Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Holly R, VP of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Sales, against the New Hampshire Board of Professional Geologists, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification and N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 310-A:130 on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
The New Hampshire geologist seal is the most pictorial specification of any in this group. N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(b) puts an image of a crossed geological hammer and compass inside the inner circle, with your full name above it and your license number written “so as to span the image.” The word Licensed then runs along the bottom curve of the inner circle, above the words Professional Geologist in the outer space, so the credential reads across two rings. A plain text seal, however correctly worded, does not match the rule.
The geometry is two concentric circles, an outer circle of one and five-eighths inches and an inner circle of one and one-quarter inches, with State of New Hampshire across the top of the space between them and Professional Geologist across the bottom. Those are the same two circles the New Hampshire landscape architect rule uses, but that device adds a twelve-leaf border bringing its overall diameter to 1 7/8 inches. Same inner geometry, different finished objects.
Buy a rubber stamp. Geo 307.03(a) names an impression type seal or a rubber stamp and nothing else, with no computer generated or digital option, unlike the New Hampshire landscape architect rule at Lsa 305.03(a). Because the seal travels with a signature and a date on documents filed for public record, an embossed impression alone will not reproduce.
New Hampshire geologist seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | New Hampshire rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 310-A:130 |
| Required elements | State of New Hampshire across the top of the space between the circles; Professional Geologist across the bottom of that space; Your full name inside the inner circle, above a crossed geological hammer and compass; Your license number written so as to span the hammer and compass image; The word Licensed at the bottom of the inner circle, following its curve, above the words Professional Geologist | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(b) |
| Size and shape | Two concentric circles, an outer circle of one and five-eighths inches and an inner circle of one and one-quarter inches. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(b) (source ss by #12152, eff 3-24-17) |
| Device allowed | Two devices, named in the rule: an impression type seal or a rubber stamp. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(a) |
| Signature and date | Seal, signature and date, on everything filed for public record. | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 310-A:130 |
| What must be sealed | All papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by the licensee and issued or filed for public record, and under the statute all papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety and welfare. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(a), (c) |
| Electronic seal | Not addressed. Geo 307.03 names an impression type seal or a rubber stamp and contains no electronic or digital seal provision, no technology, no certificate authority and no verification standard. The sources here are. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03 (no electronic seal provision) |
| Renewal and lapse | Geo 307.03(c) forbids stamping or sealing after the license has expired or been revoked, or while it is suspended. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(c), Geo 401.01 through 401.07 |
| Firm requirements | Not addressed in the seal rule. | N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03 (no firm element) |
| Regulator | The New Hampshire Board of Professional Geologists, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 310-A:130 (Certificates |
Is a seal required in New Hampshire?
RSA 310-A:130 requires each licensed professional geologist to obtain an authorized seal bearing the licensee’s name and the designation Licensed Professional Geologist, and provides that “all papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety, and welfare” shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the responsible licensed professional geologist. N.H. Code Admin. R. Geo 307.03(a) repeats the duty in operational terms: on receiving the license the licensee shall acquire an impression type seal or rubber stamp of the prescribed design, and “This seal, signature of the licensee, and date shall be affixed on all papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by the licensee issued or filed for public record.”
What must appear on the seal
- State of New Hampshire across the top of the space between the circles
- Professional Geologist across the bottom of that space
- Your full name inside the inner circle, above a crossed geological hammer and compass
- Your license number written so as to span the hammer and compass image
- The word Licensed at the bottom of the inner circle, following its curve, above the words Professional Geologist
This is the most pictorial of New Hampshire’s circular seals and the placement rules are exact. Geo 307.03(b) puts the full name above “an image of a crossed geological hammer and compass,” requires the license number to be written “so as to span the image,” and then places the word Licensed at the bottom of the inner circle following its curve, above the words Professional Geologist in the outer space. So the credential reads across two rings. Nothing about a firm, a specialty or an expiry date is authorized.
Size and shape
Two concentric circles, an outer circle of one and five-eighths inches and an inner circle of one and one-quarter inches. Geo 307.03(b) states both figures. That is the same pair as the New Hampshire landscape architect inner and outer circles, but the landscape architect device adds a twelve-leaf border bringing its overall diameter to 1 7/8 inches, so the finished objects are different sizes. New Hampshire architects take 1-9/16 and 15/16 inches and land surveyors take squares.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
Two devices, named in the rule: an impression type seal or a rubber stamp. Geo 307.03 names no computer generated or digital seal, unlike the New Hampshire landscape architect rule at Lsa 305.03(a). The safe buy is a rubber stamp at the specified geometry, because the seal has to travel with a signature and a date on documents filed for public record and an embossed impression alone will not reproduce.
Signing and dating
Seal, signature and date, on everything filed for public record. Geo 307.03(a) requires all three on all papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by the licensee and issued or filed for public record, and RSA 310-A:130 requires papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety and welfare to be dated and to bear the signature and seal. Neither states a placement rule requiring the signature to cross the impression.
A crossed geological hammer and compass, with the license number spanning the image
Geo 307.03(b) is one of the most pictorial seal specifications in the country. Inside the inner circle sits an image of a crossed geological hammer and compass, with the licensee’s full name above it and the license number written “so as to span the image.” The word Licensed then runs along the bottom curve of the inner circle, above the words Professional Geologist in the outer ring. A plain text seal, however correctly worded, does not match the rule.
Which documents must be sealed
All papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by the licensee and issued or filed for public record, and under the statute all papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety and welfare. Geo 307.03(c) sets the two prohibitions: “No licensee shall stamp or seal any documents with his or her seal after his or her license has expired or been revoked, or while it is suspended. No licensee shall stamp or seal any document that the licensee has not prepared personally or that the licensee did not directly supervise the creation thereof.” The exemptions, including the practice of professional engineering, sit at RSA 310-A:135.
