What should you do about suspected unlicensed engineering?

Document the observable facts—such as the business, project location, representations made, documents issued, and the official license information you checked—without making unsupported accusations. Ask the applicable engineering board how to submit a complaint or request a review; the board decides whether conduct violates its practice act. Send permit or construction concerns to the AHJ, and report an immediate physical danger through the responsible local safety channel. A client should not rely on a questionable document while a review is pending; a qualified professional can define what must be independently evaluated.

The correct application of suspected unlicensed engineering practice starts with the actual project, not a generic promise. Confirm the jurisdiction, adopted code, design scope, existing conditions, required deliverables, and professional responsibility before relying on a conclusion. A responsible engineer documents assumptions and identifies information that still needs verification.

Project type, occupancy, existing construction, site conditions, code edition, agency requirements, and changes made after the original design can change the work. A concise answer is useful for orientation, but the signed or sealed project record must reflect the current scope and the authority's process.

• Confirm the authority having jurisdiction and current checklist
• Use current drawings, calculations, field evidence, and equipment information
• Separate engineering decisions from owner, architect, contractor, utility, and agency decisions
• Record assumptions, limitations, and questions requiring direct AHJ confirmation