Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
(OP)
If you are asked to provide a peer review of another engineer's plans (private project - not governmental), and the project is in a particular state:
1. Is it proper or necessary for you to be licensed in that state?
2. With your review, you produce a list of comments, corrections, suggestions, etc. - should that document be sealed and signed by a licensed engineer in that state?
Keep in mind that there is already an Engineer of Record in the state that is the final responsible charge. You are just providing a layer of quality control or improvement
by reviewing the drawings.
Some state's suggest that the "practice of engineering" includes "reviews" or "evaluations".
Thanks,
1. Is it proper or necessary for you to be licensed in that state?
2. With your review, you produce a list of comments, corrections, suggestions, etc. - should that document be sealed and signed by a licensed engineer in that state?
Keep in mind that there is already an Engineer of Record in the state that is the final responsible charge. You are just providing a layer of quality control or improvement
by reviewing the drawings.
Some state's suggest that the "practice of engineering" includes "reviews" or "evaluations".
Thanks,





RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
Remuneration for the review - well that's another issue that really muddies the water here... Without a license in that state, I would probably have to do it as a professional courtesy, and not very often.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
Are you really "practicing" in his state? Or are you practicing in your licensed state?
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RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
TTFN

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RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
As for number 2. When providing comments I do sign my opinions with my official registrations, I do this for all my official opinions bar when they are verbal.
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RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
In court, judges routinely skirt state engineering laws by allowing testimony of out of state engineers who are not licensed in the state, even though most practice rules state that if you provide testimony on engineering issues you are providing engineering services. Most judges are more liberal in their interpretation that if you are qualified to be licensed in that state, and similar requirements are present for licensing in the respective states, you are qualified. That doesn't meet the letter of the law, but probably meets the intent.
Still, if the issues become contentious, you can get a complaint filed against you. Successful or not, it would still be a pain in the a$$ to go through.
I would caveat any written correspondence with clear statements that your intent is for professional purposes of peer review and your comments are offered as such and are not to be construed in substitution of the EOR's design or analysis, and do not replace the engineering done by the EOR. They are for consideration only.
Both NSPE and ASCE have had peer review processes in the past...I don't know how they handled the issue, but it has been done many times.
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
As usual, your question is thought provoking (should I be doing something different). I imagine it may depend on the nature of the peer review. Is this an internal QA/QC or an external peer review required by a contract? Could the peer review be construed as acting under the responsible charge of the engineer of record?
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
MainMan10 - Nothing about the EOR's competence. Even if they were a fabled "perfect" engineer we would still do the QC.
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
So if I have to seal it then presumably I'm practicing in the state, and the firm needs to get the status there.
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
RE: Another Peer Review question - license requirements in US States
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering