Quick answer

Verify the person through the Professional Regulation Commission’s Online Verification of License, not through a photo of a PRC card, social-media profile, company ID, diploma, or board-exam result.

Search using the person’s exact name and claimed PRC category. For electrical work, the category matters:

Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE): may practice electrical engineering in its full scope and has the sole authority to seal electrical plans.
Registered Electrical Engineer (REE): may perform the functions assigned to an REE by law, including specified operation, maintenance, and supervisory work, but does not have the PEE’s sole authority to seal electrical plans.
Registered Master Electrician (RME): is a separately regulated electrician, not a licensed electrical engineer, and has a more limited field of practice.

Confirm that the PRC result matches the person, profession, registration or license number, and current validity information. If the work involves signed and sealed plans, a major installation, public safety, employment screening, or a substantial payment, obtain stronger confirmation through PRC Certification/Authentication and check PRC’s published suspension and revocation notices.

What “licensed electrical engineer” should mean

The governing law is Republic Act No. 7920, the New Electrical Engineering Law. It recognizes three distinct registrations: PEE, REE, and RME.

A person who simply calls himself or herself an “electrical engineer” may be referring to an educational degree, a job title, an REE registration, or a PEE registration. Those are not interchangeable. Ask the person to state the exact PRC title being claimed.

Under Section 11 of RA 7920, a valid certificate of registration and valid professional license are generally required before a person may practice electrical engineering in the Philippines. Section 23 distinguishes the certificate of registration from the professional license: the certificate remains effective unless withdrawn, suspended, or revoked, while the professional license serves as evidence that the professional may lawfully practice until its validity expires.

An old board certificate therefore does not, by itself, prove that the person presently has authority to practice.

Step-by-step verification through PRC

1. Obtain the correct identifying information

Ask the professional for:

Full name exactly as registered with PRC
Exact professional category: PEE, REE, or RME
PRC registration or license number
Registration date and expiration date shown on the PIC
A physical PIC or electronic PIC, together with another government-issued ID for identity comparison

If using the PRC search by license number, the portal also requires the professional’s birth date. Obtain that information directly and with the person’s cooperation. Do not ask the professional to post an unredacted PRC card or birth date in a public chat or social-media thread.

2. Use the official PRC verification page

Go directly to the PRC Online Verification portal. Check that the domain ends in prc.gov.ph; do not rely on a verification link supplied through an unfamiliar website.

Select Verification of License (By Name) and enter:

The exact profession
First name
Last name

If necessary, also use Verification of License (By License No.), which asks for:

Profession
License number
Birth date

Searching both ways is useful when the person has a common name, a suffix, a recent name change, or a spelling that may have been entered differently.

3. Match the result to the person—not merely to a name

Compare all available PRC information with the documents and the person in front of you. Check for:

Exact or explainable name match
Correct professional category
Matching registration or license number
Current expiration or validity information
Matching photograph, where displayed
Registration details consistent with the PIC or e-PIC

A successful search proves that a PRC record matching the entered details exists. It does not prove that the person presenting the number is the registrant. Compare the PRC photograph and name against another government-issued ID, or perform the check while meeting the professional in person or by live video.

4. Authenticate an e-PIC through its barcode

PRC recognizes the electronic Professional Identification Card or e-PIC as proof of professional identity and standing, subject to authentication and verification. The e-PIC displays the professional’s name, profession, registration number, registration date, validity period, and photograph.

Use the barcode-scanning function on the official verification site. The PRC system should retrieve the holder’s information; a barcode image that merely opens a screenshot, cloud-storage file, or non-PRC webpage is not equivalent to PRC verification. See the PRC Public Advisory on e-PIC.

5. Check suspension and revocation notices

Review PRC’s List of Professionals with Suspended or Revoked Licenses, including the most recent Central Office and relevant regional-office postings.

Do not assume that the absence of a name from one posted file conclusively establishes good standing. The PRC verification portal itself warns that posting or updating may be delayed and that human or mechanical error remains possible. Where the consequences are significant, ask PRC for current official confirmation.

