Only persons who are certified by the State of Ohio as both a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) and a Registered Professional Surveyor (P.S.) are eligible to hold the office of County Engineer. To achieve both accreditations requires a minimum of a college degree in engineering and surveying, four years of experience in engineering and surveying, and 16 hours of testing for each license. Ohio has the most rigorous standards in the United States for qualifying its County Engineers. 

Once the person has received both the Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors licenses from the State of Ohio and meet all other election requirements they may run for the office of county engineer.  They must be able to carry out Section 315.08 of the Ohio Revised Code which states the county engineer “…shall prepare all plans, specifications, details, estimates of cost, and submit forms of contracts for the construction, maintenance, and repair of all bridges, culverts, roads, drains, ditches…within and for the county.”  Additionally, the county engineer reviews all land descriptions for deeds and prepares tax maps of all parcels in the county.  To perform this service properly, he must have land surveying knowledge and experience.

Each of Ohio's 88 counties elects a County Engineer.  Except for public buildings, the County Engineer is the engineer for all public improvements under the authority  of the county commissioners.