PEB Singapore: How to Verify a Professional Engineer

The Professional Engineers Board, usually referred to as the Singapore PEB, is the statutory body that decides who may practise as a Professional Engineer in Singapore. If your project needs structural plans, a PE endorsement or a statutory inspection, the person signing must be registered with the PEB and hold a valid practising certificate. Checking that takes a few minutes and is one of the simplest protections a building owner has.

This guide explains what the PEB regulates, how to verify an engineer on its online directory, what the difference is between a registered PE and someone who is simply described as an engineer, and what to do if something does not add up. It is written from the perspective of a practising structural engineer and reflects the framework under the Professional Engineers Act.

What the Singapore PEB is and what it regulates

The PEB was established under the Professional Engineers Act. Its role is to safeguard life, property and public welfare by regulating the professional engineering profession. In practical terms it does several things.

Registration of Professional Engineers. To be registered, an engineer must hold recognised academic qualifications, have acquired adequate practical experience and pass the prescribed examinations.
Practising certificates. Registration alone does not allow an engineer to practise. A PE must hold a practising certificate, which is renewed annually and authorises work within the branch of engineering in which the engineer is registered. Renewal is tied to continuing professional development.
Specialist registers. The PEB maintains registers for specialist professional engineers in specialised fields, such as geotechnical engineering, for work where specialist competence is required.
Licensing of firms. Corporations and partnerships may supply professional engineering services only if licensed by the PEB, and such firms must have a PE with a valid practising certificate in control of the engineering work.
Discipline. The PEB investigates complaints and can take disciplinary action against PEs for professional misconduct or negligence.

The PEB is distinct from BCA. BCA administers the Building Control Act, approves structural plans and enforces building regulations. When BCA requires plans to be prepared by a Qualified Person, that Qualified Person for structural works is a PE registered with the PEB. The two systems interlock, but the PEB is concerned with the engineer and BCA with the building.

Why verification matters

A PE’s signature carries legal weight. When a PE endorses structural plans, certifies works or submits a statutory inspection report, they take professional responsibility for that work. If the signatory is not a registered PE with a valid practising certificate, the endorsement has no standing, and the owner may face rejected submissions, delays, and in serious cases unsafe work.

Verification also protects against simpler confusion. Many capable people describe themselves as engineers. Engineering degrees, membership of professional institutions, overseas registrations and international titles all reflect real qualifications, but none of them on its own entitles a person to practise as a Professional Engineer in Singapore. Only PEB registration with a current practising certificate does.

If you are unsure whether your project needs a PE at all, our guide on when you need a Professional Engineer covers the common triggers in Singapore.

How to verify a Professional Engineer on the PEB register

The PEB publishes an online directory of Professional Engineers who hold valid practising certificates, accessible from the PEB website. The process is straightforward.

Go to the PEB website at peb.gov.sg and find the section for finding a Professional Engineer.
Search the directory of PEs with practising certificates. The directory can be browsed or filtered by name, by practice or employer, by type of practice and by branch of engineering.
Check the branch. Confirm the engineer is registered in the branch relevant to your work. Structural and building works fall under civil engineering, while electrical and mechanical services fall under their own branches.
Check the practice details. The listing shows the practice or employer associated with the engineer. This should match the firm you are engaging.
Check specialist registration if relevant. For specialist work such as geotechnical engineering, check the separate directory of specialist professional engineers.

The PEB notes that directory information reflects what was correct at the time the practising certificate was issued and may be updated from time to time. If the details you see do not match what you have been told, ask the engineer to explain, and contact the PEB if you remain unsure. The PEB has also warned the public that it will never ask for personal details through SMS or automated phone messages.

PE versus non-PE: who can do what

Much engineering work in a home or building does not require a PE. Design advice, investigations, condition surveys and specification can be carried out by competent engineers who are not PEs. What a non-PE cannot do is perform work that the law reserves for Professional Engineers, such as acting as the Qualified Person for structural plan submissions, signing statutory certifications, or carrying out the Periodic Structural Inspection.

In HDB flats, structural proposals that HDB is prepared to consider typically require PE involvement, and our guide to PE endorsement for HDB A&A works explains how that process works. In private properties, A&A works affecting structure require structural plans prepared by a PE and approved by BCA before work starts.

A practical rule: if the document you need will be submitted to BCA, HDB or another authority for structural approval or certification, the person signing it should appear in the PEB directory under the right branch. If you are not sure which category your work falls into, our structural engineering consultancy can help you scope it.

Questions to ask before engaging a PE

Verification is the first step. Beyond it, a few questions help you judge whether the engineer is right for your project.

Is your practising certificate current, and under which branch are you registered?
Which licensed firm or practice will issue the documents?
Have you handled works of this type, such as A&A in landed homes, HDB structural proposals or periodic inspections?
What does your scope include: site inspection, design, calculations, submissions, supervision and final certification?
What professional indemnity insurance is in place?

Fees vary with scope and complexity. Our articles on PE endorsement costs and structural engineer costs in Singapore explain what drives them.

What to do if something seems wrong

If an engineer’s name does not appear in the directory, or appears under a different branch or practice, raise it directly before relying on any document. There may be a simple explanation, such as a recent change of firm, but you need a clear answer. If documents bearing a PE’s name and seal have been produced without proper involvement, or if you have concerns about a PE’s conduct, the PEB is the body to contact.

For building works already under way, a document issued by someone without a valid practising certificate may need to be redone by a properly registered PE, and BCA or HDB may need to be informed. Acting early limits the consequences.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Singapore PEB do?

The Singapore PEB registers Professional Engineers, issues annual practising certificates, maintains specialist registers, licenses firms that supply professional engineering services and takes disciplinary action against PEs where necessary.

How do I check if an engineer is a registered PE in Singapore?

Search the PEB’s online directory of Professional Engineers with practising certificates on the PEB website, confirming the name, branch of engineering and practice details match the engineer and firm you are engaging.

Is a registered PE the same as a PE with a practising certificate?

No, registration is the qualification while the practising certificate, renewed annually, is what authorises a PE to practise, so you should confirm the engineer holds a current practising certificate in the relevant branch.

Can an overseas-qualified engineer endorse plans in Singapore?

Only if they are registered with the PEB and hold a valid Singapore practising certificate, since overseas registrations and international titles do not on their own permit someone to practise as a Professional Engineer in Singapore.

Is the PEB the same as BCA?

No, the PEB regulates engineers under the Professional Engineers Act while BCA regulates buildings under the Building Control Act, including approving structural plans prepared by PEs.

Need accountable structural advice and clarity on whether your project needs a PE? Talk to our consultancy or get in touch.