The Nebraska Professional

Fraudulent Seal Use on the Rise

The Board is warning Nebraska-licensed architects and professional engineers, as well as project owners, building officials, contractors, and the public, about a growing trend involving unauthorized and fraudulent use of architect and professional engineer seals—particularly through freelance online marketplaces.

The Board has recently identified an increase in cases involving:

• Online marketplaces that appear to use Nebraska licensees’ architect or professional engineer seals without their knowledge or consent, and

• Unlicensed individuals appearing to produce technical documents with fake or fraudulent architect or professional engineer seals.

In some cases, project owners who believe they are complying with Nebraska law through services provided through these marketplaces unknowingly obtain drawings or other technical documents from them that include fraudulent seals. 

The use of architect and professional engineer seals by unauthorized persons are deceptive and unlawful; may pose a significant risk to life, health, and property; and undermine public welfare.

Why This Is a Serious Violation

The Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act prohibits:

• The practice of architecture or engineering without a license,

• Using or attempting to use the certificate of licensure or the seal of another person, and

• Falsely impersonating a licensed professional.

How to Identify Potential Fraud

Often, seals may appear legitimate at first glance but lack required elements such as a valid license number, engineering discipline, or a real, verifiable licensee.

The Board urges project owners and building officials to be vigilant when they encounter:

• Unusually low-cost design services offered through freelance or online marketplaces;

• Avoidance when attempting to set up a face-to-face meeting to talk about a potential project;

• Seals that appear altered, incomplete, or inconsistent;

• Missing or unverifiable license information; and

• Little or no direct communication with the licensee whose seal is to be placed on the work. 

To help prevent misuse of their professional seal, licensees should:

• Maintain secure control of their physical and/or electronic seal;

• Never unduly share their seal or signature with other parties;

• Only seal work prepared by them or under their direct supervision;

• Monitor projects in which their seal has been used, and

• Report suspected misuse to the Board immediately.

Reporting Suspected Violations

The Board relies on the public and industry professionals to help identify and address violations. Anyone who suspects suspicious use of a licensee’s seal is encouraged to file a complaint if they encounter activity that is believed to be a violation of the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act. 

In addition, the Board urges project owners and licensees to contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 402-471-2683 if they suspect or encounter fraudulent use of the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer.

                          The Practice of Registered Interior Design and Its                            Overlap with The Practice of Architecture

The Nebraska Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act (the “ID Act”, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§71-6101 to 71-6108) was passed by the Nebraska Legislature and signed into law on March 5, 2024. 

The ID Act creates a voluntary registry for interior designers to be administered by the State Treasurer and for qualified interior designers to use the title “Registered Interior Designer.” The ID Act also gives registered interior designers the ability to perform work that is, in the Board’s opinion, part of the practice of architecture as defined in the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (the “E&A Act”).

The E&A Act defines the practice of architecture in Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-3420: 

Practice of architecture means providing or offering to provide design services in connection with the construction, enlargement, or alteration of a building or group of buildings and the space within and surrounding the buildings. The services may include, but not be limited to, planning, providing studies, designs, drawings, specifications, and other technical submissions, and administering construction contracts. The practice of architecture does not include the practice of engineering.

Similarly, the ID Act defines the practice of registered interior design in N.R.S. §71-6103 (6)(a):

Practice of registered interior design means the design of interior spaces as part of an interior alteration or construction project in conformity with public health, safety, and welfare requirements, including the preparation of any document relating to a building code description, any project egress plan that does not require additional exits in the space affected, any space planning, any finish material, any furnishing, any fixture, any equipment, and the preparation of any document and technical submission relating to interior construction.

