Professional License
How to Verify a Professional Engineer's License
A Professional Engineer (PE) license is a state-issued credential that authorizes engineers to sign and seal engineering drawings and offer engineering services to the public. Here is how to verify PE licensure and what the seal means.
Quick answer
Verify through the state engineering licensing board in the state where the engineer is practicing — all states maintain free public PE license lookup portals. For a cross-state verification record, use NCEES MyNCEES (ncees.org) where engineers can share their official transcript including exam history and license records. PE seals are only valid in the state that issued the license.
Engineering license types
The path to PE licensure progresses through several stages:
| Credential | Description | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| EIT / FE | Engineer in Training / Fundamentals of Engineering exam passer — first step toward PE | NCEES exam records |
| PE (Professional Engineer) | State-licensed engineer authorized to practice independently and seal drawings | State engineering board |
| SE (Structural Engineer) | Separate licensure for structural engineering in ~30 states requiring a higher exam | State engineering/architectural board |
| NCEES Record | Official transcript used for interstate licensure applications | Shared by engineer via NCEES |
Step 1: State engineering board lookup
Every state has a board of professional engineers (sometimes combined with land surveyors or architects) that maintains a public license lookup. Search by name or license number to confirm license status, expiration, discipline type, and any disciplinary actions.
Key state engineering board portals
- California: CA Board for Professional Engineers — bpelsg.ca.gov
- Texas: TX Board of Professional Engineers — engineering.texas.gov
- Florida: FL Board of Professional Engineers — fbpe.org
- New York: NYS Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov/verification
- All states: NCEES licensure lookup directory — ncees.org
PE licenses must be verified in the state where the engineer is practicing. A PE license in one state does not automatically authorize practice in another state — engineers must apply for licensure by comity (reciprocity) in each additional state.
Step 2: NCEES MyNCEES record
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) administers the FE and PE exams and maintains official engineering credentials. Engineers can create a MyNCEES account (ncees.org) to share their official engineering record with employers, clients, or licensing boards.
A shared NCEES record includes: FE exam results, PE exam results and discipline, states of licensure, and the current license status as reported to NCEES. This is not a primary source — always confirm active status directly with the state board, but the NCEES record is useful for reviewing multi-state licensure history.
PE seal verification
When reviewing signed and sealed engineering documents, verify:
- The PE seal includes the engineer's name, license number, and issuing state
- The state on the seal matches the state where the project is located (or where the work is to be used)
- The license number on the seal matches the current active license record in the state board database
- The license was active on the date the document was sealed — a lapsed license at the time of sealing invalidates the document
Using engineering documents sealed by an unlicensed or impersonating engineer creates significant legal and safety exposure, especially for construction projects subject to building permits and inspections.
Verification checklist
- 1. Collect license number, license type, and issuing state at intake
- 2. Search the state engineering board portal — confirm Active status and expiration
- 3. Confirm the engineer is licensed in every state where they will seal documents
- 4. Review the NCEES MyNCEES record if provided — check exam discipline and multi-state history
- 5. For sealed documents — cross-reference license number and state on the seal
- 6. Verify ABET-accredited engineering degree — required for PE licensure in most states
Verify engineering degrees alongside licensure
PE licensure requires an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program in most states. Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's engineering degree comes from a legitimate, accredited institution — not a diploma mill.
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