02 Understand the difference
Four separate parts, one issued document
Your seal, signature and date are visible on the drawing. A digital signature is embedded in the PDF and checked by the reader’s software.
Visible on the drawing
Signed content is unchanged.
- Issuer trust
- Trusted certificate chain
- Certificate dates
- Current
- Revocation
- Not revoked
- Timestamp
- Verified time and authorityExample Timestamp Authority
Certificate details
- Certificate holder
- Alex Morgan
- Issued by
- Example Trust CA
The PDF reader checks the embedded signature. This information is not printed on the drawing.
1 · Professional seal
The stamp identifies your professional registration. An image of it is a visible mark on the drawing.
2 · Signature
Your personal approval of the document. Where signature images are accepted, you can apply your handwritten signature on the computer.
3 · Date
The signing or approval date shown on the drawing. The map identifies whether it can be added on the computer or must be written in ink.
4 · Digital signature
Data embedded in the PDF that verifies who signed and detects later changes. A picture of a signed stamp does not provide this verification.
A scan of a paper drawing signed in ink is another method. The signature is on the paper original; acceptance of its scanned copy is a separate question from pasting a signature image onto a new PDF.
03 The certificate, explained
A digital ID for the person signing
A signing certificate connects your identity to the key you use to sign a PDF. A certificate provider checks your identity; some also verify your professional registration.
- 1
Get your certificate
Receive a digital credential for use on your computer, a hardware token or a signing service.
- 2
Sign the PDF
Your private key signs the finished file. The signature and certificate are embedded in the PDF; the private key is not.
- 3
Recipient verifies it
The PDF reader checks who signed and whether the signed content changed. That verification does not carry over to a printout.
The certificate verifies a signing identity, not the design. Your professional seal and any required visible signature and date still belong on the drawing.
Where do I get one?
IdenTrust offers certificates for architects, engineers and surveyors. Notarius / CertifiO offers professional digital identities, including Canadian professional-association programs.
Choose a certificate accepted for your submission and compatible with your signing software and operating system. A self-issued test certificate does not provide third-party identity verification.
04 Sign a drawing set
Prepare the set. Sign it in Deta.
Certify and batch sign local PDFs or cloud drawings in Deta’s desktop app. Place your seal, choose the files and sign the finished set with your digital ID.
- Prepare
Finish revisions, sheet order and file names before signing.
- Sign
Add the PDFs, position your seal and signature, then choose your certificate.
- Verify
Check the signatures in the exported PDFs you will submit.
Sign 3 PDFs with your digital ID.
- 1A101 · Floor plans.pdfAll pages
- 2A201 · Elevations.pdfAll pages
- 3A301 · Sections.pdfAll pages
Seals the PDF. You choose what can change after.
An approval signature. It does not lock the PDF.
Sign the files in their final form: extracting a page later creates a new PDF and does not transfer the original file’s digital signature.
05 Sources & corrections
How we researched this guide
This reference brings together statutes, professional-board rules and published guidance for 50 US states, D.C. and 10 Canadian provinces. We also contacted licensing-board officers directly to clarify specific questions. Open an entry’s Sources to see the evidence and reasoning behind its classification.
The map describes state and provincial professional requirements. Where a conclusion combines professional rules with electronic-transactions law, we explain that interpretation in Sources. Unresolved questions stay identified rather than being presented as permission or prohibition.
Found a change or a mistake?
Tell us the state or province, profession and what needs correcting. A link to the rule or board guidance helps us check it.
Email a correction or commentNo Deta account needed. Opens your email app, or write to hello@deta.studio.See the entries awaiting clarification
Landscape architect
Land surveyor
Related research and the limits of this guide
Survey recording, building permits and title-only credentials have different scopes. Each entry identifies the documents covered by its professional rule.
- ABA Forum on Construction Law: 50-state stamping and sealing survey (2024)
- RAIC Canadian Handbook of Practice: digital seals
- CIDQ: interior design legislation and permitting privileges
This is a sourced research guide, not a permit office’s approval of your document. Check the cited rule and the requirements for your actual submission.
06 Jurisdiction directory
The complete research, place by place
Open a jurisdiction to compare all five professions and read the original sources. This directory also works without the interactive map.
United States
AlabamaAL
Architect
Electronic seal permitted
Seal each drawing sheet
Apply the prescribed architectural seal to each drawing sheet. The state rule permits a computer-generated seal.
The architects’ board does not require a signature or signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Rule 100-X-5-.03 permits a computer-generated seal, expressly subject to acceptance by the authority having jurisdiction.
