Professional Reference FAQs

How many professional references do I have to provide?

Applicants are required to provide five references that can reflect the character and diversity of your experience and are personally acquainted with your professional reputation.  All 5 references must be "current" or signed off on within the past 12 months.

Do my professional references have to be licensed?

For engineering applicants, 3 of the references must be engineers who are currently licensed in the United States. For surveying applicants, 3 of the references must be surveyors who are currently licensed in the United States.

Can a relative serve as one of my professional references?

No. Your professional references may not be related to you by blood or marriage.

How long are my professional references valid?

Professional references are valid for 12 months from the date it is received from the reference.

Do my professional references have to be valid in order to transmit my Record?

Yes. Your professional references must be valid in order to request a transmittal.

How are professional references verified?

Professional references are processed electronically based on information provided by the applicant. References will be notified via email with instructions on how to access the secure information. NCEES recommends that you notify and follow up with your references to ensure they receive and respond to the verification email.

Can I edit or delete a professional reference?

Yes. Click the "Remove" option in the "Actions" dropdown next to reference you want to edit or remove.

*Please note, migrated references from legacy Records accounts cannot be edited. To update an existing reference, you must add a new entry. When the respondent submits the new reference, then you can delete the old one.