The Nebraska Professional

Upcoming Changes to the E&A Act

Following the passage of LB 1212, which takes effect on July 17, 2026, two important changes will be made to the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Act (E&A Act):

First, the statute that governs the placement of a licensee’s signature and date of application in connection with their seal will be modified.  Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-3437.01(2) will be revised to read, “Whenever the seal is applied, the licensee's signature and the date of the seal's application shall be placed across or adjacent to the seal in a manner that does not obscure the licensee's name or the license number on the seal.”

Second, the statutes requiring board approval for those wishing to sit for the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam are removed in N.R.S. § 81-3451 Sections (2)(a) and (b). As a result, PE Exam applicants will no longer apply to the Board to be eligible to sit for the exam. 

Examinees who meet exam and education requirements are automatically approved when they register with NCEES. An automatic approval requires two verifications: passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and a transcript showing that they have graduated from an EAC/ABET-accredited program. Examinees who do not meet the exam and education requirements when they register for their exam must apply to and be approved by the Board. Once approved, examinees must register with NCEES to select an exam and reserve a seat. Then, the Board will confirm that these examinees are approved to take the exam.

Protecting Professional Seals: Licensee Lookup Changes

To help protect the integrity of the engineering and architectural professions and reduce the potential for fraudulent activity, architect and professional engineer license numbers have been removed from the Licensee Lookup feature on the Board’s website. This decision was made in response to an increase in the unauthorized and fraudulent use of professional seals, particularly through online freelance marketplaces and other unauthorized channels. 

In some cases, publicly available license information has been used to create or misuse professional seals belonging to licensed architects and professional engineers. Because a professional seal signifies responsibility for work affecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare, protecting this information is an important step in preventing misuse and maintaining confidence in the professions. For additional information, view the Board’s press release regarding the increase in fraudulent seal use.

Certificate of Authorization and Temporary Permit license numbers will continue to be displayed through the Licensee Lookup feature.

The Board remains committed to providing transparent licensure information while also protecting licensees and the public from fraudulent activity. Individuals who need to verify an architect’s or professional engineer’s license number may contact the Board at nbea.office@nebraska.gov or 402-471-2021. Board staff will continue to assist with license verification requests as needed.

A New Way to Connect: Monthly Q&A Webinars with Board Staff

Have questions about the licensure process, the E&A Act, Board rules, or other regulatory requirements? These new monthly Q&A sessions provide an opportunity to connect directly with Board staff and get answers to your questions in an open, educational setting.

Held on the second Thursday of each month at 12 PM CDT, these sessions are designed to help licensees, organizations, building officials, local jurisdictions, and members of the public better understand the laws, rules, and processes that govern the practices of engineering and architecture in Nebraska. Whether you're seeking clarification on a requirement, looking for guidance on a Board process, or simply want to learn more about the Board's role, we're here to help.

Bring your questions and join the conversation. No registration is required, and no question is too basic—we're committed to providing the information and resources you need to navigate licensure and professional practice with confidence.

To join the monthly Q&A sessions, use this recurring link. 

You may also dial in by phone. Please call +1 402-257-5560 and enter the phone conference ID: 796 558 53#. 

Important Reminders: 

• Board staff are not speaking on behalf of Board members.

• These sessions are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

• Please keep questions general and avoid sharing project-specific, personal, or identifying information.

• It is anticipated that the Board will not give CE credit for these sessions. As a result, Board staff WILL NOT provide attendance verification for continuing education credits. 

NBEA Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

Thank you to everyone who attended the recent Lunch and Learn Webinar titled "When Does a Lumber Estimate Become a Design? Know the Line”. 

The webinar is now available on the Board’s YouTube channel. View the PDF of the webinar here.

As a reminder, certificates will not be issued as attendance verification. If you participated in the entire presentation, you would have received an email confirming your attendance. Use that email as attendance verification if needed to substantiate CE hours for the webinar. You may need to check your email Junk folder for the email confirmation.

Additionally, it is anticipated the Board will give continuing education credit for the webinar, but as a reminder, the Board DOES NOT pre-approve continuing education offerings.

Please follow us on all the Board’s social media platforms for upcoming NBEA Lunch and Learn Webinar Series presentations and never miss any important updates or information! Additionally, visit our website for upcoming webinar information, as well as past webinar YouTube videos and presentation documents.

If you have any suggested topics for future webinars, please email nbea.marketing@nebraska.gov. 

NCEES News

NCEES is accepting applications for university students to serve as FE Ambassadors during the 2026–27 academic year.

FE Ambassadors are on-campus student representatives who promote the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and the value of licensure through peer-to-peer engagement with their fellow engineering students. They do this through engineering society student chapter meetings, on-campus events and activities, and licensure presentations.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application

• Enrolled as an on-campus, full-time undergraduate student while serving as an FE Ambassador

• Intend to take the FE exam

Expectations

FE Ambassadors are expected to promote the FE exam and the value of licensure to their fellow engineering students through on-campus activities, and NCEES will give you the resources to do so. Ambassadors will be provided a stipend to cover programming expenses.

Training and Support

All FE Ambassadors will receive virtual training and ongoing support from NCEES. Email outreach@ncees.org for more information or if you have any questions.

Visit NCEES for more information and the FE Ambassador application.

The number of U.S. Architects increased by 6% to just over 123,000 in 2025, according to NCARB’s annual Survey of Architectural Registration Boards. This represents a recovery from 2024’s data, which saw the number of architects dip below 120,000. 

Conducted each year by NCARB, the survey provides exclusive insights into data from the architectural licensing boards of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

Despite the increase, NCARB continues to anticipate a decline in the number of U.S. architects as baby boomers retire. Architects who are over the age of 65 made up 14% (a percentage point higher than 2024) of the total architect pool in 2025, while just 3% of the pool is under the age of 30. However, the pipeline of new architects remains healthy, with just under 3,500 new architects getting licensed last year. More information about the state of licensure will be available in the 2026 NCARB by the Numbers, which will be released in July. 

Visit NCARB to see how resident and reciprocal licensure breaks down by U.S. jurisdiction.

On June 1, 2026, several policies related to online proctoring for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) have been implemented. The new ARE 5.0 Guidelines reflect the latest information and online proctoring policies, including the new secondary camera requirement and Windows Operating System policy. 

In addition to reviewing the updated Guidelines and scheduling a free test run, candidates should take time to review NCARB’s and PSI’s Online Proctoring Experience Quick Guide before their next online-proctored appointment. 

Visit NCARB for more information on the ARE online proctoring policy updates. 

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) released episodes two and three of the NCARB Podcast—Why Fix What Isn’t Broken and What’s in a Degree. Listen to each episode and subscribe to the full series to hear new episodes as they become available.

Season two of the NCARB Podcast focuses on NCARB’s ongoing Pathways to Practice initiative, which aims to create a more accessible yet equally rigorous licensure process. This podcast series explores the current history of architectural licensure and regulation in the United States, as well as the evolution of NCARB’s current education, experience, and examination licensure requirements. It also provides a preview into the future of architectural licensure: a competency-based framework that allows for several different types of assessments to ensure qualified candidates can enter the profession, regardless of their professional or educational background.

The Nebraska Professional Archive 

The Nebraska Professional #65

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