Each licensee and each firm practicing under a certificate of authorization shall obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board and must comply with the following:

(1) Individual seals must be under the personal custody and control of the licensee and bear the licensee's name, registration license number, and the legend "Professional Engineer" or "Professional Surveyor" except for licenses issued before July 1, 2001, which may have the legend "Registered Professional Engineer" or "Registered Land Surveyor". The seal also shall bear evidence of the license category for professional engineers and the tier designation for professional surveyors.

(2) Seals for firms practicing under a certificate of authorization must bear the firm's name and authorization number.

(3) Plans, specifications, plats, and reports prepared by a licensee or prepared under the licensee's direct supervision must be stamped with seals when filed with public authorities during the life of the licensee's certificate.

(4) Plans and specifications prepared by a licensee or prepared under the licensee's direct supervision must be stamped with seals when issued for use as job site record documents at construction projects within this State.

(5) It is unlawful to seal documents with a seal after the certificate of the licensee or the certificate of authorization in the case of firms named on the seal has expired or has been revoked or suspended unless the certificate has been renewed, reissued, or reinstated.

(6) Where individual seals are affixed to plans, specifications, plats, and reports, the licensee shall affix his signature and date under or across the face and beyond the circumference of the seal. The signature and date must not be applied in a manner that obliterates or renders illegible the licensee's license number or name.

(7) The clerk of court or the register of deeds for any county shall refuse to accept for filing or recording a map, plat, survey, or other document within the definition of surveying, dated after July 1, 1977, which does not have affixed to it the personal signature and prescribed impression seal of a professional surveyor. No charge may be made by a professional surveyor for the application of his impression seal.

(8) The building official, or other designated authority charged with the responsibility of issuing building or similar permits, shall refuse to issue a permit for any undertaking, the plans and specifications for which would require the seal of a professional engineer, unless the permit applicant has furnished satisfactory evidence that the documents were prepared by an engineer licensed as required by this chapter or that the documents are exempt from the requirements of this chapter. The building official, or designated authority charged with the responsibility of issuing building or similar permits, shall report to the board the name and address of a person who has or is suspected to have violated a provision of this chapter or a regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter relating to the unlicensed practice of engineering.

(9) The seal and signature of a licensee certifies that the document was prepared by the licensee or his agent. For prototypical documents, the seal and signature of a licensee indicates that he has sufficiently reviewed the document and is able to fully coordinate and assume responsibility for application of the plans.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 311, Section 1; 2016 Act No. 259 (S.685), Section 14, eff June 3, 2016.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws: 1991 Act No. 99, Section 1; 1976 Code Section 40-22-370.

Effect of Amendment

2016 Act No. 259, Section 14, added (9), relating to the significance of licensee seals and signatures on various documents.