PE License Lookup: A Guide for Licensees

Contributor: Jordan Ellis, PE
Written: May 27, 2021 | Updated: May 18, 2026

Every state engineering board maintains a publicly accessible PE license lookup tool that allows engineers, employers, and the public to verify the status of any professional engineer’s credentials. This guide explains how these tools work, provides a complete directory of official lookup resources for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and covers what to do if a search reveals a problem with a license.

What Is a PE License Lookup?

A PE license lookup is an online search tool maintained by each state engineering board that allows anyone to verify the licensure status of a professional engineer. Access to this service is mandated by state public information laws, meaning every state is required to make it available to the public at no cost.

Each state uses slightly different terminology for this service. Some call it a licensee search; others use license verification, license lookup, or online certification. Regardless of the name, all of these tools serve the same purpose: a user enters identifying information and receives confirmation of the engineer’s current license status, license number, and related details.

It is possible to perform an engineer license verification online in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

How a Professional Engineer License Lookup Works

To complete a professional engineer license lookup, at least one identifying piece of information is needed. The most reliable search uses the license number, since each number is unique to a single licensee. If the license number is not available, a first and last name search will work in most states. Some states also allow searches by address or license type, though these are less precise.

Most state lookup systems allow results to be filtered by license status, license type, or engineering discipline. An effective approach is to begin with one or two search terms and refine from there. Using too many filters at once can exclude the record being sought if any one criterion is slightly off.

If the spelling of a name is uncertain, many state systems support wildcard searches. Entering the first two or three letters of a last name followed by a wildcard character, such as %, will return all matches beginning with those letters, which is useful for uncommon or hyphenated surnames.

When results appear, the initial view typically shows the engineer’s name and license number. Clicking through to the full record reveals additional details that vary by state, including expiration date, discipline, and in some cases, disciplinary history.

State-by-State PE License Lookup Directory

The following directory links to the official license verification tool for every state engineering board. Select a state below or use the quick-link table to access the appropriate tool directly.

West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Alabama Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Alabama PE license through the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Alaska Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Alaska PE license through the Alaska State Board of Registration.

Arizona Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Arizona PE license through the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration.

Arkansas Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Arkansas PE license through the Arkansas Board of Licensure.

Florida PE License Lookup

Verify a Florida PE license through the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Georgia Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Georgia PE license through the Georgia State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Hawaii Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Hawaii PE license through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Idaho Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Idaho PE license through the Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Illinois Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Illinois PE license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Indiana Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Indiana PE license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

Iowa Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Iowa PE license through the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board.

Kansas Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Kansas PE license through the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions.

Kentucky Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Kentucky PE license through the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Louisiana Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Louisiana PE license through the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Maine Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Maine PE license through the Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers.

Maryland Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Maryland PE license through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers.

Massachusetts Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Massachusetts PE license through the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure.

Michigan Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Michigan PE license through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Minnesota Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Minnesota PE license through the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID.

Mississippi Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Mississippi PE license through the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

Missouri Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Missouri PE license through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.

Montana Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Montana PE license through the Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Nebraska Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Nebraska PE license through the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects.

Nevada Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Nevada PE license through the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

New Hampshire Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a New Hampshire PE license through the New Hampshire Board of Professional Engineers.

New Jersey Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a New Jersey PE license through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

New Mexico Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a New Mexico PE license through the New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

New York Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a New York PE license through the New York State Education Department.

North Carolina Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a North Carolina PE license through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.

North Dakota Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a North Dakota PE license through the North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

Ohio Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Ohio PE license through the Ohio Engineers and Surveyors Board.

Oklahoma Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Oklahoma PE license through the Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Oregon Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify an Oregon PE license through the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying.

Pennsylvania Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Pennsylvania PE license through the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers.

Rhode Island Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Rhode Island PE license through the Rhode Island Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

South Carolina Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a South Carolina PE license through the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

South Dakota Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a South Dakota PE license through the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions.

Tennessee Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Tennessee PE license through the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.

Texas PE License Lookup

Verify a Texas PE license through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Utah Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Utah PE license through the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

Vermont Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Vermont PE license through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation.

Virginia Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Virginia PE license through the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects.