6. Request formal certification when the stakes are high

A portal result or screenshot may be adequate for an initial check, but it is not the highest level of proof. Consider PRC Certification/Authentication when verification is being used for:

Employment in a safety-critical position
Government or regulatory submission
Procurement or contractor qualification
A major electrical design or installation
Litigation, insurance, or a formal investigation
Work involving a signed and sealed electrical plan
Any situation involving a suspected false identity or altered PIC

PRC provides online Certification/Authentication services through its Licensure Examination and Registration Information System. Confirm the presently available certificate type, requirements, fee, release arrangement, and appointment instructions in LERIS or with the appropriate PRC office before applying.

Confirm that the license covers the proposed work

A valid PRC record is only part of the inquiry. The professional must also have the correct category for the assignment.

Professional Electrical Engineer

Section 31 of RA 7920 gives a PEE the full scope of electrical-engineering practice and the sole authority to seal electrical plans. Section 34 requires electrical plans, designs, valuations, and specifications to be prepared by or under the responsible charge of, and signed and sealed by, a PEE before the covered installation proceeds with the required construction permit.

For design or permitting work, verify all of the following:

The person is registered specifically as a Professional Electrical Engineer
The professional license is valid when the document is issued
The name and certificate number on the seal match the PRC record
Every required sheet is properly signed and sealed
The PEE actually prepared the work or exercised immediate supervision and responsible charge

A seal is not self-authenticating. Under Sections 26 and 29, a PEE may not use the seal after the professional license has expired or sign and seal work that the PEE did not prepare or immediately supervise.

Registered Electrical Engineer

An REE’s field includes the charge or supervision of specified operation and maintenance work; manufacture and repair of electrical supply and utilization equipment; teaching electrical subjects; and sales or distribution work requiring engineering calculations or engineering data.

An REE registration should not be represented as authority to seal an electrical plan. If a plan requires a professional seal, the responsible professional must be a properly licensed PEE.

Registered Master Electrician

An RME’s field covers installation, wiring, operation, maintenance, and repair of electrical machinery, equipment, and devices. Under Section 31, work on an installation or machinery rated above 500 kVA or above 600 volts must be under the supervision of a PEE or REE.

RA 7920 contains additional rules on required personnel and limited exceptions for certain small or automatic installations. The correct staffing and supervision depend on the installation’s actual load, voltage, operation, and use—not merely on a contractor’s description of the project.

Documents should contain verifiable license details

Section 27 of RA 7920 requires a PEE, REE, or RME to indicate the registration or professional-license number, date of registration, and expiration date on documents signed, used, or issued in professional practice.

For a formal engagement, retain:

Written proposal, contract, and detailed scope of work
Copy of the PIC or authenticated e-PIC, stored securely
Date-stamped record of the PRC verification result
Signed and sealed plans, specifications, reports, and revisions
Permits, inspection records, and certificates applicable to the installation
Invoices, official receipts, and proof of payment
Emails or messages identifying who prepared, supervised, inspected, or approved the work
Photographs of the installation before it is concealed or energized
Records of material substitutions, site instructions, tests, and commissioning

Record the date and time of every online check. A screenshot is useful evidence of what appeared at that time, but it can be altered and should not replace direct verification or official certification.

Common verification mistakes

Treating a board-exam result as a current license

Passing an examination is not the same as completing registration, taking the required oath, entering the roster, receiving the appropriate registration, and maintaining a valid professional license.

Checking the wrong profession

A record for an RME does not establish that the person is an REE or PEE. Likewise, an REE record does not establish authority to seal electrical plans.

Matching only the license number

A genuine number may have been copied from another professional. Match the name, category, photograph, validity, and identity of the person offering the service.

Accepting a cropped or edited PRC-card image

A digital image can hide an expiration date or be altered. Authenticate the e-PIC through the PRC barcode function and independently search the registry.

Relying on a company’s reputation

Electrical-engineering practice is based on individual professional qualifications. Section 35 of RA 7920 does not allow a firm or corporation itself to be registered or licensed for the practice of electrical engineering. Verify the individual who will take professional responsibility.

Assuming professional-organization membership is a license

Membership cards, certificates, seminars, awards, and organization directories may support a person’s credentials, but they do not replace PRC verification.

Ignoring an expired license because the project began earlier

Check validity when the professional is engaged and again when critical documents are signed, sealed, issued, or submitted. There is no separate statutory deadline for a client to conduct an online check; the controlling issue is whether the person has current authority when performing the regulated act.

