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 Utah Professional Geologist Licensing Board, which acts with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing and Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
A Utah geologist seal is circular, at least one and one-half inches in diameter, and carries four things: your name as licensed, your license number, the words State of Utah and the words Licensed Professional Geologist. Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1)(a) sets the geometry, “each seal shall be a circular seal, 1-1/2 inches minimum diameter,” and subparagraph (b) sets the contents. That is a floor with no ceiling, and it is the same figure Utah applies to architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects.
Get the legend exactly right, because the same three words appear in different orders elsewhere. South Carolina prescribes Registered Professional Geologist, Wyoming prescribes a seal bearing the full name, license number and the words professional geologist, and Utah prescribes Licensed Professional Geologist. A die cut to the wrong state’s wording is a non-conforming seal even though every word on it is true of you.
Sign across the face. R156-76-601(1)(c) requires that “each seal shall be signed and dated with the signature and date appearing across the face of each seal imprint,” and subparagraph (d) sets the minimum for a set: the original seal imprint, original signature and date “placed on the cover or title sheet.” Utah applies that placement rule to engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects too, and omits it only for architects.
Utah geologist seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Utah rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) |
| Required elements | Your name as licensed, Your license number, The words State of Utah, The words Licensed Professional Geologist and A circular seal | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1)(b) |
| Size and shape | Circular, one and one-half inches minimum diameter. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1)(a) |
| Device allowed | Three device classes, all permitted: “a seal may be a wet stamp, embossed, or electronically produced.” An embosser is expressly lawful for the required seal. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) |
| Signature and date | Across the face. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1)(c), (d) |
| What must be sealed | Final geologic documents prepared by the licensee or under the licensee’s supervision, with the original seal imprint, original signature and date on the cover or title sheet of each original set at minimum. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1)(d) |
| Electronic seal | An electronically produced seal is one of the three permitted forms. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) |
| Renewal and lapse | Not addressed in the seal rule. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76 (seal rule silent) |
| Firm requirements | Not addressed in the seal rule. | Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601 (no firm provision) |
| Regulator | The Utah Professional Geologist Licensing Board, which acts with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing | Utah Admin. Code R156-76, Professional Geologist Licensing Act Rule, section R156-76-601, Seal Requirements, read from the Utah Office of Administrative Rules |
Is a seal required in Utah?
Utah licenses professional geologists and requires them to seal. Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) sets out the seal design and implementation requirements for final geologic documents prepared by the licensee or under the licensee’s supervision, in accordance with Utah Code title 58 chapter 76, the Professional Geologist Licensing Act. The rule follows the same template Utah uses for its other design professions.
What must appear on the seal
- Your name as licensed
- Your license number
- The words State of Utah
- The words Licensed Professional Geologist
- A circular seal
The legend is exact: “Licensed Professional Geologist.” Not Registered Professional Geologist, which is the South Carolina wording, and not Professional Geologist alone, which is the Wyoming wording. Four items and a circle is the whole face. Nothing provides for an expiration date, a subdiscipline, an ASBOG number or a firm name. If you also hold a Utah engineering license you need a separate die, because R156-22-601 prescribes its own legends.
Size and shape
Circular, one and one-half inches minimum diameter. R156-76-601(1)(a): “each seal shall be a circular seal, 1-1/2 inches minimum diameter.” A floor with no ceiling, the same figure Utah applies to architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
Three device classes, all permitted: “a seal may be a wet stamp, embossed, or electronically produced.” An embosser is expressly lawful for the required seal. The practical choice is a wet or self-inking stamp, because the signature and date must appear across the face of each imprint and the original imprint, signature and date go on the cover or title sheet of each original set.
Signing and dating
Across the face. R156-76-601(1)(c): “each seal shall be signed and dated with the signature and date appearing across the face of each seal imprint.” Subparagraph (d) then sets the minimum for a set: the original seal imprint, original signature and date “placed on the cover or title sheet.” Utah applies the same placement rule to engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects, and omits it only for architects.
Utah licenses geologists, and many neighboring states do not
Among the states that regulate this at all, only Utah, South Carolina, Wyoming and Puerto Rico regulate geologists at all. New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Guam issue no geologist credential. So the first thing to establish about a geologist’s seal is whether the jurisdiction has one, and a practitioner moving between Utah and any of its unlicensed neighbors has to stop using the device at the state line.
