History

The Kansas State Board of Technical Professions (KSBTP) is a combined board that represents Professional Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Surveying and Geology. The Board was combined in 1976 for four professions, with Geology being added in 2000. Registration of the individual professions had occurred much earlier. The original Board was comprised of nine members. The largest change in the Board occurred in 1993 when the Board increased its size to the present thirteen members.

In 1976, K.S.A. 74-7001 was established by the Legislature to create the Board of Technical Professions by combining the Engineering Examiners Registration Board, the Architects Registration Board, and the Landscape Architects Registration Board. K.S.A. 74-7004 provides that the purpose of the Board of Technical Professions is to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity, skills and practice in the technical professions and to safeguard the safety, life, health, property and welfare of the public.

In the 1997 Legislature, H.B. 2490 created the licensing of geologists starting July 1, 2000, under the Board of Technical Professions. Effective July 1, 2000, a licensed geologist replaced a public member on the Board.

The Kansas State Board of Technical Professions currently has 13 members: two public members, three professional engineers, three architects, one landscape architect, two professional surveyors, one member that is a dual professional engineer/professional surveyor, and one professional geologist.

Legal Authority

KSBTP was established by the Kansas Legislature to act as the administrative agency for licensing and regulating the five professions. The Board has the legal responsibility to protect the public health, safety and welfare by taking the necessary steps to ensure that only qualified individuals practice the technical professions, and that once licensed, an individual adheres to the strict ethical and performance standards set forth in the Board’s regulations. The Board’s licensing responsibilities are essentially administrative in nature, however, the Board’s enforcement responsibilities, i.e., investigation and prosecution of violations, are judicial in nature. For this reason, the agency is what is commonly referred to as a “quasi-judicial” agency. When the Board receives a complaint from an individual or entity alleging a violation of the laws, or if the Board upon its own motion decides that a violation may have occurred, the Board has a responsibility for investigating the circumstances of the case to determine whether or not the alleged violation actually occurred.

History of Licensing

Licensing has been in existence in the State of Kansas since the Registration Board for Professional Engineers with its first meeting in July of 1931. It was comprised of five individuals, including the Deans of Engineering at Kansas State University and University of Kansas, a County Engineer, a Consulting Engineer and an Engineer with a structural steel fabrication company. All were appointed by then Governor Harry Woodring on July 2, 1931. Professional Engineer license #1 was issued to R. J. Paulette.

The Architectural Registration Board held its first meeting in June 1949, after two years of legislative debate before final approval of statutes allowed the creation of the Board. The Board was comprised of five individuals who were in private practice; however, the first temporary Chairman was Charles Marshall, who was the State Architect. Architect License #1 was issued to Charles W. Shaver.

The Board for Landscape Architects was established in 1968 and our records for its initial start are not available. It is known that Ralph Ricklefs of Salina was Chairman of the Board and instrumental in getting the Board established. Landscape Architect license #1 was issued to Robert P. Ealy on July 21, 1968.

The Land Surveyors were incorporated into the Engineer’s Board and information about a separate board is not available at the Board office. The first Land Surveyor license was issued to Truman Schlup on January 1, 1969.

On January 29, 1999, the first Geology License was issued to Lee Gerhard.

The impetus to combine the Boards was primarily driven by State Government consolidating administrative activities. The first meeting to discuss the combined operation of the Boards of Engineering, Architecture and Landscape Architecture was June of 1970. They met again in April of 1972, at which time it was agreed that the Kansas Engineering Society would present a proposed bill to the Legislature in the 1973 session.

Charlotte Olander was selected as Executive Secretary in April 1976 and Hal Walker was the representative from the Attorney General’s office. Other persons in the Executive Secretary/Director position were: Jean Barbee, Betty Rose, Jean Boline, Mary Leigh Dyck and Shelby L. Lopez. Larry G. Karns currently serves as Executive Director.

Dedicated professionals and public members have served as Board Members. The effort by these professionals has allowed the Board to maintain the high standards that the State of Kansas has for its’ professionals. A list of Board members is provided that have served on the Board since 1976.

Kansas State Board of Technical Professions Historical List of Board Members (1976 – Present)

Kansas State Board of Technical Professions Executive Directors (1976 - 2018)