Allowing “signature lending”

Do not accept a plan signed or sealed by a PEE who did not prepare it or exercise immediate supervision. RA 7920 prohibits signing a design or similar document on behalf of a PEE and provides administrative grounds relating to the sealing of work not prepared or immediately supervised by the PEE.

If the PRC search produces no result

A failed search is a warning, but not automatic proof of fraud. It may result from:

Misspelled or incomplete name
Wrong professional category
Omitted suffix
Marriage or other registered name change
Incorrect license number or birth date
A newly registered or recently renewed record not yet reflected online
Portal downtime or delayed database updating

Retry using the exact details printed on the PIC, including the correct category. Ask the professional to open the e-PIC from the professional’s own LERIS account and authenticate its barcode. If the discrepancy remains, pause the engagement and seek confirmation from PRC rather than accepting an explanation unsupported by official records.

When action is urgent

Stop or postpone the affected work and obtain immediate assistance when:

The person cannot be matched to the PRC record
The license is expired, suspended, or revoked
The name, photograph, number, category, or expiration date is inconsistent
An REE or RME is being presented as a PEE authorized to seal plans
A seal appears copied, altered, or used without the PEE’s actual involvement
Work is about to be concealed, energized, inspected, or submitted for a permit
There is exposed wiring, arcing, overheating, smoke, repeated breaker tripping, electric shock, or another immediate electrical danger

For an immediate hazard, keep people away, disconnect power only if this can be done safely, and contact the electric utility, building official, emergency services, or a properly verified professional as appropriate. Do not touch or investigate energized equipment without suitable authority and competence.

For suspected impersonation, forgery, unlicensed practice, or signature lending, preserve the original files, messages, payment records, envelopes, metadata, and unedited photographs. Do not annotate or overwrite the originals.

Section 29 of RA 7920 permits any person, firm, association, or corporation to file written, sworn charges against a licensee. Current administrative proceedings are governed by PRC’s 2025 Revised Rules in Administrative Investigations. Confirm the current form, filing location, service requirements, and supporting documents with PRC Legal Services or the appropriate regional office before submitting a complaint.

Unlicensed practice, impersonation, use of another person’s license or seal, use of an expired, suspended, or revoked license, and related acts are prohibited by Section 32. Section 40 states that a violation of RA 7920 may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of ₱10,000 to ₱50,000, imprisonment of six months to five years, or both. Administrative, civil, or criminal responsibility depends on the evidence, the particular act, and the proper proceedings.

Frequently asked questions

Is a PRC card enough to prove that someone is licensed?

No. Verify the card against the PRC registry, check its validity, and confirm that the person presenting it is the registered holder.

Does an expired PIC mean the registration certificate was revoked?

Not necessarily. RA 7920 treats the certificate of registration and professional license separately. But an expired professional license should not be accepted as current authority to practice, sign, or seal regulated work.

Can an REE sign and seal electrical plans?

An REE may perform work within the REE field of practice, but RA 7920 gives the PEE the sole authority to seal electrical plans. Covered plans must be under the responsible charge of, and signed and sealed by, a PEE.

Is an RME an electrical engineer?

No. Registered Master Electrician is a separate PRC category with a different scope and statutory limitations.

Is an electronic PRC card valid?

Yes. PRC recognizes the e-PIC as valid proof of professional identity and standing, subject to proper authentication and verification. Its barcode should be checked through the official PRC system.

Does “successfully verified” guarantee that there is no pending complaint?

No. Online license verification and the existence of a pending administrative case are different matters. If this distinction is important, ask PRC about the appropriate official certification or clearance.

How often should a license be checked?

Check before engagement and again before critical professional acts such as signing, sealing, permit submission, inspection, energization, or final acceptance—particularly when the PIC will expire during the project.

What if the professional is a foreign consultant?

Section 14 of RA 7920 allows limited exceptions under specific conditions, including a PRC special permit obtained before work begins. A claim of foreign expertise or foreign licensure alone is insufficient. Ask for the current special permit and verify its authorized work, employer, and validity directly with PRC.

Official sources

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice or a determination of any person’s credentials or liability. Procedures and online records can change, and the correct conclusion may depend on original documents and project facts. Official sources and procedures were checked as of 20 July 2026.