Public Warning: Unlicensed Engineering and Surveying Services on Freelance Platforms
Summary
The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) has issued a public warning about an increase in complaints regarding individuals advertising unlicensed professional engineering and land surveying services on gig and freelance websites. The Board cautions that consumers may receive fraudulent credentials, invalid plans or reports, and suffer financial loss when hiring unqualified persons. The Board advises using the OSBEELS License Search to verify credentials and reporting suspected unlicensed practice.
What changed
OSBEELS issued a new public warning document alerting consumers to the growing problem of unlicensed individuals offering professional engineering and land surveying services through gig economy platforms. The warning identifies common deceptive claims, including false assertions of licensure, professional credentials, and authority to conduct official inspections or provide stamped plans.
For consumers and businesses seeking professional services, this warning signals the need for heightened due diligence when hiring professionals found through online freelance platforms. OSBEELS emphasizes using its License Search tool to verify Oregon credentials and disciplinary history before engaging services, and encourages reporting of suspected unlicensed practice to the Board's complaint portal or email address.
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Beware of Unlicensed Services on Freelance Platforms
Over the last few years, the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) has seen a steady increase in complaints alleging fraudulent use of engineers' seals, specifically through "gig" or freelance websites. Individuals are advertising professional services on these websites without the required professional license.
They may claim to be:
- "Licensed" or "Certified"
- "Professionals" in fields that require credentials, such as engineering and surveying.
- Offering "official" inspections, plans, or advice
But their claims may be false.
Hiring an unqualified/unlicensed person can lead to unsafe or illegal work, invalid plans, documents, or reports, and financial loss for the customer who paid for services through these sites and are let with plans they cannot use. Common warning signs include: very low prices, unrealistically quick schedules, communicating solely through the freelance website or email, pressure to pay up-front, and vague or inconsistent credentials. Protect yourself by using the OSBEELS License Search. This search allows you to verify an Oregon license and the licensee it belongs to, as well as to view if there have been any disciplinary actions taken against a licensee in Oregon. If there is any doubt, contact the licensee directly. OSBEELS strongly urges the public to use caution and verify credentials before hiring professionals online. If you believe someone is offering professional services without the required license, please submit a complaint to OSBEELS, either through email
(osbeels.info@osbeels.oregon.gov), or through our complaint portal.
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Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from OSBEELS.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
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