Exam Instructions
Time: 2 hours (suggested)
Questions: 100+ Multiple Choice
Select the single best answer for each question.
All questions are based on the Texas Occupations Code and TBPELS Rules.
Section 1: Legislative Purpose, History, and Fundamental Concepts (Questions 1-
15)
1. What is the primary purpose of the Texas Engineering Practice Act?
A. To increase engineer salaries
B. To regulate construction permits
C. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare
D. To promote innovation in engineering
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act exists primarily to safeguard the public. Section 1001.004(b)
explicitly states the purpose is to "protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
,enable the state and the public to identify persons authorized to practice
engineering; and fix responsibility for work done."
2. What historical event directly prompted the Texas Legislature to enact the
Engineering Registration Act in 1937?
A. The Galveston Hurricane
B. The Spindletop oil discovery
C. The New London school explosion
D. The Dallas flood of 1908
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Engineering Registration Act was passed as emergency legislation
following the tragic 1937 school explosion in New London, Texas, which
highlighted the public's inability to identify qualified engineers.
3. According to the legislative intent, how should the Texas Engineering Practice
Act be construed?
A. Narrowly, to restrict its application
B. Liberally, to carry out the intent of the legislature
C. Strictly, only as written in the original 1937 text
D. Casually, as it is merely a guideline
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: Section 1001.004(d) mandates that the chapter "shall be liberally
construed to carry out the intent of the legislature," which is to protect the
public.
4. The Texas Engineering Practice Act declares the practice of engineering to be:
A. A skilled trade
B. A business enterprise
C. A learned profession
D. A technical craft
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act explicitly states that "the practice of engineering is hereby
declared a learned profession to be practiced and regulated as such," holding
practitioners to high professional standards.
,5. Who is authorized to practice engineering in the State of Texas?
A. Anyone with a bachelor's degree in engineering
B. A person duly licensed by TBPELS
C. Any graduate engineer
D. A person with 10 years of experience
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: The privilege of practicing engineering is entrusted only to a person
licensed under Chapter 1001. Unlicensed persons are prohibited from practicing
or offering to practice engineering.
6. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) is
subject to review and potential abolition under which act?
A. The Texas Administrative Procedure Act
B. The Texas Sunset Act
C. The Texas Governmental Reorganization Act
D. The NCEES Model Law
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: Section 1001.005 states that TBPELS is subject to Chapter 325,
Government Code (the Texas Sunset Act), and will be abolished on a specified
date unless continued by the Legislature.
7. According to the Act, the practice of engineering includes which of the
following?
A. Real estate appraisal
B. Construction project accounting
C. Providing an expert engineering opinion or testimony
D. General contracting
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The statutory definition of the "practice of engineering" explicitly
includes "providing an expert engineering opinion or testimony" as a qualifying
service.
8. Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Texas Engineering Practice
Act?
A. To fix responsibility for engineering work
, B. To enable the public to identify authorized engineers
C. To guarantee the profitability of engineering firms
D. To protect the public welfare
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act's purposes are clearly defined as protecting the public,
enabling identification, and fixing responsibility. Guaranteeing profitability is not a
purpose of a regulatory statute.
9. The terms "engineer" or "professional engineer" can only be used by persons
who are:
A. Currently employed in an engineering firm
B. Graduates of an ABET-accredited program
C. Currently licensed by TBPELS
D. Members of a national engineering society
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: Only persons who are currently licensed by the Board may use the
terms "engineer" or "professional engineer." Anyone who violates these
parameters is subject to legal penalties.
10. "Design coordination," as part of the practice of engineering, includes:
A. Ordering materials for a project
B. Hiring and firing construction personnel
C. Reviewing and coordinating technical submissions prepared by others
D. Securing financing for a project
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: "Design coordination" is defined as the review and coordination of
technical submissions prepared by others, including the work of other
professionals, with due professional regard for their abilities.
11. An "engineering survey" is defined as activities required to support the
sound conception, planning, and design of a project. This specifically does NOT
include:
A. Geotechnical site investigations
B. Topographic mapping for design
Time: 2 hours (suggested)
Questions: 100+ Multiple Choice
Select the single best answer for each question.