Which documents must be sealed
Final geologic documents prepared by the licensee or under the licensee’s supervision, with the original seal imprint, original signature and date on the cover or title sheet of each original set at minimum. The rule follows the Utah template of sealing final work product rather than drafts, and does not extend to preliminary or in-progress material. Confirm which submittals a given Utah agency requires to be sealed, because the licensing act creates the credential and other programs supply many of the triggers.
Electronic and digital seals
An electronically produced seal is one of the three permitted forms. The rule follows the Utah template of placing the security duty on the licensee rather than naming a technology, and names no certificate authority, cryptographic standard or authentication procedure. Confirm the acceptable electronic format with the receiving agency.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
Not addressed in the seal rule. R156-76-601 says nothing about the device on expiration, lapse, inactive status or revocation, and nothing about surrender or destruction. Renewal, inactive status and reinstatement are governed elsewhere in R156-76, in Utah Code title 58 chapter 76 and by the general licensing rule R156-1.
Firm requirements
Not addressed in the seal rule. R156-76-601 creates no firm seal, no certificate of authorization and no firm number on the face of a sealed document. The individual licensee’s seal carries the responsibility.
What to check before you order
Order a circular stamp at least one and one-half inches in diameter carrying your name as licensed, your license number, the words State of Utah and the words Licensed Professional Geologist. That legend is exact; do not substitute Registered or drop Licensed. There is no maximum size. A wet stamp, an embossed seal or an electronically produced seal is permitted, and a wet or self-inking stamp is the practical choice because your signature and the date must appear across the face of each imprint, with the original imprint, signature and date on the cover or title sheet of each original set. If you also hold a Utah engineering license you need a separate die under R156-22-601.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a geologist seal required in Utah?
Yes. Utah Admin. Code R156-76-601(1) sets out the seal design and implementation requirements for final geologic documents prepared by the licensee or under the licensee’s supervision, in accordance with Utah Code title 58 chapter 76, the Professional Geologist Licensing Act.
What size is a Utah geologist seal?
Circular, one and one-half inches minimum diameter, under R156-76-601(1)(a). There is no stated maximum, so that figure is a floor and you can go larger where legibility on a report cover calls for it.
What exactly goes on the face?
Your name as licensed, your license number, the words State of Utah and the words Licensed Professional Geologist, on a circular die. Four items and a circle is the whole face. Nothing provides for an expiration date, a subdiscipline, an ASBOG number or a firm name.
Wet stamp, embosser or electronic?
All three. R156-76-601(1) permits that “a seal may be a wet stamp, embossed, or electronically produced,” so an embosser is expressly lawful for the required seal. A wet or self-inking stamp is the practical choice, because your signature and date must appear across the face of each imprint.
Where do the signature and date go?
Across the face of each seal imprint, under R156-76-601(1)(c). For a set, subparagraph (d) requires at minimum the original seal imprint, original signature and date on the cover or title sheet of each original set. Order a die with enough open center that a signature across it stays legible.
Which documents have to be sealed?
Final geologic documents prepared by you or under your supervision, with the original imprint, signature and date on the cover or title sheet of each original set at minimum. The rule follows the Utah template of sealing final work product rather than drafts, and does not extend to preliminary or in-progress material.
How do I know which submittals need a seal?
Confirm with the receiving agency. The licensing act creates the credential and R156-76-601 sets the design and implementation requirements, while many of the triggers for a particular submittal come from the program that requires it.
Can I use an electronically produced seal?
Yes, it is one of the three permitted forms. The rule follows the Utah template of placing the security duty on the licensee rather than naming a technology, and names no certificate authority, cryptographic standard or authentication procedure. Confirm the acceptable electronic format with the receiving agency.
I also hold a Utah engineering license. One seal or two?
Two. R156-22-601 prescribes its own legends for that credential, so a separate die is required and the legends cannot be combined on one face.
What happens to my seal if my license lapses?
R156-76-601 says nothing about the device on expiration, lapse, inactive status or revocation, and nothing about surrender or destruction. Renewal, inactive status and reinstatement are governed elsewhere in R156-76, in Utah Code title 58 chapter 76 and by the general licensing rule R156-1.
Does a Utah geology firm get a seal or a number on the document?
No. R156-76-601 creates no firm seal, no certificate of authorization and no firm number on the face of a sealed document. The individual licensee’s seal carries the responsibility.
