Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
(OP)
First, let me state that I am not looking for legal advice, rather personal experience or knowledge of any disciplinary action.
Background: I became a licensed engineer by taking ONLY the 16-hour Buildings structural exam in my home state of Indiana. I am not a civil engineer by education or experience. I was hired as a BSME to do structural building work since graduation and that is my area of expertise (soils [nope], surveying [nope], etc.).
So in Indiana I am considered a PE.
In Illinois (which I am licensed) I am an SE.
In California I am neither until I take and pass a Civil exam.
I am currently licensed in a total of (9) states.
In my email signature I list my name followed by "PE, SE". So my question is, are there any states that would be upset if one of my emails (that originate from IN) found its way to a person in said state? For example, if I sent an email and it was received by someone in CA, could disciplinary action be taken on someone with the titles listed since they are not licensed in that state?
I understand the question is broad and could depend on some circumstances, but I am just looking for anyone that has run into a problem like this.
Background: I became a licensed engineer by taking ONLY the 16-hour Buildings structural exam in my home state of Indiana. I am not a civil engineer by education or experience. I was hired as a BSME to do structural building work since graduation and that is my area of expertise (soils [nope], surveying [nope], etc.).
So in Indiana I am considered a PE.
In Illinois (which I am licensed) I am an SE.
In California I am neither until I take and pass a Civil exam.
I am currently licensed in a total of (9) states.
In my email signature I list my name followed by "PE, SE". So my question is, are there any states that would be upset if one of my emails (that originate from IN) found its way to a person in said state? For example, if I sent an email and it was received by someone in CA, could disciplinary action be taken on someone with the titles listed since they are not licensed in that state?
I understand the question is broad and could depend on some circumstances, but I am just looking for anyone that has run into a problem like this.
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant






RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
If you are trying to pass yourself off as a licensed engineer in CA then you would have issues, had an engineer from Texas write a letter regarding issues in CA and he was politely told not to do that again.
When you pass the CE exam in CA you will still not be an SE, that is a separate test and separate experience you will need to get.
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
The flip side of this is some states that require people to identify themselves as a PE.
Simplest way would be to put "John Doe, Indiana PE No. XYX" and leave it at that.
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
If you send an email to a client in Indiana with P.E. after your name, then you would be OK. If someone forwards that email to someone in Florida, where you aren't licensed, then you are still OK as you have not sent or intended to send to anyone, any client, or entity a message stating that you are a PE there. This is basically what sandman21 states above about the UK. You can't control what others do with your email.
If you send an email direct to a prospective client in another state where your signature includes PE or SE and you aren't licensed there - there could be an issue with that state's board in that you were essentially portraying yourself as an engineer there when you were not.
I'm licensed in about 25 states and have Name, P.E., S.E. in my email signature blocks and generally don't worry too much about the signature unless I'm directly marketing to someone in another state where I'm not licensed. I'm licensed in TX so probably should read the link that JStephen provided.
Check out Eng-Tips Forum's Policies here:
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Mike Lambert
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
The only issue is whether or not you're offering consulting services to a state in which you're not licensed, and you're solely responsible for the work. If the work being performed is going to be signed by an engineer (other than you) licensed in that state, they become the person responsible as you're technically working under their "guidance" or "title" etc. In this situation, you're still a PE/SE but you're not the engineer of record for the job or whatever service you're providing. Typically, you wouldn't be communicating with someone for financial interest if you're in a separate state, don't have their state qualifications and don't work for someone that is going to sign your work.
To think of this in a slightly different way... Many building product manufacturers reside in states separate from the state in which their products are being used. For those out of states that require signed/sealed engineering, they may higher a local PE. When this PE sends emails to the manufacturer, the title of PE in their signature may not be recognized by the manufacturer's state system. However, the PE is safe to do so because they are acting as a PE within their territory. Not exactly the situation you're talking about but it's another way to look how someone may view your title.
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
I think the whole thing is ridiculous. If you're a PE in one state, you're a PE. You're not offering to seal anything by handing out your business card or sending an Email. Do you think Dr.'s or lawyers worry about this stuff?
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Granted, I don't actively stamp projects at this point, so I fly mostly under the state's radar.
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
And I suppose CA, FL and AK (maybe others?) have their extra tests to take.
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Email Signature w/ PE Title to recipient in unlicensed state