Do you know the requirements for a professional engineer to stamp and seal a design document in each of the fifty states?
Most states allow professional engineers to use rubber stamps and many accept digital seals with electronic signatures. However, several states, including New Jersey, require an embosser type seal. We reviewed the sealing and stamping requirements for every state to create this convenient summary.
Professional engineers are required to obtain a PE stamp, also known as a seal, as soon as they become licensed. Every state requires the licensee to apply their seal as a way to document that they are the person in responsible charge for the work.
The term “responsible charge” is defined by every state, so the precise definition varies slightly, but the general meaning is that the professional engineer used his professional skill and judgement to supervise the engineering work. In most jurisdictions, the engineer who is in responsible charge is the person who must seal the documents.
Sealing an engineering document provides a clear and effective way for the public to know who prepared the design and, therefore, who is responsible for ensuring the work was done in a professional manner that is protective of public safety. Although the terms sealing and certification are used interchangeably, they have different meanings.
A seal is the image – usually a circle with the state engineering symbol and the PE’s name and license number – that establishes the provenance of the document. However, it is just one component of the complete certification. Two additional components, a signature and a date, must also be applied to the engineering documents to formally complete the certification process.
When a professional engineer applies his stamp to a document, he is making three representations. These representations are not voluntary statements. They are required by state engineering laws and rules.
By applying her seal to a design, the professional engineer is stating that her work satisfies the professional standards necessary to protect the public’s safety, health and welfare.
Before computers were in widespread use, engineers were required to apply their seal to paper documents and drawings. The seal is a security measure that makes it difficult for anyone other than the engineer to certify the work.
The first seals were embossers that make a permanent impression by crimping the paper. This type of seal provides both a visual and tactile verification for public officials and others to verify that the document was prepared by a licensed engineer.
Later, state boards began allowing professional engineers to use ink-based seals, now referred to as rubber seals, to stamp engineering documents. Several states, such as New Jersey, do not allow rubber stamp seals and PEs must use embosser seals for paper documents.
Today, most engineering drawings and reports are prepared and transmitted in electronic form – with no paper copies at all. Many professional engineers wonder if they can use an electronic seal with a digital signature to seal their design documents.
In most cases, state engineering boards allow the use of electronic PE seals as long as they meet the general requirements of the seal – diameter, state seal, and wording. In addition, electronic engineering seals must also meet digital security standards to prevent the seal from being copied or used by others.
It is important for professional engineers to understand what the state board requirements are for signing and sealing design documents. Seemingly “minor” violations of these rules have resulted in disciplinary investigations and sanctions. Keeping track of the various stamping methods – embossers, rubber stamps, and digital seals, can be confusing and even a little intimidating. We prepared an ethics course that presents a detailed evaluation of real world cases against engineers (ethics course).
The following information is provided as a resource for professional engineers. It is only provided for general information and no guarantee is provided or offered. It is the responsibility of each professional engineer to verify the state requirements for his/her work.
If you want to learn more about adding your scanned signature and digital seal to AutoCAD drawings, I recommend this YouTube video by Craig Gorsuch. Craig provides a thorough discussion on the requirements of your digital signature and seal, how to insert them into the drawing file, working with Adobe, and a lot of other technical issues. This video includes a lot of time saving and organizational strategies to automate many of the repetitive tasks and avoid common mistakes. This tutorial is 13:44 minutes long, and it is definitely worth your time.
The following is a summary of the state specific requirements for the use of digital engineering seals and signatures. Also provided is a citation for the state regulations governing the use of PE seals.
Digital PE Seal: Alabama allows engineers to use digital seals. Engineers can put an electronic seal on engineering documents if they place an original signature and date on the documents.
Statutory Authority: Alabama Administrative Code 330X11.02 and 03
Digital PE Seal: Alaska allows engineers to use digital seals. Alaska accepts similar electronic or digital representation of the seal if the engineer includes an original signature and date of signing.
Statutory Authority: 12 AAC 36.185. USE OF SEALS. and AS 08.48.221 12 AAC 36.185
Digital PE Seal: Arizona allows engineers to use digital seals. Arizona accepts digital/electronic seals and signatures if the seal bears the name of the engineer and includes the branch of engineering in which the engineer has demonstrated proficiency.
Statutory Authority: Arizona Revised Statutes 32-125
Digital PE Seal: Arkansas allows engineers to use digital seals. The board allows documents to be sealed electronically if the signature is under the sole control of the person who applied it.
Statutory Authority: Arkansas Code Annotated 17-48-105
Digital PE Seal: California allows engineers to use digital seals. The use of electronic/digital seals and signatures by professional engineers is authorized.
Statutory Authority: California Business and Professional Code §§ 6732, 6735
Digital PE Seal: Colorado allows engineers to use digital seals. Colorado allows electronic signatures if the signature is: 1. Unique to the person using it; 2. Capable of verification; 3. Under the sole control of the person using it; and 4. Linked to the document.
