Every engineer in the State of Georgia is required, under the regulations set out by the licensing board, to have a Georgia PE stamp or embossed seal in accordance with their certificate of registration. You acquire this seal at your own expense, and affix it to all documents and drawings that you submit. It must be fully compliant with all the rules and regulations set out by the State of Georgia for professional engineers.
About the Seal
In the state of Georgia, you can use either an embossing seal or a rubber stamp. You can also use an electronic seal. The seal should be an inch and a half in diameter, and it must include your name or the name of your company, your certificate number, and the phrase “Registered Professional Engineer.” The seal will be circular, and the diameter of the inner circle should be one inch. You can use “PE” in front of the certificate number if you like but it is not required.
You can use a crimp type seal, or it can be computer generated.
Use of the Seal
You are required to affix your seal and your signature to any reports, plans, plats or specifications that are issued by you as a registrant. If you use the seal on any document after your certificate of registration has expired or been revoked, or while you are suspended by the Board for any reason, you will be in violation of the law.
Unless you have personally performed the engineering work involved, you could again be in violation of the law. You may not use your Georgia PE stamp or seal on any specifications, plans, plats, or reports unless you have personally performed the work, or it has been performed by persons under your direct, daily supervision, and then only if you have thoroughly reviewed the work and satisfied yourself that it is up to acceptable standards.
This cannot be overstated – you must not affix your seal to any reports, plans, specifications, or plats unless you are fully prepared to guarantee that the work is adequate. If you do so, and the work is found to be inadequate, or if it is determined that you did not thoroughly review the work, the Board will consider you to have committed professional misconduct – in short, fraud.
Security
This brings us to our next topic, which is ensuring the security of your seal. We don’t believe that many engineers would actually affix their seal and signature to substandard work. But if your Georgia PE stamp or seal isn’t properly secured, it could be misused. When it’s important to get plans in on time, a well-meaning person in your office could use your seal. There might not be any consequences. But if something goes wrong, the results in terms of your liability and professional accreditation could be catastrophic. Always make sure that your seal is in a place where only you have access to it.
If your seal is ever lost or stolen, report the loss to the Board immediately. You will not be held liable for any use of your seal from the point where you report that it is missing.
Georgia PE Stamp or Seal Products
Acorn Sales Company Incorporated has all the products you need to be fully compliant with Georgia law, including:
- Long reach seal embosser
- Extended long reach seal embosser
- Handheld seal embosser
- Desk seal embosser
- Soft seal embosser
- MaxLight pre-inked stamp
- Slim pre-inked stamp
- Regular hand rubber stamp
- Self-inking stamp
In Georgia, your PE stamp or seal is your assurance that your work is up to acceptable standards. Make sure you’re always compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Georgia PE stamp requirements for licensed engineers?
Georgia requires licensed engineers to use a PE stamp or embossed seal that includes the engineer’s or firm’s name, certificate number, and the phrase “Registered Professional Engineer.” The seal must be circular, about 1.5 inches in diameter, and used in compliance with Georgia licensing board rules.
Can I use either a rubber stamp, embossing seal, or electronic seal in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia allows a rubber stamp, embossing seal, or electronic seal, as long as the seal meets all state requirements and includes the correct identifying information. You can also use a crimp-type or computer-generated seal if it is compliant.
When do I need to use my Georgia engineer seal?
You must affix your Georgia PE stamp and signature to reports, plans, plats, and specifications issued by you as a registrant. The seal should only be used on work you personally performed or work completed under your direct, daily supervision and thoroughly reviewed by you.
Can I stamp engineering documents if I did not personally do the work?
Generally, no. You may only use your Georgia engineer seal if you personally performed the work or directly supervised it and fully reviewed it. Stamping documents without proper oversight can be considered professional misconduct and may be treated as fraud.
What happens if my Georgia PE stamp is lost or stolen?
If your seal is lost or stolen, you should report it to the Georgia Board immediately. Reporting it promptly helps limit your liability for any misuse of the seal after the loss has been reported.
How do I make sure my Georgia PE stamp stays compliant with state law?
Make sure your seal includes all required wording and certificate information, use it only on eligible documents, and keep it secured so no one else can access it. Also, ensure your seal format and size meet Georgia PE stamp requirements to avoid compliance issues.
