Virginia Society of Professional Engineers

What Virginia Society of Professional Engineers does

The Virginia Society of Professional Engineers (VSPE) is a 501(c)(6)-equivalent nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1951, operating as the official Virginia state chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). It represents approximately 500 individual members — including licensed Professional Engineers (PEs), Engineers-in-Training (EITs), engineering students, and retired/life members — distributed across three active chapters: Northern Virginia, Tidewater, and Lynchburg. The organization targets an addressable market of roughly 12,000 licensed PEs residing in Virginia. Members join through NSPE's national platform and are automatically routed to VSPE based on geography, creating a structural distribution relationship with the parent society.

VSPE's core activities are organized around three pillars: (1) licensure advocacy before the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA), the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and the Virginia General Assembly — including a successful 2020 legislative campaign to remove the PE exemption for gas utility plans; (2) continuing professional development delivered through monthly Lunch and Learn webinars (1 PDH credit each, $30 for non-members), the annual Virginia Engineers Conference co-sponsored with ACEC/VA, and joint seminars with Cardinal Education and Virginia universities; and (3) STEM outreach through the MATHCOUNTS program (760+ Virginia students in 2023, 6+ million cumulatively nationally), Future City Competition judging, and the EIT/PE scholarship programs ($20,000+ awarded to 100+ recipients). It also operates the VSPE Educational Fund (charitable arm) and the Virginia Engineers Political Action Committee (VEPAC).

The business model is membership dues-driven, with NSPE Premium-tier annual dues as the primary recurring revenue stream, supplemented by event registration fees and tax-deductible donations to the Educational Fund. Pricing is tiered: free for students, standard annual dues, reduced rates for retired members (50% off for 25+ years continuous membership and under 300 consulting hours; free for 40+ years continuous), and $30 per Lunch and Learn session for non-members. The organization is volunteer-led under a Board of Directors with a small paid staff, including a Director of Membership and Outreach (Judi Harrison, appointed 2022). Sub-brands include VSPE Educational Fund and VEPAC.

Name

Virginia Society of Professional Engineers

Legal name

Virginia Society of Professional Engineers

Website

https://vspe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VSPE is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1951, serving as the Virginia state chapter of NSPE. It represents approximately 500 licensed professional engineers across three chapters through licensure advocacy, continuing education, and STEM outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ruther Glen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: VSPE receives annual dues revenue from NSPE based on a tiered membership structure. Members include licensed PEs, EITs, students, and retired members with various dues structures including free student membership, reduced rates for retired/life members, and standard annual renewals.
2. Educational Fund Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the VSPE Educational Fund support MATHCOUNTS programs, EIT/PE scholarship programs, and exam fee reimbursement funds. Over $7,000 in donations were received in one fiscal year.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from educational seminars and conferences including the Virginia Engineers Conference and Lunch and Learn events. Non-members pay fees to attend events while members receive free or discounted access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VSPE is a nonprofit professional membership society that serves as the Virginia state chapter of NSPE, representing licensed Professional Engineers. It delivers annual membership services, continuing professional development (PDH credits) via webinars and conferences, licensure advocacy before Virginia regulatory bodies, scholarship programs for engineering students, and STEM outreach via MATHCOUNTS and Future City Competition sponsorship across three active chapters.

Product overview

Virginia Society of Professional Engineers (VSPE) is a professional membership organization for licensed professional engineers in Virginia, not a product-based technology company. The society offers membership services, professional development, advocacy for engineering licensure, the MATHCOUNTS math competition program for middle school students, educational scholarships (EIT/PE Professional Accomplishment Scholarship, VSPE Educational Fund scholarships), networking events including the annual Virginia Engineers Conference, and career resources through the NSPE Job Board. The organization also publishes the PE Matters newsletter and advocates for professional engineering standards and legislation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VSPE Educational Fund: The charitable and scholarship arm of VSPE that supports MATHCOUNTS programs and provides scholarships to engineering students.
• Virginia Engineers Political Action Committee (VEPAC)

