Many business entities illegally offer architectural, engineering or land surveying services.  If you are concerned as to whether the person or entity providing said services to you are legally authorized to do so, you can go on line and check whether said business entity is authorized to practice in New York State.

This is not an uncommon practice though most times it stems from ignorance of the law rather than any attempt to deceive.  However, many Home Inspection firms, Construction Management firms, Contractors, Inspection firms, Testing Laboratory firms and other entities illegally offer design services.  If, for example, you are being offered "engineering services", services by an "engineer", "engineering certification", "engineering reports", "engineered plans", "engineerings specifications", etc by any entity that is not on the list at the link below, said entity is illegally offering said services.

New York State Education Department Office of he Professions On Line License Verification Site

Scroll down to the last box and type in the name of the business entity and select the appropriate engineering category.  If the form is not listed and is offering any of the services describes, they may be committing a Class E Felony.  As NEPC does not input this data, maintain the site or have any responsibility therefore, NEPC does not warrant the information contained on said site.  However, if the entity proposing to do business with you is not listed, you should call the Office of the Professions and inquire as to their status accordingly.

Note that authorization to practice in another state, even with a New York Licensed PE on staff, does not constitute authorization to practice in New York State.  The business entity must have a Certificate of Authorization to practice engineering in new York state and you should obtain a copy of same for any engineering form with which you intend to do business.