My phone usually rings before sunrise on pour days. One morning a project superintendent called at 6:45, voice tight, asking whether the structural drawings were stamped by an active Professional Engineer. Concrete was on the way and a city inspector was already in the trailer. We paused the pour, I called the candidate’s state board, and learned his license had lapsed during a move. That hour taught me more than any policy memo. When work is safety critical, licensure is not a formality. It is the legal permission to take responsibility for public safety and it is the difference between moving forward and shutting a site down.

In my world as a hiring lead for engineering teams, the PE is a legal credential that signals two things. First, an engineer has met education, experience, and exam requirements set by the jurisdiction. Second, that engineer is authorized to seal work and take responsible charge. If you ever need a concise primer for non-engineers on why this matters, I point them to what a PE signifies in practice. Stamping has rules, and they are enforced.

Why I verify licensure before a short list leaves my desk

In safety-critical hiring, verification is risk management. It prevents schedule slips, claims, and unhappy calls from inspectors. It also protects the employer’s insurance position. Carriers evaluate who directs design and who seals work. A current PE in the correct discipline can reduce friction with underwriters, while a lapsed license or a mismatch between scope and discipline can trigger exclusions or higher retention.

The checklist I run before presenting a candidate

  • Confirm active status through the board or a centralized record such as NCEES Records and verification, and save a timestamped screenshot
  • Match discipline to scope, for example Civil for site and structures, Mechanical for HVAC or pressure systems, Electrical for power distribution
  • Verify the exact jurisdiction where the seal will be used, since licensure is state or province specific
  • Check for disciplinary history or restrictions that could affect responsible charge
  • Validate name changes to avoid near-match false positives in board databases
  • Confirm path to mobility if the project spans multiple states, and outline reciprocity timelines
  • Map licensure to compensation bands and title, since active PE status commonly carries a premium and different signing authority

How licensure interacts with role design, salary, and insurance

I draft scorecards with the seal in mind. If the role includes signing and sealing, the offer letter should reflect that responsibility, and the salary band should match market reality for engineers who accept legal liability. Insurers also read those letters. They look at who directs work and whether that person’s license and discipline align with the services advertised. Clear job architecture makes underwriting easier, and it avoids last-minute policy questions when a client asks for stamped as-builts or a peer review letter.

Cross-border searches and global equivalents

Expatriate candidates bring strong credentials, but the authority to seal is local. When I’m screening internationally, I treat the P.Eng. in Canada as the local benchmark, with provincial regulators working under Engineers Canada. In the UK, the Chartered Engineer credential from the Engineering Council is common and respected. It confirms capability and ethics, though it doesn’t allow someone to stamp drawings in North America. In much of Europe, I also see the EUR ING title from FEANI. These are respected benchmarks for capability and ethics. They do not replace the need for a local PE or P.Eng. when the work requires a seal. My practice is to honor global titles during screening, then give candidates a precise roadmap to local licensure if the job will include responsible charge.

A day-to-day story that keeps me disciplined

Last year we were filling a mechanical lead for a new pharmaceutical facility. The finalist had an impressive portfolio and a CEng from the UK, and he had passed the FE years ago in the U.S. Instead of assuming mobility would be simple, we called the state board, confirmed experience credit, and set up his NCEES Record before the client’s offer went out. Because we did that early, the candidate obtained comity within the project timeline. The owner’s insurance broker cleared the signing plan in one call. The lesson is simple. Do the licensing work while everyone is excited. It is much harder after a GMP schedule is live and contractors are sequencing cleanroom installs.

What this looks like when it goes right

Great executive search is not only about finding leaders. It is about making sure your chosen leader can legally do the work on day one. I keep a browser folder with state and province verification portals, I document every check, and I treat global credentials with respect while staying honest about stamping rights. That rhythm has saved more than one pour and it has earned trust with clients and inspectors. If your next hire will sign, seal, or take responsible charge, make licensure verification the first box you check and build the entire hiring plan around that fact.