The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers is a state affiliate of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). With local chapters across the state GSPE provides continuing education opportunities for the engineering community, and is a voice for the engineering profession in Georgia. Members and the GSPE organization sponsor MATHCOUNTS®, a middle-school competition based math enrichment program each year. GSPE also participates in the Georgia Engineering Foundation which in 2018 awarded $86,000 in scholarships. The National Society of Professional Engineers is the recognized voice and advocate of licensed Professional Engineers. Founded in 1934, NSPE strengthens the engineering profession by promoting engineering licensure and ethics to assure the public’s safety, enhancing the engineer image, advocating and protecting PE’s legal rights at the national and state levels, publishing news of the profession, providing continuing education opportunities, and much more. NSPE serves some 50,000 members and the public through 53 state and territorial societies and more than 500 local chapters. To assure the public safety and wellbeing, all 50 states have laws that established boards to oversee the practice of engineering. These boards license engineers, enforce professional ethics, and address issues concerning unlicensed or substandard practice. Only PEs or companies holding a Certificate of Authorization (COA) can legally offer engineering services to the public. The Georgia State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is part of the Georgia Secretary of State office. Georgia has 27,000 Professional Engineers and 3,190 engineering firms.