All questions are based on the Texas Occupations Code and TBPELS Rules.
Section 1: Legislative Purpose, History, and Fundamental Concepts (Questions 1-
15)
1. What is the primary purpose of the Texas Engineering Practice Act?
A. To increase engineer salaries
B. To regulate construction permits
C. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare
D. To promote innovation in engineering
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act exists primarily to safeguard the public. Section 1001.004(b)
explicitly states the purpose is to "protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
,enable the state and the public to identify persons authorized to practice
engineering; and fix responsibility for work done."
2. What historical event directly prompted the Texas Legislature to enact the
Engineering Registration Act in 1937?
A. The Galveston Hurricane
B. The Spindletop oil discovery
C. The New London school explosion
D. The Dallas flood of 1908
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Engineering Registration Act was passed as emergency legislation
following the tragic 1937 school explosion in New London, Texas, which
highlighted the public's inability to identify qualified engineers.
3. According to the legislative intent, how should the Texas Engineering Practice
Act be construed?
A. Narrowly, to restrict its application
B. Liberally, to carry out the intent of the legislature
C. Strictly, only as written in the original 1937 text
D. Casually, as it is merely a guideline
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: Section 1001.004(d) mandates that the chapter "shall be liberally
construed to carry out the intent of the legislature," which is to protect the
public.
4. The Texas Engineering Practice Act declares the practice of engineering to be:
A. A skilled trade
B. A business enterprise
C. A learned profession
D. A technical craft
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act explicitly states that "the practice of engineering is hereby
declared a learned profession to be practiced and regulated as such," holding
practitioners to high professional standards.
,5. Who is authorized to practice engineering in the State of Texas?
A. Anyone with a bachelor's degree in engineering
B. A person duly licensed by TBPELS
C. Any graduate engineer
D. A person with 10 years of experience
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: The privilege of practicing engineering is entrusted only to a person
licensed under Chapter 1001. Unlicensed persons are prohibited from practicing
or offering to practice engineering.
6. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) is
subject to review and potential abolition under which act?
A. The Texas Administrative Procedure Act
B. The Texas Sunset Act
C. The Texas Governmental Reorganization Act
D. The NCEES Model Law
Correct Answer-: B
Rationale: Section 1001.005 states that TBPELS is subject to Chapter 325,
Government Code (the Texas Sunset Act), and will be abolished on a specified
date unless continued by the Legislature.
7. According to the Act, the practice of engineering includes which of the
following?
A. Real estate appraisal
B. Construction project accounting
C. Providing an expert engineering opinion or testimony
D. General contracting
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The statutory definition of the "practice of engineering" explicitly
includes "providing an expert engineering opinion or testimony" as a qualifying
service.
8. Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Texas Engineering Practice
Act?
A. To fix responsibility for engineering work
, B. To enable the public to identify authorized engineers
C. To guarantee the profitability of engineering firms
D. To protect the public welfare
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: The Act's purposes are clearly defined as protecting the public,
enabling identification, and fixing responsibility. Guaranteeing profitability is not a
purpose of a regulatory statute.
9. The terms "engineer" or "professional engineer" can only be used by persons
who are:
A. Currently employed in an engineering firm
B. Graduates of an ABET-accredited program
C. Currently licensed by TBPELS
D. Members of a national engineering society
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: Only persons who are currently licensed by the Board may use the
terms "engineer" or "professional engineer." Anyone who violates these
parameters is subject to legal penalties.
10. "Design coordination," as part of the practice of engineering, includes:
A. Ordering materials for a project
B. Hiring and firing construction personnel
C. Reviewing and coordinating technical submissions prepared by others
D. Securing financing for a project
Correct Answer-: C
Rationale: "Design coordination" is defined as the review and coordination of
technical submissions prepared by others, including the work of other
professionals, with due professional regard for their abilities.
11. An "engineering survey" is defined as activities required to support the
sound conception, planning, and design of a project. This specifically does NOT
include:
A. Geotechnical site investigations
B. Topographic mapping for design
