CHARLESTON – State Treasurer John Perdue’s office electronically processed a one-day total of nearly $40,000 in license renewals for the West Virginia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

          In all, the Treasurer’s Office processed $475,000 for the board, from May 22 to June 30. It electronically collected $350,000 during the month of June alone, including the nearly $40,000 on June 30, the last day of regular renewal before late fees apply.

          Combined with a “lockbox” operation that processes paper payments,  the Treasurer’s Office has collected more than 90 percent of renewals due, said Lesley L. Rosier-Tabor, P.E., the board’s executive director.

          The board is a state agency under the executive branch of state government. June 30 was the official deadline for license renewals but an additional grace period exists.

          “Based on conversations with other state Boards, engineering and others, our rate of on-line renewal and licensee satisfaction/acceptability is phenomenal in comparison,” Tabor said. “They can’t believe the success we have and ask for our secrets.”

          With nearly 8,400 of 9,400 engineering renewals completed within a one month timeframe, Tabor contributes a large part of the success to the information technology staff of the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office. 

          About five years ago, the Treasurer’s Office began devising a Web site to allow engineers to pay their renewals electronically. The process has gotten more efficient and more streamlined each year, Tabor said.                

          “It has literally saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars in terms of data entry, multiple mailings and paper processing,” Tabor said. “This 2009 renewal season has represented a better response than we’ve ever received in the past and, frankly, a better response than we could have dreamed of.” 

          When an engineer or engineering company pays a renewal on-line, Tabor said, he or she is automatically sent a pdf. file of each keystroke entered, including continuing education credits. This assists not only the Board, but the licensee, in keeping track of the credits.