Statutory Authority: Colorado Revised Statutes 12-25-217
Digital PE Seal: Connecticut allows engineers to use digital seals. Connecticut allows digital signatures if:
1. Satisfies the requirements of the Digital Signature Standard; 2. Signatures are unique to the licensee; 3. Can be verified;
4. Under the licensee’s direct and exclusive control; and 5. Cannot be altered.
Statutory Authority: General Statutes of Connecticut Title 20 Chapter 391 §304
Digital PE Seal: Delaware allows engineers to use digital seals. Engineers may use a seal, signature, and
date that can be created or transmitted electronically.
Statutory Authority: Delaware Code 24-2719-20
Digital PE Seal: The District of Columbia allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must
contain the following: 1. A unique signature; 2. Capability to verify the source; 3. Sole control by the person using it; and 4. A link to the document in such a manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
Statutory Authority: D.C. Register 1516.3 and 5.
Digital PE Seal: Florida allows engineers to use digital seals. Electronically transmitted documents are permitted to have a digitally created seal. They must include the date it was signed and sealed and. However, they cannot include a scanned image of the licensee’s signature. They must also contain a statement indicating that the document has been electronically signed and sealed, and that printed copies of the document are not considered signed and sealed. Electronically transmitted documents can be signed and sealed by either digital signing and sealing or electronic signing and sealing.
Statutory Authority: Florida Statutes Title XXXII 472.025
Digital PE Seal: Georgia allows engineers to use digital seals and digital signatures.
Statutory Authority: O.C.G.A. 43-15-22
Digital PE Seal: Hawaii does not allow engineers to use digital/electronic seals or signatures.
Statutory Authority: Hawaii Revised Statutes 464-11
Digital PE Seal: Idaho allows engineers to use digital seals. The seal may either be a digital seal or an electronically generated image.
Statutory Authority: Idaho Code 54-1215
Digital PE Seal: Illinois allows engineers to use digital seals. Engineers may use either an original signature in the engineer’s handwriting, a scanned copy of the technical submission bearing an original signature, or a signature generated by a computer.
Statutory Authority: 225 ILCS 325/14
Statutory Authority Structural Engineer: 225 ILCS 340/12
Digital PE Seal: Indiana allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Indiana Code 25-31-1-16
Digital PE Seal: Iowa allows engineers to use digital seals. The engineer must ensure that security procedures are adequate to: (1) Verify the signature is that of a specific person; (2) Detect any changes that may be made or attempted
after the signature of the specific person is affixed.
Statutory Authority: Iowa Administrative Code 193C-6.1
Digital PE Seal: Kansas allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Kansas Administrative Regulations 66-6-1
Digital PE Seal: Kentucky allows engineers to use digital seals. Documents may be transmitted electronically with an electronic signature if: 1. the electronic signature is a unique identification of the licensee; 2. is verifiable; 3. is under the licensee’s direct and exclusive control; 4. is linked to the electronic document in such a way that any changes to the
document are easily displayed; 5. any attempt to change the document invalidates the electronic signature; and 6. the document is transmitted in a read only format. When documents are presented to a client or to a public or governmental entity, at least one copy must have the licensee’s original stamp
Statutory Authority: Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated 322.340
Digital PE Seal: Louisiana allows engineers to use digital seals and signatures.
Statutory Authority: Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 46, Chapter 27, § 2701
Digital PE Seal: Maine allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Maine Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers Rules Chapter 2 Section 11
Digital PE Seal: Maryland allows engineers to use digital seals and signatures.
Statutory Authority: Maryland Code 14.403
Digital PE Seal: Massachusetts allows engineers to use digital seals. Whenever all parties to a transaction agree to transmit a document bearing an original signature and stamp electronically, the document must be accompanied by a properly encrypted digital signature. A digital signature must have an electronic authentication process attached to it such that it can only be associated with the Licensee, is capable of verification, and is linked uniquely to the underlying documents in a manner that invalidates the signature if any part of the document is changed. The digital certificate and associated private key used to digitally sign the documents must be under the sole and exclusive control of the Licensee, e.g. kept on a smart card when access to the computer used to apply the digital signature cannot be controlled.
Statutory Authority: 250 CMR 3.05(3)
Digital PE Seal: Michigan allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2008
Digital PE Seal: Minnesota allows engineers to use digital seals. An electronically created signature has the same force and effect as an actual signature if it creates an accurate depiction of the licensed or certified professional’s actual signature.
Statutory Authority: Minnesota Statutes 326.11
Digital PE Seal: Mississippi allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, Rules and Regulations, 14.03
Digital PE Seal: Missouri allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must be: (1) unique to, and under the sole control of the person using it; (2) It must be capable of verification; (3) Be linked to a document in such manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data on the document is altered.
Statutory Authority: Missouri Revised Statutes 327.411
Digital PE Seal: Montana allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Montana Code Annotated 37-67-101 and 314
Digital PE Seal: Nebraska allows engineers to use digital seals and signatures.
Statutory Authority: Nebraska Revised Statutes 81-3454
Digital PE Seal: Nevada allows engineers to use digital seals and signature if: The files containing the document are locked electronically to prevent any changes to the document; Secure encryption methods are in place to prevent the copying, transferring or removing of the seal and signature and to prevent changes to any electronic drawings after the document is submitted, released or issued; The electronic signature is applied by the licensee in responsible charge of the work; and The licensee believes adequate protections are in place to prevent fraud or misuse of the electronic signature.
