(DEQ) — Division of Environmental Quality environmental engineer Brian Bearden has become the first person in the CNMI to become licensed as a professional engineer in the field of environmental engineering. 
The CNMI Board of Professional Licensing granted Bearden his license on March 12, 2007.
“Becoming the first licensed environmental engineer in the CNMI would not have been possible without the support of my family, and especially DEQ Director Frank Rabauliman,” said Bearden, who put in more than 300 hours of studying to prepare for the 8-hour, 100-question licensing exam which was held in Guam on Oct. 27, 2006
To become eligible to take the PE exam and become licensed as a professional engineer, a person must first possess a B.S. degree from an accredited engineering program, pass the 8-hour “fundamentals of engineering” exam, and then work as an “engineering intern” under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer for a number of years. 
Bearden has worked with DEQ since 1998, following several years of engineering experience working in the oil and gas industry pm the mainland U.S., and with EFC Engineers & Architects in the CNMI. 
Bearden said this broad range of experience has helped him become a well-rounded engineer, and he hopes to be able to “give back to the CNMI” by mentoring younger environmental engineers and seeing them through to licensing on their own.
The Environmental PE exam is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and tests for knowledge in a broad range of subjects including wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, water resources, air pollution, solid waste, hazardous and radioactive waste, environmental assessments, remediation, emergency response, public health and safety.  The same exam is given to applicants for professional licensure as an environmental engineer in all states, territories, and possessions.