expires 07/01/2024 |
Board Secretary / Treasurer
Dr. Dennis D. Truax, PE Starkville, Mississippi
Post 6, 3rd District, Northern
Appointment expires 07/01/2017 |
|
Steven A. Twedt, PE Biloxi, Mississippi
Post 5, 2nd District, Southern
Appointment expires 05/31/2020
|
Bill Mitchell, PE / PS Gulfport, Mississippi
Post 2, 2nd District, Southern
Appointment expires 06/30/2025 |
Patrick Martino, PS Biloxi, Mississippi
Post 8, 2nd District, Southern
Appointment expires 07/01/2021 |
|
Clint Tidwell, PS Ripley, Mississippi
Post 9, 3rd District, Northern
Appointment expires 07/01/2026
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VACANT Post 1, 1st District, Central
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VACANT Post 4, 1st District, Central
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Annual Budget request:
Information on the Board's annual budget request can be found on the website for the Mississippi Legislative Budget Office. In addition, you can also find the requests for all previous years.
You can access this information at the following link:
Annual Report to the Governor:
You can view the Board's latest report to the Governor (per MS Code § 73-13-19) below: