Iowa PE seal requirements: size, wording, and the rule that sets them

Iowa Engineer seal

Board

Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing

Seal rule

Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—1050.1(542B) (Seal and certificate of responsibility); Iowa Code § 542B.16

Legend (any one)

“Professional Engineer” · “Licensed Professional Engineer”

Diameter

Neither Iowa Code § 542B.16 nor 481—1050.1 prescribes a diameter. The rule asks only that the seal substantially conform to the samples it prints, and the statute requires that the seal be legible on the document.

Expiration date

Not on the seal face: the certification block, which must display the seal, shall conform to a sample carrying the line "My license renewal date is December 31, ______."(IAC 481—1050.1(3); Iowa Code § 542B.16(1))

Signature date

All engineering documents shall be dated, and the certification block's signature and date are handwritten in contrasting ink color.(Iowa Code § 542B.16(2); IAC 481—1050.1(3), 1050.1(4))

City on seal

The seal bears only the name, the Iowa license number, the title and the word "IOWA".(Iowa Code § 542B.16(1); IAC 481—1050.1(1))

• Each licensee, upon licensure, shall obtain a seal of a design approved by the board bearing the licensee's name, the Iowa license number, and the words "professional engineer".(Iowa Code § 542B.16(1))
• The word "licensed" may be added but is not required on the seal. Neither the word "registrant" nor "registered" may be used on it.(IAC 481—1050.1(2))
• The seal should substantially conform to the samples printed in the rule: a circular seal with "LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER" arced around the top of the outer band, a star at each lower side, "IOWA" in a band across the bottom, and the licensee's name and license number stacked in the center.(IAC 481—1050.1(1))
• All engineering documents shall be dated and shall contain the signature of the licensee in responsible charge, a certification that the work was done by the licensee or under the licensee's direct personal supervision, and the Iowa legible seal of the licensee.(Iowa Code § 542B.16(2))
• A certification block appears on the first page or attached cover sheet of documents submitted to a client or any public agency, conforming to the sample wording: "I hereby certify that this engineering document was prepared by me or under my direct personal supervision and that I am a duly licensed Professional Engineer under the laws of the State of Iowa," followed by signature, date, printed or typed name, license number, "My license renewal date is December 31, ______" and the pages or sheets covered by the seal.(IAC 481—1050.1(3))
• Except for the original signature and handwritten date in contrasting ink color, the information in each certification block must be typed or legibly printed in permanent ink on each official copy. The seal implies responsibility for the entire submission unless the area of responsibility is clearly identified in the information accompanying the seal.(IAC 481—1050.1(4))
• The seal and original signature only need to be applied to a final submission, and any nonfinal submission to a client or public agency shall be clearly labeled "preliminary" or "draft."(IAC 481—1050.1(3))
• Computer-generated seals may be used on final original documents, and a legible rubber stamp or other facsimile of the seal has the same effect as the actual seal. An electronic signature under Iowa Code chapter 554D meets the signature requirement only if it is protected by a security procedure as defined in Iowa Code § 554D.103(14), and the licensee must first ensure that procedure verifies the signature is that of a specific person and detects changes made after signing.(IAC 481—1050.1(7), 1050.1(8); Iowa Code § 542B.16(1))

Iowa engineer seal questions