The seal (stamp) is the formal mark that a licensed engineer or geoscientist applies to professional documents. Applying the seal certifies that the work was prepared by, or under the direct supervision of, the licensee and represents competent professional work for which that practitioner takes responsibility. The seal is not a guarantee of perfection, a marketing logo, or a sign of mere review.
Control of the seal is strict. The seal is personal to the licensee and must remain under their control; lending it, or allowing another person to apply it, is serious misconduct. A practitioner must never seal work they did not prepare or directly supervise, and must not seal documents outside their area of competence.
- Sealing usually requires the practitioner's seal plus signature and date to be valid authentication.
- Final, issued documents (drawings, reports, specifications) are sealed; preliminary or "not for construction" drafts are typically marked as such and may be left unsealed or clearly labelled.
- A licensee may seal work done by subordinates only if it was produced under their direct supervision and responsible charge.
Memory hook: I prepared it or I directly supervised it, and I'm responsible for it. That is what the seal says.