Engineers in Missouri are required to use a specific, personal Missouri engineering seal on all plats, reports, specifications, surveys, estimates, and other engineering documents. In order to make sure that you are in compliance with all requirements, it is important that you understand what the seal should include, all size and font requirements, and the manner in which it can be used.
Requirements for Each Seal
The state of Missouri has specific requirements for all Missouri engineering seals. They must be 1 ¾” in diameter, and can be an embosser style, rubber stamp, or digital design, providing that all options are identical and follow all rules and requirements. Additionally, the seal must include a number of design features to ensure it meets the state rules and regulations.
Missouri Engineering Seal Design
Each Missouri engineering seal must contain two circles that are concentric, or one small one inside of a larger circle. Between these circles, the seal should include “State of Missouri” at the top and “Professional Engineer” at the bottom. These words must be in all capital letters in the Times New Roman font. Within the smaller of the two circles, the Missouri engineering seal should include both the engineer’s name and their license number with the “PE” prefix preceding the number. The name in this portion of the Missouri engineering seal must be in straight copy across the center of the circle.
Engineers who were licensed before January 1, 2002 may have the words “Registered Professional Engineer” in place of “Professional Engineer” in the bottom portion of the circles on the seal.
Using the Missouri Engineering Seal
Any licensed engineer in Missouri is required to use an appropriate Missouri engineering seal that meets the state requirements. This seal must be used on all plats, charts, reports, surveys, and other official documents. The use of the seal indicates that the engineer takes full responsibility for the information contained in the document, and that all regulations and statutes are met. In general, the Missouri engineering seal should only be used on documents that are considered final. However, there may be instances in which the seal is required on
preliminary documents. In these cases, it is important that the seal only be used if there is obvious language included that designates the report or drawing as preliminary in nature.The Missouri engineering seal can only be used on documents that the engineer prepares, or those that they directly supervised. For information and files that include more than a single page, the seal can be used on the index or title page, rather than each page of the document.
Each time the Missouri engineering seal is used, it must be accompanied by the signature and date. Additionally, if there are any revisions required to the document, the seal should also include a complete explanation of them.
Missouri engineering seals are required for all licensed engineers. If you have any questions or require additional information about rules, requirements and seals, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration website is a great place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Missouri engineering seal requirements for size and design?
The Missouri engineering seal must be 1 ¾ inches in diameter and use two concentric circles. The outer ring must read “STATE OF MISSOURI” at the top and “PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER” at the bottom in all caps, Times New Roman. The inner circle must show the engineer’s name and license number with the “PE” prefix.
Can a Missouri PE seal be used as a digital seal?
Yes, Missouri allows the seal to be used as an embosser, rubber stamp, or digital design, as long as each version is identical and meets all state requirements. If you use a digital Missouri engineer stamp, it still must include the correct format, name, license number, and required wording.
When is a Missouri professional engineer stamp required on documents?
A Missouri PE seal is required on plats, charts, reports, surveys, specifications, estimates, and other engineering documents prepared by a licensed engineer or directly supervised by them. The seal shows that the engineer takes responsibility for the content and that the document meets Missouri professional standards.
Can I seal preliminary engineering documents in Missouri?
Generally, the Missouri engineering seal should only be used on final documents. However, preliminary documents may be sealed if they are clearly marked as preliminary in nature. This helps avoid confusion and keeps the seal use consistent with Missouri PE seal requirements.
Do I need to seal every page of a multi-page engineering document in Missouri?
Not necessarily. For documents with multiple pages, the Missouri engineering stamp can usually be placed on the index or title page instead of every page. The key is that the sealed page clearly identifies the full document and the engineer’s responsibility for it.
What must accompany a Missouri engineering seal when it is used?
Each time the Missouri PE seal is used, it must be accompanied by the engineer’s signature and the date. If revisions were made, the seal should also include a clear explanation of those revisions to stay in compliance with Missouri engineering seal usage rules.
