As of January 1, 2005, no corporation, firm or partnership may engage in the practice of professional engineering in this state unless it has been issued a certificate of authority by the board. In order to qualify for a certificate of authority, a corporation, firm or partnership must have at least one (1) Mississippi-licensed professional engineer as a principal officer, partner or designated principal engineer of the firm who has management responsibility for such practice and who makes significant technical and/or contractual judgments on behalf of the firm which would affect the firm’s professional reputation and liability.

The board shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations setting procedures, standards and other requirements for issuing and maintaining a certificate of authority for corporations, firms or partnerships practicing engineering in the State of Mississippi.

Applications for a certificate of authority shall be on the forms prescribed and furnished by the board, and provide all the information required by said board. The board shall establish a fee for the certificate of authority application, not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for a one-year certificate or Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) for a two-year certificate. Any corporation, firm or partnership having the necessary qualifications as prescribed herein and the rules and regulations of the board shall be issued a certificate of authority for said corporation, firm or partnership to practice engineering and to contract and collect fees for furnishing this service.

Each certificate of authorization will expire on December 31 of the end of the renewal period year. It shall be the duty of the board to notify every corporation, firm or partnership holding a certificate of authority under Sections 73-13-1 through 73-13-45 of the date of the expiration of the certificate and the amount of the fee that shall be required for its renewal for one (1) year or two (2) years. The renewal fee shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) for one (1) year or Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) for two (2) years; penalties for late renewal shall be ten percent (10%) per month that payment is delayed. Additionally, if any of the information on the initial or any subsequent renewal application changes for the corporation, firm or partnership, said corporation, firm or partnership shall notify the board in the form and manner prescribed by the board within thirty (30) days of the change.

Effective January 1, 2005, the Secretary of State shall not issue a certificate of incorporation, licensure or authorization to an applicant or licensure as a foreign firm to a corporation, firm or partnership which includes in its name, or among the objectives for which it is established, any of the words, “engineer,” “engineering,” or any modification or derivation thereof, unless the board has issued for said applicant a certificate of authority or a letter indicating the eligibility of such applicant to receive such a certificate. The corporation, firm or partnership applying shall supply such certificate or letter from the board with its application for incorporation, licensure or authorization to the Secretary of State.

An engineer who renders occasional, part-time or consulting engineering services to or for a corporation, firm or partnership may not, for the purposes of this section, be designated as being responsible for the professional activities of the firm.

No such corporation, firm or partnership shall be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, officers, partners, members or managers by reason of its compliance with the provisions of this section. No individual practicing engineering under this chapter shall be relieved of responsibility for engineering services performed by reason of employment or other relationship with a firm holding an authorization certificate.