Engineering Registration

WHAT

This practice defines TVA's position on State registration or licensing of its engineering employees. TVA recognizes the progressive licensing process as evidence of accomplishment and professional competence of its graduate engineers. To encourage registration, TVA reimburses its licensed engineers for the associated costs and for certain professional fees (see Employee Relations Manual, Benefits Policy 2, Reimbursement of Privilege Tax, Professional Membership, License, and Certification Fees).

As a Federal agency, TVA's activities generally are not regulated by State bodies. Therefore, TVA is generally not required to comply with engineering registration regulations issued by the States, except in cases where Congress has delegated regulatory responsibility to the States and in other instances described herein. This practice provides TVA policy regarding compliance with licensing regulations.

WHO

All TVA organizations performing engineering functions are subject to this practice. All TVA employees who are engineering graduates should be familiar with this practice. References in this practice to engineering shall be considered to apply equally to architecture.

WHY

This practice will ensure that TVA voluntarily complies with State engineering registration regulations where appropriate, while operating in a competitive, businesslike manner.

HOW

ENGINEERING FOR SPECIFIC TVA PROJECTS

Most of the engineering work performed by TVA is performed as a function of specific TVA projects and programs. This engineering is generally done to benefit TVA equipment, systems, or facilities. However, this engineering may benefit or be performed for others as part of a TVA project or program. An example of this would be engineering by TVA for a local community as part of TVA's economic development program. For the purposes of this practice, all of the above is considered "engineering for specific TVA projects." Engineering for specific TVA projects is generally not subject to State registration regulations. This includes engineering for TVA performed by engineering contractors. As previously mentioned, there are exceptions where State regulatory bodies, in effect, have been delegated Federal authority to regulate Federal agencies. In these cases, such as environmental permitting, engineering may be required to be performed under the applicable engineering registration regulations of the respective State. This requires that the work be performed by or under the responsible charge of a registered engineer and that the engineering deliverables be stamped or sealed. TVA organizations needing guidance regarding whether engineering for TVA in a specific instance is subject to state registration regulations should contact the Office of the General Counsel. Registration is also required for certain national code-required activities such as certification of ASME Section III Certified Design Specifications, for certain nuclear activities defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, and for specific activities as committed by TVA in nuclear plant licensing submittals. At other times, TVA is requested to stamp or seal products of engineering for specific TVA projects when those products are being reviewed by State or local agencies. As a courtesy, these products may be stamped or sealed although it is not required.

ENGINEERING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

TVA organizations may at times perform engineering services for the general public. These are engineering services that are not part of specific TVA projects and programs but are performed for the public to increase TVA efficiency by devoting temporarily underutilized resources to revenue-producing activities. It is TVA's policy that this "engineering for the general public" will be conducted in accordance with the registration regulations of the respective State applicable to non-Federal entities. TVA will follow the practices of others similarly engaged, including where such practices are standard, the following:

The work must be performed by or under the responsible charge of an engineer registered in the state in which the facility is located.Appropriate engineering products must be stamped or sealed.
Use of the title "engineer" shall be limited to registered professional engineers in marketing or performing these services. This limitation on the use of the title "engineer" includes its use in correspondence, publications, and brochures, when these materials are associated with engineering for the general public.

RESOURCES

Office of the General Counsel
TVA Professionalism in Engineering Steering Committee

Last Revised 06/2003