§ 5-8-21. Exemptions.
This chapter shall not be construed to prevent or to affect:
(1) Temporary certificates of registration.
(i) Nonresidents. The practice or offer to practice of engineering by a person not a resident of or
having no established place of business in this state, when that practice does not
exceed in the aggregate more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year; provided,
the person is legally qualified by registration to practice engineering, as defined
in § 5-8-2(h), in his or her own state or country. The person shall make application to the board,
in writing, and after payment of a fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed
two hundred dollars ($200) may be granted a written temporary certificate of registration
for a definite period of time to do a specific job; provided, no right to practice
engineering accrues to an applicant as to any work not prescribed in the temporary
certificate.
(ii) Recent arrivals in state. The practice of a person not a resident of and having no established place of business
in this state, or who has recently become a resident of the state, practicing or offering
to practice engineering in the state for more than thirty (30) days in any calendar
year, if he or she has filed with the board an application for a certificate of registration
and has paid the fee required by this chapter; provided, that the person is legally
qualified by registration to practice engineering in his or her own state or country.
That practice shall continue only for the time that the board requires for the consideration
of the application for registration.
(2) Employees and subordinates. The work of an employee or a subordinate of a person holding a certificate of registration
under this chapter, or an employee of a person practicing lawfully under subsection
(1)(ii) of this section; provided, that work does not include final engineering designs
or decisions and is done under the direct supervision of or checked by a person holding
a certificate of registration under this chapter or a person practicing lawfully under
subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporate, and limited-liability company
practice. The practice or offer to practice of engineering as defined by this chapter by individual
registered professional engineers through a partnership, limited-liability partnership,
corporation, joint stock company, or limited-liability company, or by a partnership,
limited-liability partnership, corporation, limited-liability company, or joint stock
company, through individual registered professional engineers as agents, employees,
officers, or partners or members or managers, provided, that they are jointly and
severally liable for their professional acts; and provided, that all personnel of
that partnership, limited-liability partnership, joint stock company, corporation,
or limited-liability company who act on its behalf as engineers in the state are registered
under this chapter or are persons practicing lawfully or are exempt under subsection
(1) or (2) of this section. Each partnership, limited-liability partnership, joint
stock company, corporation, or limited-liability company providing engineering services
is jointly and severally liable with the individually registered professional engineers,
and all final plans, designs, drawings, specifications, and reports involving engineering
judgment and discretion, when issued, shall be dated and bear the seals and signatures
of the engineers who prepared them.
(4) Federal employees. The practice by officers and employees of the government of the United States while
engaged within this state in the practice of engineering for that government; provided,
that no right to practice engineering accrues to those persons as to any other engineering
work. The rights to registration after leaving government employment shall not be
granted except under the provisions established under § 5-8-11.
(5) Railroad, telephone, telegraph, and other public utility companies. The practice of engineering, as prescribed in this chapter, by railroad, telephone,
telegraph, and other public utility companies, and their officers and employees while
engaged in the work of those companies in this state; provided, that the practice
is carried on under the responsible charge of an engineer or engineers in this state,
or in any other state under requirements equivalent to those prescribed in this chapter;
provided that all plans for natural gas infrastructure, including, but not limited
to, repairs, maintenance, and construction, shall be built in accordance with design
plans and specifications approved by a Rhode Island registered professional engineer
when the work could pose a material risk to public safety; and provided, that no right
to practice engineering accrues to any unregistered person as to any other engineering
work.
(6) Manufacturing corporations. The practice of engineering, as prescribed in this chapter, by manufacturing corporations,
and their officers and employees while engaged in manufacturing and research and development
activities for those corporations.
(7) Research and development corporations. The practice of engineering, as prescribed in this chapter, by research and development
corporations, and their officers and employees while engaged in research and development
activities for that corporation.
(8) Other professions. The practice of architecture, landscape architecture, or land surveying.