Alabama Geologist seal requirements: proper sizing, signing and sealing of documents

Alabama Geologist seal

Board

Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists

Seal requirements

Ala. Code § 34-41-14(a); Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.02, 364-X-11-.03

Legend

“Licensed Professional Geologist - State of Alabama”

Diameter

At least 1 5/8 inches in diameter and circular in form; the design itself is furnished to the licensee by the Board on registration.

Expiration date

The statute fixes the seal's contents as the licensee's name, the legend and the serial number, and nothing else; rule 364-X-11-.02 adds only shape and diameter, leaving the design to the Board.(Ala. Code § 34-41-14(a); Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.02)

Signature date

Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications and reports must be signed, sealed, and dated; revisions and bound-volume index sheets carry the same signed-sealed-dated requirement.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(2), (3), (4))

City on seal

No place of business or city appears in the seal's prescribed contents under either the statute or the rule.(Ala. Code § 34-41-14(a); Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.02)

• Each geologist, upon issuance of a license, shall obtain from the secretary-treasurer of the board or a designee, at a cost prescribed by the board, a seal of the design authorized by the board bearing the name of the licensee and the legend "Licensed Professional Geologist - State of Alabama" together with the serial number of the licensee.(Ala. Code § 34-41-14(a))
• A licensed professional geologist shall approve, sign, and affix his or her seal to all drawings, reports, or other geologic papers or documents involving the public practice of geology prepared by the licensee or by a subordinate employee under the licensee's direction, for the use of or delivery to any person or for public record within Alabama.(Ala. Code § 34-41-14(a))
• The seals to be used by licensees are circular in form and at least 1 5/8 inches in diameter, with a copy of the design furnished to each licensee upon registration.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.02(2))
• Rubber stamps identical in size, design, and content with the approved seals, or a board-issued electronic seal, may be used by the licensee at his or her option.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.02(3))
• The seal, signature, and serial number of a licensee on a document constitute a certification that the document was prepared by the licensee or under direct supervision, or that the licensee reviewed it in sufficient depth to fully coordinate and assume responsibility. Use of an electronic or digital reproduction of the seal or stamp is allowed when in accordance with 364-X-11-.02 and 364-X-11-.03(3).(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(1))
• Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications and reports shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the licensee preparing them or directing and controlling their preparation.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(2))
• Where more than one sheet is bound in a single volume, the licensee may sign, seal, and date only the title or index sheet, provided that sheet clearly identifies all other sheets in the volume and that sheets prepared under another licensee's control are signed, sealed, and dated by that licensee.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(3))
• Additions, deletions or other revisions affecting public health and safety or state and local codes shall not be made unless signed, sealed, and dated by the licensee who made them or under whose direction they were made.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(4))
• Working drawings consisting of sketches, reports or other work products intended to communicate work to be performed, or used in proposals or in defining the scope of a contract, must be sealed by the licensed professional geologist who prepared them or under whose supervision they were prepared.(Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X-11-.03(5))

Alabama geologist seal questions