Path Cleared for EKU Fire Protection Engineer Grads in Kentucky

RICHMOND — Thanks to the determination of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) faculty and alumni, a major roadblock has finally been removed for fire protection engineers in the Commonwealth. 

House Bill 306, overwhelmingly passed by the Kentucky legislature, goes into effect today and removes a long-standing rule that had kept EKU Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology graduates from pursuing professional engineering (PE) licensure in Kentucky.

“For EKU and its fire protection engineering students, HB 306 is more than a legislative win,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “It’s a signal that Kentucky is ready to invest in its own future by empowering homegrown engineers to build safer, stronger communities right here in the Commonwealth. I want to thank the Kentucky General Assembly and bill sponsor Rep. Matthew Koch for championing this important initiative.”

Until now, the state has only recognized engineering degrees accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. EKU’s program, accredited instead by ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC), was excluded—despite growing workforce demand within the state.

This restriction forced many EKU graduates to leave the state to seek licensure and pursue careers. In Fall 2023, only 6.6% of students in EKU’s Fire Protection Engineering program were Kentucky residents—reflecting the significant recruitment disadvantage the program faced because of the licensing restriction in the state.

Dr. Joshua Reichert, associate professor and coordinator of EKU’s Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program, was instrumental in advancing HB 306 on behalf of the university. “This provides more opportunities for our students to become licensed engineers here in the state, as opposed to looking to leave,” Reichert said. “Being Eastern Kentucky University—we want to serve our region, and we want students to stay here in Kentucky.”

EKU graduates Tony Cole and Sean Visgirda stepped forward to help as well. Drawing on their firsthand experiences, they testified before state lawmakers, demonstrating how Kentucky’s outdated licensing law pushed talent out of state and hurt local employers. 

“As an alumnus of EKU and employer in Kentucky, I love to hire EKU graduates from the fire program,” said Cole, vice president of U.S. operations at Senez Consulting. “However, KRS 322.040 required me to look out of state to hire those that met the Kentucky educational requirements to obtain a Fire Protection PE.”

Visgirda, a lead fire protection engineering associate at KLH Engineers in Fort Thomas, added, “I work in Kentucky, but due to the educational requirements of KRS 322.040, I took and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam through California and had planned to obtain my fire protection PE the same way unless a change in Kentucky occurred.”

Their voices helped lawmakers understand the full impact of the issue, and the solution was clear. HB 306 passed 96-1 in the House and 37-0 in the Senate. It was signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear on March 24, 2025. 

HB 306 doesn’t create shortcuts. Graduates of ETAC-accredited programs will still have to pass the same FE and PE exams and complete six years of supervised professional experience for licensure. What HB 306 does is simply level the playing field, allowing EKU Fire Protection Engineering graduates to begin the licensure process in Kentucky. 

EKU’s Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program is one of only three accredited fire programs in the country. 

With nearly 150 students and 15% growth since 2016, it prepares graduates to design fire detection and suppression systems, assess risks and ensure buildings meet life safety codes. EKU’s graduates serve across sectors—from insurance and consulting to industrial safety and code enforcement.

Industry demand for fire protection engineers continues to rise. With HB 306 in place, Kentucky joins the majority of states that offer this licensure pathway and is finally positioned to grow talent from within.