Rule and Regulation Change Allowing the Construction and use of Computerized Seals
Note: This is an updated reprint of the article
written by F.
and published in the KSBTP Newsletter
A committee of the Board carefully reviewed the NCEES Model Law and other State laws regarding computerized seals. The Board held a public hearing on December 12, 1997 and subsequently adopted rules and regulations accepting computer generated seals. In addition to publishing the revised language below, the board offers the following information for professionals to use when purchasing embossed, rubber circular seals or when designing computerized seals.
The approved seal shall be an embossed or rubber circular or computer generated seal consisting of two concentric circles.
The outer circle shall be 1 5/8 inches in
diameter. The inner circle shall be 1 1/16 inches in diameter. The
arc between the two circles shall contain the licensee's name at the top, and
"PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER" below. The exceptions are of course, in
the case of Architects, the word "ARCHITECT", in the case of
Landscape Architects, the words "LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT", in the case of
Land Surveyors, the words "LAND SURVEYOR", and in the case of
Geologists, the word "GEOLOGIST". The inner circle shall
contain the words "LICENSED" at the top, and "
Many have asked about how to produce or where to obtain such a computer generated facsimile of their professional seal. It can be easily produced by the individual licensee using most any, if not all CAD programs, and when constructed should conform to the properties as outlined in this article.
I would note that after the seal has been
constructed and saved in the CAD program, it will most likely have a white
background. This is not a problem if the seal is to be transferred to a
document with white pages, however if the intended document is other than
white, some additional attention will be required. In that case, it would
be desirable to save the seal image as a GIF file and transport it to an image
editing program to make the image transparent, as I have done in the example
below. This creates a reproduction of your seal that is crisp, looks good
and adapts well against most any background on which you 
choose to place it.
Seals and Signatures
Number: 66-6-1
Seals and Signatures.
(a) Each licensee shall obtain a seal of the design approved by the board in
compliance with K.S.A. 74-7023, and amendments thereto. The seal may be a
rubber stamp, an embossed seal, or a computer-generated seal.
(b) Each original drawing, document,
technical report, legal description, record, and paper prepared by or under the
direct supervision of the licensee in the licensee’s professional
capacity shall be stamped with the licensee’s seal, unless the project is
exempt from the requirements for licensure pursuant to K.S.A. 74-7031, K.S.A.
74-7032, K.S.A. 74-7033, K.S.A. 74-7034 or K.S.A. 74-7042, and amendments
thereto.
After the licensee's seal has been applied
to the original or record copy, the licensee shall place the licensee's
handwritten signature and date across the seal.
(c)(1) Any licensee may use a digital
signature if the signature meets all of the following requirements: (A) is
unique to the person using it; (B) is able to be verified; (C) is under the
sole control of the person using it; and (D) is linked to an electronic
document bearing the digital signature in such a manner that the signature is
invalidated if any data in the document is altered.
(2) Each displayed copy of, and each hard
copy printed from, a transmitted or stored electronic document containing a
digital signature shall bear the facsimile of the signature, date of signing,
and seal and shall be a confirmation that the electronic document was not
altered after the initial digital signing of the document. If the electronic
document is altered, the facsimile of the signature, date, and seal shall be
caused to be voided.
(Authorized by K.S.A. 74-7013;
implementing K.S.A. 74-7023; effective May 1, 1978; amended May 1, 1984;
amended May 1, 1985; amended May 4, 1992; amended Feb. 22, 1993; amended Feb.
13, 1995; amended March 1, 1996; amended February 6, 1998; amended Nov. 2,
2001; March 28, 2008.
Page last updated March 15, 2008 for March 28, 2008 amend.