Electronic and digital seals
Not addressed. Geo 307.03 names an impression type seal or a rubber stamp and contains no electronic or digital seal provision, no technology, no certificate authority and no verification standard. The sources here are Geo 307.03 in full from the General Court rules site, including its source note. Note that the board had a Geo 400 rulemaking out for public comment in 2026 covering license renewal, discipline and continuing education, which does not touch the seal section. Contrast Lsa 305.03(a), which permits a digital seal for New Hampshire landscape architects. Treat an electronic New Hampshire geologist seal as unverified rather than authorized.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
Geo 307.03(c) forbids stamping or sealing after the license has expired or been revoked, or while it is suspended. RSA 310-A:130 sits in a subdivision where the sealing prohibitions carry class B misdemeanour penalties, and license expirations, renewals and reinstatement are governed by Geo 401.01 through 401.07, including active duty military inactive status at Geo 401.07. Not addressed: whether the license number changes on reinstatement and whether the device must be surrendered or destroyed. The sources here are Geo 307.03 in full and checked the Geo 100 through 500 chapter structure.
Firm requirements
Not addressed in the seal rule. Geo 307.03 limits the face to the two legends, the full name, the license number and the hammer and compass image, and puts no firm name or firm number on it. The sources here are Geo 307.03 in full and checked the Geo chapter structure, which runs from definitions and organization through practice and procedure, licensure requirements, continued status, and ethical standards and license surrender. Compare New Hampshire architecture, where Arch 307.01 requires business organizations offering architectural services to meet the requirements of RSA 310-A:42-a.
What to check before you order
Order an impression type seal or a rubber stamp with two concentric circles, the outer 1-5/8 inches and the inner 1-1/4 inches. Across the top of the space between the circles put State of New Hampshire and across the bottom Professional Geologist. Inside the inner circle put your full name above an image of a crossed geological hammer and compass, with your license number written so that it spans the image, and the word Licensed along the bottom curve of the inner circle. Buy a rubber stamp; the rule for this board names no digital seal, unlike the New Hampshire landscape architect rule. Affix the seal, your signature and the date on all papers or documents involving the practice of geology that you prepare and that are issued or filed for public record. Stop the day the license expires, is revoked or is suspended.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a geologist seal required in New Hampshire?
Yes. RSA 310-A:130 requires each licensed professional geologist to obtain an authorized seal and provides that “all papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety, and welfare” shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the responsible licensee. Geo 307.03(a) adds that the seal, signature and date shall be affixed on all papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by the licensee and issued or filed for public record. Satisfy both.
What size is a New Hampshire geologist seal?
An outer circle of one and five-eighths inches and an inner circle of one and one-quarter inches, under Geo 307.03(b). New Hampshire architects take 1-9/16 and 15/16 inches and land surveyors take squares, so nothing transfers between these boards.
What is the hammer and compass image?
A required element. Geo 307.03(b) puts “an image of a crossed geological hammer and compass” inside the inner circle, with your full name above it and your license number written so as to span the image. Give your engraver the rule text, because a supplier working from a generic geologist template will omit it.
Where does the word Licensed go?
At the bottom of the inner circle, following its curve, above the words Professional Geologist in the outer space. That two-ring split is how Geo 307.03(b) assembles the credential, and it is easy to get wrong if the artwork is laid out from a written description rather than from the rule.
Rubber stamp or embosser?
Either is named, and a rubber stamp is the practical buy. Geo 307.03(a) has the licensee acquire an impression type seal or rubber stamp of the prescribed design on receiving the license. Because the seal has to appear with a signature and a date on documents filed for public record, an unfilled embossed impression will not survive reproduction.
Can I use a digital seal in New Hampshire?
Geo 307.03 names an impression type seal or a rubber stamp and contains no electronic or digital seal provision, no technology, no certificate authority and no verification standard. The New Hampshire landscape architect rule at Lsa 305.03(a) does permit a digital seal, and that is a different board. Treat an electronic New Hampshire geologist seal as unaddressed rather than authorized, and ask the Board first.
Which documents have to be sealed?
All papers or documents involving the practice of geology prepared by you and issued or filed for public record, under the rule, and all papers or documents involving the practice of geology affecting public health, safety and welfare, under the statute. The exemptions, including the practice of professional engineering, sit at RSA 310-A:135.
Can I seal work I did not prepare?
No. Geo 307.03(c) is explicit: “No licensee shall stamp or seal any document that the licensee has not prepared personally or that the licensee did not directly supervise the creation thereof.” The same subsection forbids stamping or sealing after the license has expired or been revoked, or while it is suspended.
Do the signature and seal have to overlap?
Neither RSA 310-A:130 nor Geo 307.03(a) states a placement rule requiring the signature to cross the impression. What both require is that the seal, the signature and the date all appear. Sign beside the impression and keep the pictorial elements legible.
What happens if my license lapses?
Stop sealing. Geo 307.03(c) forbids stamping or sealing after expiration or revocation and while suspended, and RSA 310-A:130 sits in a subdivision where the sealing prohibitions carry class B misdemeanor penalties. Expirations, renewals and reinstatement are governed by Geo 401.01 through 401.07, including active duty military inactive status at Geo 401.07. Whether the license number changes on reinstatement, and whether the device must be surrendered, are not stated.
Does a firm name go on the seal?
No. Geo 307.03 limits the face to the two legends, your full name, your license number and the hammer and compass image, with no firm name or firm number authorized. New Hampshire architecture works differently, with Arch 307.01 requiring business organizations offering architectural services to meet the requirements of RSA 310-A:42-a.
