The National Science Foundation awarded a grant to the Commission on Postsecondary Education of California to examine the interrelationship between education, licensing, and engineering practice with the intent of identifying a mechanism for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of these processes. The study was conducted over a fourteen-month period and included an extensive review of several large engineering projects that had achieved public recognition. These projects were analyzed to identify the major elements or "fields of understanding" that become integral parts of the project and decision-making process. In light of the broad nature of engineering practice, the basic curricula in engineering education were evaluated, and the attitudes of students, faculty, and industry were surveyed. The history, nature, and present status of engineering registration were also reviewed. (Author/JN)