Products and services

• VSPE Membership Annual professional society membership for licensed Professional Engineers in Virginia, connecting members to NSPE national benefits plus state and local chapter participation. Includes advocacy, networking, PDH-eligible events, newsletter access, and job board posting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $20,000 in scholarships awarded to 100+ recipients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSPE is the parent national organization for professional engineers. VSPE is the Virginia state chapter. NSPE provides membership infrastructure, national advocacy, professional development resources, conferences (PECon), PE Institute online education, Job Board, and brand recognition. VSPE provides state-level representation, chapter management, and localized advocacy for Virginia PEs.
• MATHCOUNTS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSPE and VSPE are sponsors of the MATHCOUNTS program operating through the Virginia Department of Education. VSPE coordinates state and regional competitions with volunteers running events. Over 760 Virginia students participate annually. Donations support the program.
• DiscoverEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSPE participates in DiscoverE's Future City Competition by providing judges (including VSPE Vice President Tom Conway). The competition challenges middle and high school students to solve real-world sustainability and engineering problems.
• Cardinal EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of six public universities offering online masters degrees in engineering and computer science. Co-hosts engineering seminars with VSPE including June 2023 seminar at Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel with HRBT project presentations.
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia (ACEC/VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEC/VA co-sponsors the annual Virginia Engineers Conference with VSPE. Future events planned with expanded partnership including AIA and AGC under 'ACE: Architects, Contractors and Engineers' branding.
• Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDOT provides tour opportunities of Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel construction site for VSPE events. VDOT Commissioner briefed on VSPE concerns regarding gas pipeline regulations.
• Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEric H Rick Bartsch PE Exam Fund reimburses exam fees to Office of Drinking Water staff who obtain PE licenses, encouraging licensure among state employees.
• Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSPE advocates before this board on licensure requirements, gas pipeline regulations, and engineering practice standards. Board member Rebecca (Becky) Golden represents VSPE at meetings.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSPE advocates for PE oversight of gas pipeline projects through SCC Division of Utility and Railroad Safety. Successfully advocated for elimination of PE exemption for gas utility plan preparation.
• Virginia Department of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMATHCOUNTS program operates through the Virginia Department of Education, reaching middle school students across the Commonwealth.
• Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeer state society that shared membership engagement best practices including tiered membership structure and volunteer management approaches.
• Virginia TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning future joint seminar events with Virginia Tech as host university. Virginia Tech experts contribute railroad safety and infrastructure expertise.
• VCU School of EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSPE Board meeting held at VCU College of Engineering. Dialog with Professor and Senior Associate Dean Gregory Triplett on licensure and engineering curricula.
• Old Dominion UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerODU requires all graduating seniors to take EIT review course and exam. VSPE recognized for Wall of Honor at ODU through Tidewater Chapter Endowed Academic Scholarship.
• Richmond Joint Engineers CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors annual Engineers Week banquet with VSPE. Cross-organizational collaboration for Richmond area engineering community.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE): AIChE is a discipline-specific professional engineering society with Virginia members; it competes for continuing-education and advocacy mindshare among chemical-discipline PEs also reachable by VSPE.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE is a national professional society focused on women in engineering; it overlaps with VSPE in advocacy, scholarships, and STEM outreach, serving part of the same Virginia engineering audience.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): IEEE is a global technical professional organization with substantial Virginia membership; it competes with VSPE for engineering professionals seeking continuing education, networking, and credential-related programming.
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): ASME is a major national engineering professional society with Virginia presence; it overlaps with VSPE's continuing-education and advocacy offerings, particularly for mechanical-discipline PEs in the Commonwealth.
• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): NSPE is the parent national organization of VSPE and the most direct structural comparable; it operates as the national professional society for licensed PEs, providing advocacy, education, and member infrastructure to all 50 state chapters including VSPE.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE is a large national professional engineering society with state/local chapters serving civil engineers; it competes for members, events, and continuing-education engagement among the same Virginia PE audience as VSPE.

Others

• Tau Beta Pi: Tau Beta Pi is the national engineering honor society with Virginia university chapters; it is an adjacent/complementary organization engaging the same student engineering pipeline that VSPE's free student membership and scholarships target.
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): NCEES is the organization that develops and administers the PE and FE exams underlying the licensure pathway VSPE advocates for; it is an enabling/complementary organization rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC): PENC is the closest state-level peer to VSPE, operating as the North Carolina state chapter of NSPE with similar licensure advocacy, chapter structure, and member engagement programs; the two societies are documented as sharing best practices.
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia (ACEC/VA): ACEC/VA is a partner and peer engineering organization in Virginia; both groups co-sponsor the Virginia Engineers Conference and serve overlapping constituencies of engineering professionals and firms across the Commonwealth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/vspe_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vspe-virginia-society-of-professional-engineers
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virginia Society of Professional Engineers