Engineering License Verification
How to Verify a Professional Engineer (PE) License
The PE license is the gold standard for engineering practice — required to sign and seal engineering documents in most states. Verification goes through state engineering boards and the NCEES national system.
Quick answer
Verify PE licenses through the state engineering board in each state where the engineer is licensed. For a national starting point, use the NCEES MyNCEES record system — engineers can share a verified record directly. State board license lookup tools are authoritative for current status and disciplinary history.
PE licensing basics
A Professional Engineer license is required in all U.S. states and territories to offer engineering services to the public and to legally sign, stamp, or seal engineering documents. The path to licensure involves:
- Engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program (or equivalent)
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
- 4+ years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed PE
- Passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in a specific discipline
- State board application and approval
Engineers who have passed the FE but not yet the PE exam are called Engineers in Training (EIT) or Engineer Interns (EI) — these are not the same as a licensed PE.
NCEES: National verification starting point
NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) administers the FE and PE exams and maintains engineer records. Engineers can create a MyNCEES account to store their exam history and share a verified record with employers.
Ask the candidate to share their NCEES record, which shows:
- FE and PE exam results
- Discipline of the PE exam (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.)
- State licensure history (states where the engineer applied through NCEES)
NCEES records are not a substitute for state board verification
An NCEES record shows exam history but may not reflect real-time license status in each state. A PE could have passed exams and been licensed in a state that later suspended or revoked their license. Always verify current status with the relevant state engineering board.
State board license lookup
Every state has an engineering licensing board with a public license lookup tool. These are the authoritative sources for current license status:
| State | Licensing Board |
|---|---|
| California | California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (bpelsg.ca.gov) |
| Texas | Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (pels.texas.gov) |
| New York | NY Office of the Professions, Engineering (op.nysed.gov) |
| Florida | Florida Board of Professional Engineers (fbpe.org) |
| All states | Search “[state] professional engineer license lookup” to find the relevant board portal |
PE disciplines: what the license covers
The PE exam and license are discipline-specific. A Civil PE cannot stamp electrical engineering designs, and vice versa. Common PE disciplines include:
- Civil (and sub-disciplines: Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Water Resources)
- Mechanical
- Electrical and Computer
- Chemical
- Environmental
- Industrial and Systems
- Fire Protection
- Petroleum
- Nuclear
- Agricultural and Biological
Verify that the discipline on the license matches the engineering work being hired for — this is especially important for roles involving sealed documents or licensed design work.
Multi-state licensure and reciprocity
PEs commonly hold licenses in multiple states through reciprocity (comity). Each state license is separate and must be individually verified. A PE licensed in Texas is not automatically licensed in California.
For engineers working on federal projects or in states without traditional reciprocity, NCEES eRecords can streamline the verification and application process across states.
PE vs. EIT vs. SE: key distinctions
| Credential | Meaning | Can Seal Documents? |
|---|---|---|
| PE | Professional Engineer — fully licensed | Yes, in their discipline and state |
| EIT / EI | Engineer in Training / Engineer Intern — passed FE, not PE | No |
| SE | Structural Engineer — separate licensure in some states (CA, IL, WA) | Yes (structural documents, in licensed states only) |
| CEng (UK) | Chartered Engineer — UK equivalent; not equivalent to U.S. PE | Not in the U.S. without PE licensure |
Red flags
- Cannot provide license number or state of licensure — every active PE has both
- License found in state board lookup shows expired, inactive, or lapsed status — most states require biennial renewal with continuing education
- State board shows a disciplinary action, revocation, or voluntary surrender
- Discipline mismatch — claiming to be a Structural PE when licensed only as Civil PE (in states that distinguish these)
- Lists “PE” after their name without a license number — a red flag; all PEs are assigned a license number
- Claims licensure in a state where they have no record — verify each state independently
Verification checklist
- 1. Ask for license number and state(s) of licensure
- 2. Look up each state license in the relevant state engineering board database
- 3. Confirm license status is Active and renewal date is current
- 4. Verify the PE discipline matches the engineering role
- 5. Check for disciplinary actions on the state board record
- 6. Request NCEES record sharing as supplementary documentation for exam history
Verify the engineering degree accreditation
PE licensure requires an ABET-accredited engineering degree. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a claimed university's engineering program is properly accredited — or flag diploma mills presenting fake engineering credentials.
Search Schools and Accreditation →