The Oregon engineer’s embossing seal functions as official notification to recipients that the licensed engineer takes full responsibility and ownership over the information and documentation supplied. This serves as a form of professional reassurance for the public.
As a professional, you should generally be the one preparing the majority of professional documentation and affixing the seal. If a junior staff did the work and was closely supervised by yourself, the Oregon engineer’s embossing seal can be applied.
Specifications and Requirements for an Oregon Engineer’s Embossing Seal
While each engineer practicing in the state of Oregon is required to have an Oregon engineer’s embossing seal, there are certain specifications for which items need to be sealed and which items do not.
All official documents that pertain to the professional functions of an engineer require the Oregon engineer’s embossing seal. For example: any documentation that is submitted to government or regulatory authorities pertaining to your occupation must contain your seal. Any official drawings, sketches, or specifications also require the Oregon engineer’s embossing seal. All documents that contain engineering related information should boast the Oregon engineer’s embossing seal as well. It is here that you must consider whether the document expresses your professional engineering opinions, whether it provides instructions based on your official judgment, or whether calculations are included. If any of these are applicable, the seal must be used. Reports which contain technical data or professional engineering direction require a signature from
the licensee in tandem with the official state seal. Even if an employer purchases a seal on your behalf, it in no way gives them legal authority over it. Each Oregon engineer’s embossing seal is designated for an individual professional and that professional alone can dictate when and where the seal is used. Employers, third parties, and clients alike have no claim over the seal. If a request is made by anyone other than yourself to affix the seal to a document, you are not legally required to do so but have full discretionary authority to determine whether you will.
What Will It Look Like?
The Oregon engineer’s embossing seal can come in the form of the rubber stamp or embossing seals. The state does not have specified sizes. What is required though is the original date of licensure for the seal holder in conjunction with the name and license number of the bearer. The prefix “PE” is placed after the number, indicative of “professional engineer”.
What Products Can I Select?
Oregon provides state licensed engineers with myriad products from which to choose for their personalized Oregon engineer’s embossing seal. For embossers, engineers can select soft seal embossers or the long reach seal embossers. There are also options for the handheld seal embossers as well as the extended long reach seal embossers, desk seal embossers, or traditional embossing seals. For stamps, engineers can select slim pre-inked stamps or invest in the newer self-inking stamps, regular hand rubber stamps.
When Do I Need a New Seal?
Should an Oregon engineer’s embossing seal become lost or missing the state authority must be notified immediately. Should your existing seal expire or your name change, the old seal must be destroyed and a new one purchased in its place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oregon engineer seal used for?
The Oregon engineer seal is used to show that a licensed professional engineer takes responsibility for the engineering work, drawings, reports, and documents being issued. It helps confirm that the information was prepared under the engineer’s authority and professional judgment.
Which documents need an Oregon engineer’s embossing seal?
In general, documents that contain engineering opinions, calculations, technical data, official drawings, sketches, specifications, or materials submitted to government or regulatory agencies should be sealed. If the document reflects your professional engineering judgment, it should typically include your Oregon engineer seal and signature.
Can someone else, like an employer or client, require me to use my Oregon engineer seal?
No. The seal belongs to the licensed engineer individually, not the employer, client, or third party. You have full discretion over when and where your Oregon PE seal is used, and you are not legally required to affix it just because someone else asks.
What information must appear on an Oregon engineer seal?
The Oregon engineer seal should include the engineer’s name, license number, and the original date of licensure, along with the “PE” designation. Oregon does not require a specific seal size, but the seal should meet state requirements and clearly identify the license holder.
What types of Oregon engineer seals can I buy?
Oregon engineers can choose from several seal styles, including embossing seals, rubber stamp seals, self-inking stamps, pre-inked stamps, handheld embossers, desk embossers, and long-reach seal models. The best option depends on how often you seal documents and whether you prefer a stamped or embossed impression.
When do I need a new Oregon engineer seal?
You should replace your Oregon engineer seal if it is lost, missing, expired, or if your name changes. If a seal is lost, the state authority should be notified right away, and the old seal should be destroyed before ordering a new one.