- Handwritten signature image
- Board does not require a signature
- Date on the drawing
- Board does not require a date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate under the board’s stamp-only rule
Read the sources (2)
Classification scope: the map reports state professional rules. Electronic seals are expressly permitted; the rule’s receiving-jurisdiction condition is retained under Conditions and placement. That condition does not make the state permission unknown or guarantee acceptance by every permit office.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your seal and the signing date, then sign with a digital signature that identifies you, can be verified and stays under your sole control.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verify signer identity and sole control; no named certificate
Read the sources (3)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign and secure the drawing
Seal and date the drawing and personally apply your electronic signature using a secure method that lets the recipient verify the signer and the integrity of the document.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the prescribed seal image with the required electronic verification.
- Handwritten signature image
- Designer must apply it securely and enable verification
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Secure application and document integrity checks required
Read the sources (2)
Rule 500-X-2-.07(3) specifies the seal design and expressly permits electronic signing with secure affixation and a document-integrity verification mechanism. We read that electronic route as allowing a reproduction of the prescribed seal; the rule does not require a physical impression on the electronic original.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your seal and the signing date, then sign with a digital signature that identifies you, can be verified and stays under your sole control.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verify signer identity and sole control; no named certificate
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Electronic seal permitted
Seal the permit drawings
Apply the prescribed registered interior designer seal to the final permit drawings. The state rule permits a computer-generated seal.
The board rule does not require a separate signature or signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Rule 485-X-4-.01 permits a computer-generated seal, expressly subject to the receiving jurisdiction’s requirements.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate signature required by this board rule.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic signature required by the board sealing rule.
Read the sources (1)
Classification scope: the map reports state professional rules. Electronic seals are expressly permitted; the rule’s receiving-jurisdiction condition is retained under Conditions and placement. That condition does not make the state permission unknown or guarantee acceptance by every permit office.
AlaskaAK
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign over each seal and authenticate the file
Apply the seal and signing date, place your handwritten signature image over each seal, and digitally sign the file using a third-party certificate authority as described in the board manual.
A hand-signed paper original is a separate option.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place handwriting image over every seal
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Also digitally sign with third-party certificate
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign over each seal and authenticate the file
Apply the seal and signing date, place your handwritten signature image over each seal, and digitally sign the file using a third-party certificate authority as described in the board manual.
A hand-signed paper original is a separate option.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place handwriting image over every seal
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Also digitally sign with third-party certificate
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign over each seal and authenticate the file
Apply the seal and signing date, place your handwritten signature image over each seal, and digitally sign the file using a third-party certificate authority as described in the board manual.
A hand-signed paper original is a separate option.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place handwriting image over every seal
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Also digitally sign with third-party certificate
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign over each seal and authenticate the file
Apply the seal and signing date, place your handwritten signature image over each seal, and digitally sign the file using a third-party certificate authority as described in the board manual.
A hand-signed paper original is a separate option.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place handwriting image over every seal
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Also digitally sign with third-party certificate
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Registration pending
The board says it is not yet accepting applications for the new interior designer registration.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- New registration not yet available
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (1)
ArizonaAZ
Architect
Electronic signing permitted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply the professional seal that matches your filed sample, add your signature electronically, and show the signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Must match the seal on file
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No general certificate requirement in the professional rules
Read the sources (6)
R4-30-304 and the board’s electronic-seals policy permit computer-generated seals and electronic signatures on professional documents under Titles 41 and 44. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of the electronic-symbol definition in A.R.S. §44-7002(8) and legal recognition under §44-7007, not a separate image-format ruling.
A.R.S. §18-106 governs documents filed with or by state agencies, boards and commissions and requires reliable verification and invalidation on alteration. Sections 44-7041 and 44-7042 address government electronic-record policies and acceptance. These filing requirements must not be presented as a universal certificate requirement for all professional drawings.
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 18-106(C), required electronic-signature properties (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona Board of Technical Registration, R4-30-304 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona board policy on electronic seals and signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona electronic-signature definition · §44-7002(8) (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona legal recognition of electronic signatures · §44-7007 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona government electronic-record acceptance · §44-7042 (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing permitted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply the professional seal that matches your filed sample, add your signature electronically, and show the signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Must match the seal on file
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No general certificate requirement in the professional rules
Read the sources (6)
R4-30-304 and the board’s electronic-seals policy permit computer-generated seals and electronic signatures on professional documents under Titles 41 and 44. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of the electronic-symbol definition in A.R.S. §44-7002(8) and legal recognition under §44-7007, not a separate image-format ruling.
A.R.S. §18-106 governs documents filed with or by state agencies, boards and commissions and requires reliable verification and invalidation on alteration. Sections 44-7041 and 44-7042 address government electronic-record policies and acceptance. These filing requirements must not be presented as a universal certificate requirement for all professional drawings.
