To run a New Hampshire PE license lookup, go to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s verification portal at forms.nh.gov/licenseverification, select “Engineer” as the profession, and search by the engineer’s name or license number. The portal is free, available around the clock, and returns the engineer’s license status, issue and expiration dates, and any disciplinary history on file.1NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. License Lookup
Getting to the Right Search Screen
The OPLC’s license lookup page at oplc.nh.gov/license-lookup links straight to the state’s verification system.1NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. License Lookup One thing trips people up: the portal covers dozens of professions, from architects to pharmacists to veterinarians, and it won’t return anything until you pick the right one. Choose “Engineer” to limit the search to records held by the Board of Professional Engineers. Selecting the wrong profession or skipping the step entirely produces an empty result even for a validly licensed engineer.
Searching by Name or License Number
You can enter the engineer’s full legal name or their license number. The number returns the most precise match, but a name search works fine when the spelling is right. If you’re uncertain, a partial name is accepted and will pull a list of possible matches. The system responds with a table of records showing the name, license type, and current status for each hit.
Reading the License Record
Clicking a record opens the full license profile, which shows when the license was first issued and when it next expires. Those dates give you a sense of how long the person has been practicing in New Hampshire. The status label is the key piece of information:
- Active: The engineer has met renewal and continuing education requirements and is authorized to practice and seal engineering documents in New Hampshire.
- Expired or Lapsed: The license is no longer current. The engineer cannot legally sign or seal engineering work in the state until it is renewed or reinstated.
- Relinquished: The engineer voluntarily surrendered the license, often due to retirement or a move to another state.
An expired record is not automatically a sign of a problem. Licenses renew every two years, and someone who missed the deadline may already be in the reinstatement process. If the status reads expired, it’s reasonable to ask the engineer directly whether reinstatement is underway before you go further.
Checking Disciplinary History
Disciplinary documents are attached to the individual licensee’s record inside the verification system, and the Board of Professional Engineers retains them for seven years. The OPLC also maintains a board actions page, but for the complete picture it directs you back to the online verification record.2New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Engineers’ Board Actions
Actions range from letters of warning or censure through to suspension and revocation. An engineer can hold an active license while being on probation or subject to practice restrictions, so for a significant project the discipline section deserves as much attention as the status line. Review it before signing a contract.
If the Engineer Is Licensed Out of State
A blank result for someone who holds a license in another state is not proof they’re unqualified. It means they haven’t completed New Hampshire’s process. RSA 310-A:19 provides for interstate licensure and temporary permits, and engineers coming from elsewhere often apply using NCEES Records.3NCEES. Records Program Ask whether the engineer holds a New Hampshire temporary permit or has an application pending, and confirm it with the OPLC before any sealed work begins.
Why the Lookup Matters
Practicing or offering to practice engineering without a valid New Hampshire license is a class B misdemeanor for an individual. For a business operating without proper authorization, the charge is a felony.4New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 310-A:25 The Board can also impose civil fines of up to $10,000 per offense, or an amount equal to the financial gain the unlicensed person derived from the violation, whichever is greater. Each separate act counts as its own offense, so penalties stack. The Board, the attorney general, or a local prosecutor can seek an injunction to stop the work immediately, without posting a bond.5New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 310:13
For you as the person hiring, the exposure is practical as well as legal. Work performed by an unlicensed engineer can fail inspection, void insurance, and create liability if something later goes wrong.
When the Portal Isn’t Enough
If a search returns nothing for someone who insists they’re licensed, or the record looks incomplete, contact the OPLC directly.6NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Board of Professional Engineers Staff can check whether the person is listed under a different name, whether a renewal is pending, or whether a record was affected by a database migration.
- Address: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
- Email: OPLCLicensing1@oplc.nh.gov
For a construction project, a permit application, or a legal proceeding where the engineer’s standing has to be nailed down, written confirmation from the OPLC is the definitive answer.