Washington Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Washington PE license through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Washington DC Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Washington DC PE license through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

West Virginia Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a West Virginia PE license through the West Virginia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

Wisconsin Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Wisconsin PE license through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Wyoming Professional Engineer License Lookup

Verify a Wyoming PE license through the Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

What Information You’ll Find in an Engineering License Lookup

The results returned by a state engineering license lookup will include, at minimum, the engineer’s name and license number. Clicking through to the full record typically reveals the following:

License status. State boards use a range of status designations. Common statuses include Active, Inactive, Expired, Delinquent, Suspended, Revoked, Surrendered, Retired, Pending from Expired Status, Active Military, and Deceased. The exact list varies by state.
License type. Most boards distinguish between license types, including Professional Engineer, Engineer in Training, Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, and Temporary License.
Engineering discipline. Many states record the discipline in which the engineer is licensed. Disciplines commonly listed include Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Environmental, Chemical, Geotechnical, and others including Aeronautical, Agricultural, Control Systems, Fire Protection, Industrial, Manufacturing, Metallurgical, Mining, Naval Architecture and Marine, Nuclear, and Petroleum Engineering.
Disciplinary history. Some state boards publish formal disciplinary actions in the public record. If enforcement actions have been taken against a licensee, that information will appear in the lookup results, typically with a link to additional details.
Contact information. Depending on the state, the public record may include a business address, phone number, or email. Engineers in many states have the option to list business contact details rather than personal information to limit what is visible in the public record.

Why Engineers and Employers Use a PE License Lookup

Professional engineers, employers, clients, and state boards each have distinct reasons to use a PE license lookup tool.

For working engineers, a routine self-check confirms that a license is current and has not lapsed due to an administrative error. This is especially important for engineers who hold licenses in multiple states, where separate renewal cycles create the risk of missing a deadline.

One of the most commonly cited disciplinary violations pursued by state engineering boards is practicing without a valid license, and the explanation most often given is that the engineer forgot to renew. A periodic self-check removes that risk.

Engineers should also verify that the personal and contact information on file with each board is accurate. State boards require licensees to report changes in address, phone number, and employer within defined timeframes.

In some states, this window is as short as 30 days. Incorrect contact information means the engineer may not receive renewal notices or important board communications.

For employers and clients, a lookup is the most direct way to confirm that an engineer is authorized to practice in a given state before engaging their services. It also provides documentation of due diligence if questions arise later.

For state boards, the public lookup database supports enforcement by allowing anyone to flag an apparent unlicensed practice situation.

If a search reveals incorrect or outdated information in a license record, the board should be contacted in writing immediately. Document the date and nature of the request to ensure the correction is properly recorded.

Renewing or Reinstating a PE License After Lookup

If a PE license lookup reveals that a license is expired, inactive, or otherwise not in good standing, the appropriate response is to contact the state board promptly. Most boards are willing to work with engineers on honest administrative lapses, particularly when contact is made before a complaint or enforcement action has been filed.

For expired licenses, the typical path is renewal through the state board’s online portal, along with applicable late fees and verification that continuing education requirements for the renewal period have been met.

For licenses that have been inactive for an extended period, reinstatement requirements vary by state and may include PDH hours beyond the standard renewal cycle.

Engineers who discover their PE license has lapsed and need continuing education hours before reinstating should confirm their state’s specific requirements before selecting courses.

Engineers who hold licenses in multiple states and experience a lapse in one jurisdiction should also be aware that many states require self-reporting of disciplinary actions in other jurisdictions, and that a lapse in one state can trigger review in others.

PDH Pro offers state-approved continuing education courses across all major engineering disciplines, available immediately after enrollment, with certificates of completion issued as soon as the course exam is passed.

FAQs

Does a PE license lookup show disciplinary history?

It depends on the state. Some state engineering boards publish formal disciplinary actions in the public record and include them in lookup results, typically with a link to a detailed summary of the enforcement action. Others do not display disciplinary history in the standard lookup view and require a separate public records request to access that information. When disciplinary history is visible, it commonly includes the nature of the violation, the penalty imposed, and the effective date of any suspension, revocation, or other action.

What does “inactive” mean on a PE license lookup result?

An inactive designation indicates the engineer has voluntarily placed the license in inactive status or is no longer in active practice under that credential. An inactive licensee cannot practice engineering, seal documents, or represent themselves as a currently licensed PE. Requirements to reactivate vary by state and typically involve contacting the board directly.

How often should engineers check their own license status?

Checking once or twice per year is a reasonable baseline for engineers holding a single license. Engineers with licenses in multiple states benefit from more frequent checks, since each state operates on its own renewal cycle and a lapse in one jurisdiction can have consequences across others.

Can I look up a PE license from another state?

Yes. All state engineering board lookup tools are publicly accessible online, regardless of where the person conducting the search is located. An engineer licensed in Ohio can use the California Board’s lookup tool, and a client in New York can verify a contractor’s Texas license, all without any special access. The directory on this page links directly to the official verification tool for every state.

PE License Lookup: A Complete Guide for Professional Engineers