How to Verify Engineering Credentials

Why engineering credential verification is distinct

Engineering sits at the intersection of academic credentials and professional licensure. Two verification systems run in parallel: the university system (who granted the degree) and the state licensing board (who authorized the engineer to practice). Either can be falsified independently.

Most engineering roles do not legally require a Professional Engineer (PE) license — a BS in engineering from an accredited program is sufficient for in-house corporate positions. But PE licensure is mandatory for engineers who stamp drawings for public works, offer services to the public, or work in regulated fields like structural, civil, or environmental engineering.

The verification path differs by role. This guide covers both.

Step 1: Verify PE licensure (if applicable)

The Professional Engineer license is the only credential in engineering that carries legal authority to sign and seal engineering documents. Verification is straightforward because NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) maintains a national license verification database.

NCEES License Verification

The fastest method. Go to ncees.org/licensure/verify-a-license and search by name or license number. Results include:

• License number and type (PE, SE, LS, etc.)
• State(s) of licensure
• License status (active, inactive, expired, revoked)
• Expiration date

NCEES covers all 55 US licensing jurisdictions. Not all states report all data — some state boards have opted out of full disclosure. If a license doesn't appear in NCEES, check the state board directly.

State engineering board verification

Every state maintains its own license database. Search "[state] professional engineer license lookup" to find the board's public verification portal. State databases are authoritative — they are the source of truth that NCEES aggregates. Check the state board if:

• The engineer claims licensure in a specific state
• The NCEES record is incomplete or outdated
• You need disciplinary history (NCEES does not surface all actions)

Step 2: Verify ABET accreditation

ABET (originally the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) is the standard accreditor for engineering programs in the US. Graduates of ABET-accredited programs are eligible to sit for the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam, which is the first step toward PE licensure. Non-ABET graduates may be ineligible for licensure in some states.

ABET accredits individual programs within universities — not the university as a whole. A university can be regionally accredited while its engineering department is not ABET-accredited (and vice versa). You must verify the specific program, not just the school.

How to check ABET accreditation

1. Go to abet.org/accreditation/accredited-programs
2. Search by institution name or program name
3. Select the engineering program (e.g., "BS in Civil Engineering")
4. Confirm accreditation status and review dates
5. Note: accreditation applies to specific program names — verify the exact degree matches

ABET accreditation also applies to engineering technology (ETAC), computing (CAC), and applied and natural science (ANSAC) programs. Clarify which ABET commission covers the candidate's specific degree — EAC (Engineering Accreditation Commission) is the standard for professional engineering purposes.

Step 3: Verify the degree itself

ABET accreditation confirms the program exists and meets standards. It does not confirm the candidate attended or graduated. You still need to verify the individual's enrollment and graduation through standard education verification methods.

National Student Clearinghouse

The Clearinghouse covers approximately 3,600 US institutions and can verify enrollment and degree conferral via DegreeVerify. Most large engineering universities participate. Visit studentclearinghouse.org/hireright or use a CRA partner.

Direct registrar contact

For institutions not in the Clearinghouse (smaller schools, some international programs), contact the registrar directly. Request official transcript or letter of enrollment confirmation. Obtain a signed release from the candidate before requesting records — FERPA applies.

International engineering degrees

Engineers educated outside the US frequently need credential evaluation to determine equivalency. NCEES has its own CES (Credential Evaluation Service) specifically for foreign-educated engineers seeking US PE licensure. For general employment purposes, NACES-member evaluators (WES, ECE, Josef Silny) can assess equivalency.

7 red flags in engineering credentials

1. PE license number not in NCEES or state database — numbers are assigned sequentially by state. A non-existent number is immediate disqualification.
2. Degree from an engineering program with no ABET history — legitimate programs pursue ABET accreditation. An engineering school with zero accreditation history for a decades-old program is a red flag.
3. Degree in "Engineering" without a discipline — real engineering degrees specify the discipline (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, etc.). A generic "Bachelor of Engineering" from a US school is unusual.
4. PE stamp on a discipline the license does not cover — a mechanical PE cannot stamp structural drawings. Verify the license type matches the claimed work.
5. Expired license on active stamp — PE licenses must be renewed (typically every 1-2 years). An engineer using a stamp after expiration is committing fraud. NCEES shows expiration dates.
6. Disciplinary actions not disclosed — state boards publish suspension and revocation records. Search for the engineer's name plus "engineering board discipline" or check the state board's enforcement actions page.
7. Graduation year before the program existed — check when the ABET accreditation began. If the candidate claims 1998 graduation from a program accredited in 2005, the timeline is impossible.

Verification resources at a glance

Verifying engineering credentials at volume

For firms hiring multiple engineers, manual verification is time-consuming but structured. The checks are finite and follow a predictable decision tree:

1. Does the role require a PE? → If yes, check NCEES and state board.
2. Does the degree need to be ABET-accredited? → Check ABET database for the specific program.
3. Is the school in the National Student Clearinghouse? → Run DegreeVerify. If not, contact registrar.
4. Is the degree from outside the US? → Route to NCEES CES or NACES evaluator.

Background screening vendors (HireRight, Sterling, Checkr) handle engineering degree verification as part of standard education checks. PE license verification is less commonly automated — most do it manually via NCEES. If you're hiring licensed engineers at scale, confirm your screening vendor includes PE license status in their standard package.

Engineering credential verification checklist