Maryland Operating Engineers License

Maryland Dept of Labor, Licensing & Regulation
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
State Board of Stationary Engineers
500 N. Calvert Street
Room 302
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-3651

(410) 230-6270
e-mail: stationaryeng@dllr.state.md.us

Maryland did not have a state wide license until about 2005. So, the state of Maryland Legislature established a statewide license for stationary engineers. Title Section 6.5-102 of the Maryland Stationary Engineers Act, (Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland).

Maryland has a very-very-broad definition of what facility or plant or building requires a licensed engineer, and if a facility does not have a boiler then a Maryland Stationary Engineer is still needed. Here is Maryland's State Board of Stationary Engineer's scope that a stationary engineer is needed: the scope of the law includes all equipment actually or normally found in a facility which may be known as a power plant, or plant of machinery, or boiler room, or factory, or industrial or commercial enterprise, or educational or residential or health related facility, or place of private or public gathering. Furthermore, The equipment may include a boiler, a pressure vessel, a furnace, a heater, a heat exchanger, an autoclave or sterilizer or cooker, a motor, an engine, a generator, a fan, a pump, a compressor, a separator, a precipitator, a refrigerator, a chiller, an air handler, a filter, a water treatment system, a fire suppression system, a press, a roller, a mill, a welder, a hydraulic system, a cylinder, an extruder, or any other equipment or system which may create a hazard to life, limb, or property if not operated or maintained in accordance with codes, standards, manufacturer's recommendations, or good engineering practice.

Also, Maryland State Board of Stationary Engineer's scope includes diesel-powered engines (Section 6.5-101 of the Maryland Stationary Engineers Act), so an appropriately-licensed stationary engineer is required. Section 6.5-101(f) of the Act states that to "provide stationary engineer services" means to oversee the operation of a power plant, plant of machinery, or boiler, each generating pressure of more that 15 PSI and operating at 30 or more horsepower.

License Law is required for all boilers including leased and portable boilers. The grade of license required is based on the horsepower and operating pressure for the largest, single piece of equipment located in the plant, and not the combined total, or source of power, or any other information.

1. Grade 1 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) : 500 or more horsepower (in any building)
2. Grade 2 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) : 300 to 499 horsepower (in any building)
3. Grade 3 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) : 100 to 299 horsepower (in any building)
4. Grade 4 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) : 30 to 99 horsepower (in any building regardless of use)
5. Grade 5 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) : 30 to 99 horsepower (in a building not open for public use)

Refrigeration equipment requires a stationary engineer's license even when there are no boilers. A licensed Stationary Engineer will have oversight and responsibility of the refrigeration plant and/or refrigeration equipment.

Maryland's Stationary Engineer Qualifications are as follows:

Grade 1 Engineer (Stationary Engineer)

1. 5-years of documented experience as an active Grade 2 Stationary engineer under the direction and control of a Grade 1 stationary engineer, toward which an applicant may receive: 1-year of credit for 6 credit hours of class or Continuing education units in boiler safety or Operations; and 1 year of credit for holding a current active license as:
   1. Master Plumber;
   2. Master Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor; or
   3. Master Restricted Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning Contractor;
2. A 4-year degree in mechanical engineering from an Accredited university or college;
3. Licensure as a Professional Engineer including:
1. 1 year of documented experience as a Professional Engineer; and
2. 1 year of documented experience as a Grade 2 Stationary Engineer under the direction and control of A Grade 1 Stationary Engineer; or
4. A valid marine engineer's certificate or a Chief Petty Officer's certificate from the United States Navy with documentation of steam boiler engineer training.

Grade 2 Engineer (Stationary Engineer)

Applicants for the Grade 2 Stationary Engineer's Examination Shall possess at least ONE of the following qualifications:

1. 36-months of documented experience as an active Grade 3 Engineer under the direction and control of a licensed Grade 2 or Grade 1 Stationary Engineer, that may include:
1. 1- year of credit for 6 credit hours of classes or Continuing education units in boiler safety or Operations; and
2. 1 year of credit for holding a current active license as a:
   1. Master Plumber;
   2. Master Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor; or
   3. Master Restricted Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning Contractor;
2. A 4-year degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university or college;
3. Licensure as a Professional Engineer and 6 months of documented experience as a Grade 3, Grade 4, or Grade 5 Stationary Engineer, or
4. A valid marine engineer's certificate or Chief Petty Officer's certificate from the United States Navy.

Grade 3 Engineer (Stationary Engineer)

Applicants for the Grade 3 Stationary Engineer's examination Shall possess at least ONE of the following qualifications:

1. Two- years of documented experience as an active Grade 4 or Grade 5 Stationary Engineer;
2. One-year of documented experience as an active Grade 4 or Grade 5 Engineer and 6 credit hours or continuing Education units of classes in boiler operations or safety; or
3. A valid marine engineer's certificate or Chief Petty Officer's certificate from the United States Navy.

Grade 4 Engineer (Stationary Engineer)

Applicants for the Grade 4 Stationary Engineer's examination Shall possess at least ONE of the following qualifications:

1. 6-months of documented experience as an active Grade 5 Stationary Engineer; or
2. 3-credit hours or continuing education units of classes in boiler operations or safety.

Grade 5 Engineer (Stationary Engineer) -

Applicants for the Grade 5 Stationary Engineer's examination qualifies under this section if the applicant possesses a high school diploma or graduate equivalence diploma.