N.R.S. §71-6103 (6)(b) lists services that are not in the scope of the practice of registered interior design:

Services that are not in the scope of the practice of registered interior design include:

(i) Services that constitute: (A) The practice of professional engineering; or (B) The practice of professional architecture, except as specifically provided for within the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act;

(ii) The construction or alteration of: (A) The structural system of a building, including changing the building's live or dead load on the structural system; (B) The building envelope, including an exterior wall, wall covering, or wall opening, an exterior window, an exterior door, any architectural trim, a balcony or similar projection, a bay, an oriel window, any roof assembly and rooftop structure, and any glass and glazing for exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications; (C) Any mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, vertical transportation, fire sprinkler, or fire alarm system; (D) An egress system beyond the exit access component of such system; and (E) Any life safety system such as a fire safety or fire protection of structural elements and smoke evacuation and compartmentalization system or a fire-rated vertical shaft in multistory structures;

(iii) Changes to an occupancy classification of greater hazard as determined by the International Building Code; and

(iv) Changes to the construction classification of the building or structure according to the International Building Code;

Additionally, both the E&A Act and Board rules allow for unlicensed persons to practice architecture as described in Rule 10.3 (the “Exemption Matrix” or “matrix”):

Notwithstanding other provisions of the E&A Act, persons who are not licensed architects or professional engineers may perform planning and design services in connection with any building, structure, or work as indicated below:

Analysis of Practice Overlaps

It is the Board’s position that the practice of registered interior design is entirely a subset of the practice of architecture. The ID Act makes reference to the practice of architecture in 71-6103(6)(b)(i)(B), so the ID Act itself supports the Board’s position. It is also the Board’s position that anyone practicing within the scope of registered interior design is also practicing within the scope of architecture.

To determine what work registered interior designers may perform and on what types (by occupancy classification) of projects they may perform that work, the Board offers the following guidance.

First, on any project exempt from the E&A Act---adversely impacting an area less than the maximum building area listed in Rule 10.3—both registered interior designers and non-registered interior designers may perform all planning and design services done in connection with the project, including any and all work that could be construed as the practices of architecture, engineering, registered interior design.  However, registered interior designers may not perform any of the services that are ‘not in the scope of interior design’ on projects of any size. 

Next, on projects subject to E&A Act—adversely impacting an area greater than the maximum building area listed in Rule 10.3— registered interior designers are allowed to perform services described as the practice of registered interior design done in connection with the project.

For example, work related to a project adversely impacting 4,000 square feet of a structure classified as a Business (B) occupancy and consisting only of space planning and selection and specifications of finish materials and fixtures services could be performed by a registered interior designer. An architect would not need to be involved in the project.

Finally, on projects subject to E&A Act:

• Non-registered interior designers may not provide services that constitute the practice of registered interior design, architecture, or engineering, and

• Registered interior designers may not provide services that are explicitly listed as not constituting the practice of registered interior design.

The Board’s analysis of practice overlaps is summarized in the following two tables.

Coordinating Professionals

N.R.S. §81-3437.02 requires that projects involving more than one architect or professional engineer shall have one architect or professional engineer designated as the coordinating professional for the entire project.  In addition, the Nebraska Professional Landscape Architects Act mandates that landscape architecture design projects involving more than one professional landscape architect, architect, or professional engineer shall have a designated coordinating professional for the entire project, and this is reflected in Board Rule 6.3.1.

There are no provisions in the ID Act allowing registered interior designers to act as a coordinating professional on any project. Consequently, it is the Board’s position that registered interior designers cannot act as the coordinating professional on any project subject to the E&A Act.

Information in this article comes from a guidance document published by the Board. Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §84-901.03, this guidance document is advisory in nature but is binding on the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects until amended by the board. A guidance document does not include internal procedural documents that only affect the internal operations of the agency and does not impose additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules and regulations made in accordance with the Nebraska Administrative Procedure Act. If you believe that this guidance document imposes additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties, you may request a review of the document.

                                       Next NBEA Webinar: When Does a Lumber                                         Estimate Become a Design? Know the Line.

Join us for a free webinar on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. CST and gain essential insight into the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (E&A Act)—and how it applies to the work you do.

What may seem like a straightforward material takeoff or building layout can, in some cases, cross into the practice of architecture or engineering. Understanding where that line is can help you avoid risk, support your customers, and keep projects moving smoothly.

