# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 14. Professional Engineers

### Subtitle 5. Prohibited Acts; Penalties

#### Section 14-501

Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice engineering in the State unless licensed by the Board.

#### Section 14-501.1

Except for a professional engineer who operates a business as a sole practitioner, a person may not operate a business through which engineering services are performed or offered to be performed unless:

(1) the business is a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company; and

(2) the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company holds a permit issued by the Board.

#### Section 14-502

Unless authorized under this title to practice engineering without the supervision required under Sec. 14-303 of this title, a person may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including "engineer", "professional engineer", "licensed engineer", or "registered engineer", by use of the term "engineering" in the name of the person's business activity, by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person is authorized to practice engineering in this State.

#### Section 14-502.1

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section and unless a person holds a permit issued by the Board, the person may not represent to the public, by the use of a title, including "licensed professional engineers", "professional engineers", or "registered engineers", by the use of the term "professional engineering" or "engineering", by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person holds a permit or otherwise is authorized to operate a business through which engineering is practiced in the State.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a professional engineer who operates the business as a sole practitioner.

#### Section 14-503

A person may not:

(1) use or attempt to use the license of another individual; or

(2) impersonate another individual who holds a license.

#### Section 14-504

(a) Other than a professional engineer who obtains a seal as authorized under this title, a person may not use or attempt to use a seal.

(b) While the license of an individual is suspended, revoked, or expired, a person may not endorse a document, as provided under Sec. 14-402 of this title, with the name or seal of the individual.

#### Section 14-505

A person may not give false information to the Board in an attempt to obtain a license.

#### Section 14-506

(a) Except as otherwise provided under this section, an individual whose license has been suspended or revoked under Sec. 14-317 of this title may not practice engineering in any manner as:

  (1) an associate, agent, employee, or other subordinate of a professional engineer; or

  (2) a principal, associate, agent, employee, or other subordinate of a corporation or partnership that provides engineering services.

(b) The prohibition set forth under subsection (a) of this section does not apply to an individual while practicing engineering:

  (1) as an officer or employee of the federal government, as provided under Sec. 14-301(b)(1) of this title;

  (2) as an employee of a regulated utility company, as provided under Sec. 14-301(b)(2) of this title; or

  (3) as an officer or employee of a corporation, subject to the conditions provided under Sec. 14-302 of this title.

#### Section 14-507

An individual who is authorized to practice engineering may not practice or offer to practice engineering in those areas of engineering in which the individual is not competent to practice.

#### Section 14-508

(a) A person who violates any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both.

(b)

  (1) The Board may impose on a person who violates any provision of this title a penalty not exceeding $5,000 for each violation.

  (2) In setting the amount of the penalty, the Board shall consider:

    (i) the seriousness of the violation;

    (ii) the harm caused by the violation;

    (iii) the good faith of the violator;

    (iv) any history of previous violations by the violator; and

    (v) any other relevant factors.

  (3) The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this subsection into the General Fund of the State.

---

Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)