License Renewal Information

Use BPELSG Connect to Renew

Use the New Online Portal BPELSG Connect to complete your license renewal:  You are eligible to renew your license in BPELSG Connect if your license expires within the next 60 days, or if your license has been delinquent less than two (2) years.  If your license expires in more than 60 days, wait until the date is within 60 days, and then proceed to BPELSG Connect to renew.    If your license has been delinquent for more than two (2) years you will not be able to use BPELSG Connect, and you will need to submit your renewal on the License Renewal Request Form.  (Note: If your license is five (5) or more years delinquent, you cannot renew and will need to go through the application process to acquire a new license) You may only use the paper form to renew your license if your license has been delinquent for more than two (2) years, or if you cannot successfully complete your renewal in BPELSG Connect.  All other licensees must use BPELSG Connect to renew.

Follow the steps below to renew your license(s) in BPELSG Connect:
1) If you don’t know your license number(s) and/or license type(s), use License Lookup to locate this information.

2) Register a user profile in Connect using a preferred email address as your username. Once you have registered, you will receive an email with a temporary password to use to confirm your registration and to establish a personalized password. (If during the registration process you did not opt out of receiving SMS (text) messages, you will also receive an SMS message alerting you that you have received a new email from the Connect system.)
Please Note: Your personal information like the last four digits of your social security number and birth date is only required when first registering within the system and is not accessible through BPELSG Connect. Once registered in BPELSG Connect, it is anticipated that you will not be asked to provide that information again.

3) Upon confirming the registration with a personalized password, you will be asked if you have a current license(s) with BPELSG. If you answer ‘Yes’ to that question, you will be presented with the opportunity to ‘link’ each license that is in good standing, in your name. (You will need to know the license type and license number to successfully link a license.) Also, don’t worry if you miss this opportunity or do not link all your active licenses during this step, because once you are logged into your profile, there will be the ability to link a license on your dashboard.

4) Once you have successfully created your profile and logged into the BPELSG Connect system, you should first confirm all your contact information, especially your address of record. If necessary, you will need to either enter your preferred address of record or confirm that what is currently shown, is accurate.

5) Your dashboard will display any current licenses with a button choice to renew your license(s).

6) Once you have confirmed your contact information and chosen which license(s) you wish to renew, you will certify to that information and be presented with the screen to enter the credit/debit card information for payment. Upon submittal of the card information (payment), you will be returned to your dashboard where you can see the current status of your license(s).  Please be advised that it can take up to 48 hours for the expiration date to update. You will also have the opportunity to view/download/print any notifications related to your renewal submittal, such as a confirmation approval and a payment processed confirmation receipt. 

Please navigate to URL: https://connect.bpelsg.ca.gov to create or log in to BPELSG Connect accounts.

Additional License Renewal Information

Renewal Fees:  View the Licensee Fee Schedule for the current renewal fees.

Renewal Notices: Renewal notices are sent to your address of record on file with BPELSG approximately 60 days before your expiration date. Please note that in the future BPELSG may offer an option to receive renewal notices via email; however, currently renewal notices are only sent via US Mail.  The license expiration date is printed on the renewal notice and on your pocket certificate. The expiration date is also available on License Lookup. If you did not receive your renewal notice, you can use BPELSG Connect to submit your license renewal.  You are eligible to renew your license if it expires within the next 60 days.  If your license expires in more than 60 days, wait until the date is within the 60 days, and then proceed to BPELSG Connect to renew.

Address Change:  Verify that your address is correct in BPELSG Connect before completing your renewal so that your paper pocket certificate will be mailed to the correct address.  If you have an address change, you must change your address in BPELSG Connect. You are required by Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 412, to notify the Board of a change of address within 30 days of the change.

Renewal Period - Licenses are valid for two (2) years from the assigned renewal date (not the issue date).

First-time Licensure for Engineers and Land Surveyors: The application fee includes licensure through the first renewal quarter after the license is issued. Approximately one (1) to two (2) months after being notified of licensure, first-time licensees will receive a renewal notice for payment of the full renewal fee. Once renewed, the license will be valid for an additional two (2) years. The renewal month and day will remain the same until the license is retired, canceled, or revoked.

First-time Licensure for Geologists and Geophysicists:
 The application fee includes licensure through the end of the licensee’s birth month after the license is issued.  Approximately one (1) to two (2) months prior to the first-time licensee’s birth month, a renewal notice for payment of the full renewal fee will be issued.  Once renewed, the license will be due for renewal on a two (2) year cycle. The renewal month and day will remain the same until the license is retired, canceled, or revoked.

Renew on Time to Avoid Penalty: Renewing on time will save you a delinquent penalty fee equal to half of the current renewal fee. If your renewal payment is submitted after the grace period, the penalty fee must be submitted with the renewal fee. Engineers have a 60-day grace period. Land Surveyors, Geologists, and Geophysicists have a 30-day grace period.  The grace period only applies to the fee you have to pay to renew your license. If you do not pay your renewal fee by the expiration date, your license will be considered expired.  You cannot legally practice under your license until proper payment for each license is received and processed by BPELSG. It is illegal to practice, offer to practice, or use any restricted titles with an expired license, including during the grace period.

Delinquent License: A license is delinquent between the first day after the grace period and up to five (5) years after the grace period. Engineers have a 60-day grace period. Land Surveyors, Geologists, and Geophysicists have a 30-day grace period. A delinquent license can be brought up to date by paying all accrued and unpaid renewal and delinquency fees. If your license is five (5) or more years delinquent, you cannot renew and will need to go through the application process to acquire a new license.

Multiple Licenses: BPELSG Connect allows you to link to all of your current licenses in good standing and allow for the renewal of each license.

Structural and Geotechnical Engineers: In BPELSG Connect you will need to ensure that you link your Civil Engineer license and your Structural and/or Geotechnical Engineer license(s) before completing a renewal.  BPELSG Connect will not allow you to renew your Structural and/or Geotechnical license(s) without first (or simultaneously) renewing your Civil Engineer license.

Certified Engineering Geologists and Hydrogeologists: In BPELSG Connect you will need to ensure that you link your Professional Geologist license and your Certified Engineering Geologist and/or Hydrogeologist license(s) before completing a renewal.  BPELSG Connect will not allow you to renew your Certified Engineering Geologist and/or Hydrogeologist license(s) without first (or simultaneously) renewing your Professional Geologist license.

Updated Renewal Date on the Connect Dashboard and License Lookup: If you submitted your renewal in BPELSG Connect via an online electronic payment (credit or debit card), the renewal will reflect in your BPELSG Connect profile dashboard upon confirmation that your electronic payment was processed, which can take up to 24 hours to occur after submittal.  The information in License Lookup will update within 24 hours as well.  If you submitted payment by check or money order the renewal will take much longer to process. The processing timeline is dependent on when your payment is received by US Mail and processed by the BPELSG office.

Paper Pocket Certificate: Paper pocket certificate cards are sent out automatically by the Department of Consumer Affairs once a license is renewed.  You will receive your new paper pocket certificate within three (3) to four (4) weeks after the renewal payment is processed. If you require verification of licensure for employment purposes, direct your employer to License Lookup for verification of your license status.

Plastic Pocket Identification Card: Plastic pocket identification cards are sent out automatically when your license is initially issued. Should you need a replacement card, you must complete the Replacement License Certificate request form. Replacement cards are printed on a quarterly basis.

Military Service Personnel: Click here for more information about special provisions for military service personnel whose licenses expired while they were on active duty as a member of the California National Guard or the United States Armed Forces.

Retired License Status: Click here for more information about retiring your license.