89C-16. Certificates of licensure; effect; seals.

(a) The Board shall issue to any applicant, who, in the opinion of the Board, has met the requirements of this Chapter, a certificate of licensure giving the licensee proper authority to practice the profession in this State. The certificate of licensure for a professional engineer shall carry the designation "professional engineer," and for a land surveyor, "professional land surveyor," shall give the full name of the licensee with the Board designated licensure number and shall be signed by the chair and the secretary under the seal of the Board.

(b) This certificate shall be prima facie evidence that the person named on the certificate is entitled to all rights, privileges and responsibilities of a professional engineer or a professional land surveyor, while the certificate of licensure remains unrevoked or unexpired.

(c) Each licensee shall upon licensure obtain a seal of a design authorized by the Board bearing the licensee's name, license number, and the legend, "professional engineer," or "professional land surveyor." Final drawings, specifications, plans and reports prepared by a licensee shall, when issued, be certified and stamped with the seal or facsimile of the seal unless the licensee is exempt under the provisions of G.S. 89C-25(7). It shall be unlawful for a licensee to affix, or permit the licensee's seal and signature or facsimile of the seal and signature to be affixed to any drawings, specifications, plans or reports after the expiration of a certificate or for the purpose of aiding or abetting any other person to evade or attempt to evade any provision of this Chapter. A professional engineer practicing land surveying shall use the licensee's land surveyor seal.