Use Your Professional Engineer Stamp Already

History of the seal

The professional engineer stamp is impressive, and they have been around for a long time. Most of us purchased one soon after passing the professional certification exam.

They date back as far as 300 AD, and were utilized in Asian, Middle East, and Greece-Roman civilizations.

In Western tradition, one would soften a stick of sealing wax (3 parts bees wax and one part resign) and apply a small amount to a document of significance.  Then a ring with your family, educational or political seal would be depressed into the wax on the document.  

In the 7th to 9th centuries, only the highest political and religious leaders utilized seals.  Gradually, the practice moved down to lower dignitaries and corporate bodies. The seal was a way to authenticate a document, a way of expressing importance.  

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Engineering authentication

A stamp or seal is issued to an individual who is qualified to practice engineering. Regardless, the stamp is not a warranty or a guarantee of accuracy.  The engineering stamp shows that a licensed professional has accepted responsibility for the authenticated document.

An authenticated document does not necessarily mean the identified engineer performed the work.  This work may have been performed under the care and control of that professional.

In addition, a licensed member may seal a document, not prepared until his or her control.  However, the professional must perform a thorough and detailed review of the work.

Three serious infractions are considered a breach of the code of ethics or morals:

• failing to seal a work to be utilized by others
• authenticating a work without thorough engineering review
• authenticating a work outside the professionals' expertise.  

In Canada, the seal remains the property of the Association and must be in the care and control of the engineer at all times.

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Where to use the stamp (seal)

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Digital seals & electronic signatures

Digital documents have the same requirements as hard copy documents. The digital document, to be issued for use, must include an image of the seal, the member's signature and a method of showing the date of signature.

Most Associations in Canada can issue their members a trusted digital signature tool that accomplishes these requirements.

An easy method of accomplishing the same task is to send a PDF of the document that you have manually stamped, signed and dated.  It is only when the client requires the original stamped document that the digital signature must be used.