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 18-106(C), required electronic-signature properties (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona Board of Technical Registration, R4-30-304 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona board policy on electronic seals and signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona electronic-signature definition · §44-7002(8) (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona legal recognition of electronic signatures · §44-7007 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona government electronic-record acceptance · §44-7042 (opens in a new tab)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing permitted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply the professional seal that matches your filed sample, add your signature electronically, and show the signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Must match the seal on file
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No general certificate requirement in the professional rules
Read the sources (6)
R4-30-304 and the board’s electronic-seals policy permit computer-generated seals and electronic signatures on professional documents under Titles 41 and 44. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of the electronic-symbol definition in A.R.S. §44-7002(8) and legal recognition under §44-7007, not a separate image-format ruling.
A.R.S. §18-106 governs documents filed with or by state agencies, boards and commissions and requires reliable verification and invalidation on alteration. Sections 44-7041 and 44-7042 address government electronic-record policies and acceptance. These filing requirements must not be presented as a universal certificate requirement for all professional drawings.
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 18-106(C), required electronic-signature properties (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona Board of Technical Registration, R4-30-304 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona board policy on electronic seals and signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona electronic-signature definition · §44-7002(8) (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona legal recognition of electronic signatures · §44-7007 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona government electronic-record acceptance · §44-7042 (opens in a new tab)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing permitted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply the professional seal that matches your filed sample, add your signature electronically, and show the signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Must match the seal on file
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No general certificate requirement in the professional rules
Read the sources (6)
R4-30-304 and the board’s electronic-seals policy permit computer-generated seals and electronic signatures on professional documents under Titles 41 and 44. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of the electronic-symbol definition in A.R.S. §44-7002(8) and legal recognition under §44-7007, not a separate image-format ruling.
A.R.S. §18-106 governs documents filed with or by state agencies, boards and commissions and requires reliable verification and invalidation on alteration. Sections 44-7041 and 44-7042 address government electronic-record policies and acceptance. These filing requirements must not be presented as a universal certificate requirement for all professional drawings.
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 18-106(C), required electronic-signature properties (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona Board of Technical Registration, R4-30-304 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona board policy on electronic seals and signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona electronic-signature definition · §44-7002(8) (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona legal recognition of electronic signatures · §44-7007 (opens in a new tab)
- Arizona government electronic-record acceptance · §44-7042 (opens in a new tab)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Interior design credential
The state has no separate interior designer permit seal identified in the cited credential survey.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior design permitting seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (2)
ArkansasAR
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to original contract documents. The board’s published sealing instructions expressly permit computer-generated signatures.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature reproductions expressly permitted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed by the written seal rule
Read the sources (3)
Based on the published architect seal requirements and section XI.D.2(g) of the rules supplied by board staff on November 5, 2026. These written provisions expressly permit signature reproductions.
The board’s live licensing page, checked November 13, 2026, permits legible seal reproductions and computer-generated signature reproductions on originals, with a date. No certificate is prescribed in these instructions. This is the primary basis for the map entry.
The codified Part 230 PDF skips from §230-1103 to §230-1105; the corresponding architect-seal provision was not located there. The 2022 rules and current board instructions agree, but the codification gap remains unresolved. The board email referring readers to its rules is not treated as separate approval.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal and date the drawing and digitally sign it with a verifiable signature under your sole control that becomes invalid if the file changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
An unsigned transmission copy must carry the board’s prescribed notice and the office must retain the signed, dated original.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan of signed original allowed; image alone is insufficient on digital original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digitally signed original must detect edits; signed-paper scan also allowed
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to original contract documents. The written seal rules expressly permit signature reproductions.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature reproductions expressly permitted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed by the written seal rule
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal and date the drawing and digitally sign it with a verifiable signature under your sole control that becomes invalid if the file changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
An unsigned transmission copy must identify the signed original as the board specifies. A plat offered for recording must carry a signed and sealed survey certification.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan of signed original allowed; a recordable plat needs signed certification
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digital original must detect edits; copies follow separate rules
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to original contract documents. The written seal rules expressly permit signature reproductions.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature reproductions expressly permitted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed by the written seal rule
Read the sources (1)
CaliforniaCA
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your architect’s stamp and reproduced signature. Include the license renewal date on the stamp.
For electronic submissions, the building official must accept the reproduced-signature format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the licence renewal date on the stamp; the board expressly permits a handwritten or typeset date.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the licence renewal date on the stamp; the board expressly permits a handwritten or typeset date.
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (3)
The California Architects Board’s Building Official Information Guide, printed pp. 39–40, accepts reproduced signatures and explains that the Architects Practice Act does not prescribe wet or dry media. Local acceptance is expressly left to the building official.
Lathrop is one documented local example: its electronic plan-check guidance calls for a PDF stamp with a scanned signature and rejects certified or read-only files. That instruction applies to Lathrop, not all California filings.