This session will break down what you need to know in a clear, real-world way.

In this webinar, you will:

• Understand when an estimate or layout may be considered “design” under the Act 

• Learn when a Nebraska-licensed architect or engineer must be involved 

• Gain practical examples you can apply immediately 

• Have the opportunity to ask questions and get straightforward answers

The E&A Act exists to ensure that buildings are designed by qualified professionals when required—protecting life, health, property, and public welfare. Having a clear understanding of these requirements helps you better serve your customers while reducing potential liability.

Don’t miss this opportunity—reserve your spot today. Strengthen your understanding of the Act, support safe construction practices, and help prevent the unlicensed practice of architecture or engineering—whether by preparing plans without proper Nebraska licensure or by failing to engage a licensed design professional when required.

NCEES News

NCEES is seeking licensed engineers and engineering faculty to participate in an online survey for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The results of this online survey will be used to update the content of the FE exam, a process that occurs every six to eight years.

To access the online survey, please click here. The survey will remain open until April 27, 2026.

In 2025, NCEES fully transitioned its engineering exams to computer-based testing and introduced interactive practice exams to match the new format. These tools offer timed testing, instant feedback, and performance insights to help candidates better prepare.

Since their release, candidates have used these resources—and those who did saw higher pass rates across all FE disciplines, especially repeat test takers.

NCEES research showed that those who took an interactive practice exam had measurably higher exam pass rates than those who did not—in every FE discipline. The benefit was most evident among repeat examinees, with some FE exam pass rates more than 10 percentage points higher for those who purchased interactive practice exams.

Access more information about the NCEES FE Exams.

The 2026 NCEES Engineering Education Award competition is open for entries. All projects must be received by May 1, 2026.

The competition recognizes programs that have a broad and robust curriculum and best reflect NCEES’ mission to advance licensure in both fields in order to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Additionally, the awards are intended to encourage programs to engage their students with other professionals, introduce them to new technology, and promote licensure.

The University of Nebraska—Lincoln’s Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction won the 2025 NCEES Engineering Education Award grand prize. The department received the $25,000 award for its submission, Carson Headquarters.

Visit NCEES to learn more about the NCEES Engineering & Surveying Education Awards.

Starting June 1, 2026, NCARB will implement two changes to ARE^® online proctoring requirements. 

First, all candidates will be required to use a mobile device as a secondary camera. The mobile device camera must capture the entire computer screen, the full keyboard and mouse or trackpad, both hands while typing, and the side of the candidate’s face. 

Second, delivery of the ARE® through online proctoring will only be supported on computers running a Windows Operating System. Mac and Linux devices will no longer be accepted.

A new version of the ARE Guidelines reflecting both changes will become available in mid-May. Any candidate with a scheduled online proctored appointment on or after June 1 who will not be able to comply with the requirements may reschedule their appointment at no additional cost. Candidates who need help rescheduling an appointment should contact NCARB.

Visit NCARB for more information on the updated online proctoring requirements. 

On April 17, 2026, NCARB and the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) signed a new Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). Effective July 6, 2026, the new MRA will expand access to opportunities for international architects. 

This agreement will enable eligible architects to benefit from a more straightforward process to get licensed/registered, helping them to establish professional contacts and perform services as a registered architect in each country. The agreement also represents a significant step in NCARB’s commitment to expanding opportunities for NCARB-certified architects while maintaining rigorous standards to protect the public. 

For more information on this new MRA, please visit the NCARB website.

Have you ever wondered what drives updates to NCARB’s programs, like the changes to the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) reporting policy in November 2025 or the removal of the three-year waiting period from the Education Alternative to NCARB Certification in January 2026? In the latest NCARB video in the How it Works series, How NCARB Updates its Programs, explores the full process of NCARB program updates—from where ideas are sourced, to how our volunteer committees become involved, to implementation.

This is the second video in NCARB’s How it Works video series, which demystifies NCARB's processes, including the exam, the experience program, and more. Watch the first video on how Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) items are developed.