Statutory Authority: Nevada Revised Statutes 625.565 and 080
Digital PE Seal: New Hampshire allows engineers to use digital seals and signatures once the engineer has submitted a stamp seal to the Board, and it has been approved.
Statutory Authority: New Hampshire R.S.A. 310-A:18
Digital PE Seal: New Jersey allows engineers to use digital seals.
Special Conditions: New Jersey does not allow engineers to use rubber stamp seals. Seals must be of the embosser type that crimps the paper.
Statutory Authority: New Jersey Statutes 45:8-45
Digital PE Seal: New Mexico allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: New Mexico Statutes Ann. 61-23-21
Digital PE Seal: New York does not have requirements for digital seals and signatures. The engineer must meet the requirements of the jurisdiction where the sealed document is to be submitted.
Statutory Authority: New York Education Law, Article 145 §7209
Digital PE Seal: North Carolina allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must be: 1. Unique to the engineer using it; 2. Capable of verification; 3. Under the sole control of the engineer; and 4. Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
Statutory Authority: 21 NCAC 56.1106
Digital PE Seal: North Dakota allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: North Dakota Century Code 43-19.1-21
Digital PE Seal: Ohio allows engineers to use digital seals. All engineering documents with a computer-generated seal and electronic signature and date must have an electronic authentication process attached to or logically associated with the electronic document. The electronic signature must be: 1. Unique to the person using it; 2. Capable of verification; 3. under the sole control of the person using it; 4. linked to a document in such a manner that the electronic signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
Statutory Authority: Ohio Revised Statutes 4733.14
Digital PE Seal: Oklahoma allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must be: 1. Unique to the person using it; 2. Capable of verification; and 3. Under the sole responsibility and control of the engineer affixing it.
Statutory Authority: Oklahoma Statutes 59-475.18
Digital PE Seal: Oregon allows engineers to use digital seals. Digital signatures are acceptable if: 1. The signature is unique; 2. Verifiable by 3rd Party; 3. Under sole control of the engineer using it; 4. Signature is linked to the document; 5. Contains one digital signature that is permanently linked to it; and 6. Meets size requirements.
Statutory Authority: Oregon Revised Statutes 672.020 and 025
Digital PE Seal: Pennsylvania allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Pennsylvania Code 37.59
Digital PE Seal: Rhode Island allows engineers to use digital seals. Rhode Island has adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), which allows state agencies to determine whether to give legal effect to electronic records. Engineers should use professional judgement when using electronic seals and signatures.
Statutory Authority: Rhode Island General Laws 5-8-14; 5-8.1-12
Digital PE Seal: South Carolina allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: South Carolina Code of Regulations 49-207
Digital PE Seal: South Dakota allows engineers to use digital seals. Digital signatures must be: 1. Unique to the engineer; 2. Capable of verification; 3. Under the sole control of the engineer using it; and 4. Linked to a document in such a manner that the digital signature is invalidated if any data in the document is changed.
Statutory Authority: South Dakota Codified Laws 36-18A-45
Digital PE Seal: Tennessee allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Tennessee Code 62-2-306 and 62-18-119
Digital PE Seal: Texas allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Texas Occupations Code Title 6, Chapter 1001.401 and 402
Digital PE Seal: Utah allows engineers to use digital seals. The engineer must provide adequate security when documents with electronic seals and electronic signatures are submitted.
Statutory Authority: Utah Code Annotated 58-22-602
Digital PE Seal: Vermont allows engineers to use digital seals. Engineers are responsible for managing the use and security of their seal and signature.
Statutory Authority: Vermont Statutes Title 26, Chapter 45, Subchapter 3 § 2596
Digital PE Seal: Virginia allows engineers to use digital seals. The electronic signature must be: 1. It is a unique identification of the professional; 2. It is verifiable; and 3. It is under the professional’s
direct control.
Statutory Authority: 18 Virginia Administrative Code 10-20-760
Digital PE Seal: Washington allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must have the following properties: It must be unique to the engineer; It must be capable of independent verification; It must be under the exclusive control of the engineer; It must transform the Electronic Record such that a recipient can determine that the record was signed by the engineer; It must transform the Electronic Record such that a recipient can determine if the initial record was altered since the transformation was made.
Statutory Authority: Revised Code of Washington 18.43.070
Digital PE Seal: West Virginia allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: West Virginia Code 30-13A-19
Digital PE Seal: Wisconsin allows engineers to use digital seals.
Statutory Authority: Wisconsin Administrative Code A-E 8.10
Digital PE Seal: Wyoming allows engineers to use digital seals. The digital signature must be: Unique to the engineer using it; Capable of verification; and Under the sole responsibility and control of the engineer affixing it.
Statutory Authority: Wyoming Code 33-29-129
This list may not be complete and does not contain all information relating to state board sealing and stamping requirements. It is intended to include basic information and a statutory citation for finding more comprehensive information. If you discover any errors in this reference document, please contact us.