Date format checked November 9, 2026: the California Architects Board’s Stamp Requirements page expressly allows the licence renewal date to be handwritten or typeset. This is the renewal date, not a newly inferred signing-date requirement.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your seal and signature electronically, with the signing date beside or below them.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing date beside or below seal and signature
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (2)
California’s 2026 Board Rules, 16 CCR 411(e), expressly allow an electronically generated seal and an electronically applied signature; 411(h) requires the signing date. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of this permission. The restriction on rubber-stamped signatures in 411(f) is not a ban on electronic signatures.
Government Code 16.5 governs the separate authenticated digital-signature route. It does not make a certificate mandatory for every electronic signature under rule 411. A particular agency’s adopted submission procedure still applies.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your landscape architect’s seal, signature and signing date electronically.
The local building or planning authority must accept electronic submissions.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (2)
LATC’s stamp FAQ expressly says the Practice Act does not prohibit electronic stamps, seals or signatures. It leaves acceptance of electronic submissions to local building or planning authorities. BPC 5659 requires signature, seal and date. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of this electronic permission.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your seal and signature electronically, with the signing date beside or below them.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing date beside or below seal and signature
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (2)
California’s 2026 Board Rules, 16 CCR 411(e), expressly allow an electronically generated seal and an electronically applied signature; 411(h) requires the signing date. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of this permission. The restriction on rubber-stamped signatures in 411(f) is not a ban on electronic signatures.
Government Code 16.5 governs the separate authenticated digital-signature route. It does not make a certificate mandatory for every electronic signature under rule 411. A particular agency’s adopted submission procedure still applies.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply the digital stamp supplied by CCIDC, your signature and signing date. Include your certification number.
Use the receiving agency’s accepted electronic filing process.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing date and stamp expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the digital stamp supplied by CCIDC
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing date and stamp expiration date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (3)
CCIDC’s 2025 guide permits its purchased digital stamp on construction documents and requires signature, date and certification number under rule 4.7. Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of this requirement together with California’s UETA electronic-signature definition; it is not a separate CCIDC format approval.
ColoradoCO
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal and date and sign the PDF with a verifiable public-key signature under your sole control that breaks if the PDF changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required: public-key signing or signature dynamics, with detection of later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal and date and sign the PDF with a verifiable public-key signature under your sole control that breaks if the PDF changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required: public-key signing or signature dynamics, with detection of later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal and date and sign the PDF with a verifiable public-key signature under your sole control that breaks if the PDF changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required: public-key signing or signature dynamics, with detection of later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal and date and sign the PDF with a verifiable public-key signature under your sole control that breaks if the PDF changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required: public-key signing or signature dynamics, with detection of later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Qualified-design exemption · no separate state seal
Interior-design filing exemption
Qualifying interior designers may submit work within the statutory exemption using active NCIDQ credentials and proof of current professional liability insurance. The exemption does not prescribe a separate state seal or drawing-signature procedure.
This is a limited filing exemption, not an architect’s licence. Building-code submission requirements still apply.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate seal, signature or signing date is prescribed by the cited interior-design exemption.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate seal, signature or signing date is prescribed by the cited interior-design exemption.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate seal, signature or signing date is prescribed by the cited interior-design exemption.
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate requirement is prescribed by this exemption.
Read the sources (4)
C.R.S. §12-120-403(6) provides the limited filing exemption and requires active NCIDQ credentials and proof of insurance. CIDQ’s recommendations to sign plans and print credential/insurance details are professional guidance, not additional requirements stated in this provision.
ConnecticutCT
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a verifiable electronic seal
Use a seal that uniquely identifies you and stays under your sole control. The recipient must be able to verify it and see if a later edit invalidates it.
Transmit the sealed file in read-only form.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal must verify and reveal changes
- Handwritten signature image
- Handwriting image cannot substitute for a verifiable seal
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Tamper-evident electronic seal required; technology not prescribed
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Use a digital signature that serves as the seal
Sign with a NIST-compliant digital signature under your sole control that detects changes. Have its keys verified by a trusted third party or through another approved process.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Qualifying digital signature also counts as the seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Handwriting image alone cannot replace the digital signature
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- NIST digital signature; verify keys by trusted third party or approved process
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a verifiable electronic seal
Use a seal that uniquely identifies you and stays under your sole control. The recipient must be able to verify it and see if a later edit invalidates it.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal must verify and reveal changes
- Handwritten signature image
- Handwriting image cannot substitute for a verifiable seal
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Tamper-evident electronic seal required; technology not prescribed
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Use a digital signature that serves as the seal
Sign with a NIST-compliant digital signature under your sole control that detects changes. Have its keys verified by a trusted third party or through another approved process.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Qualifying digital signature also counts as the seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Handwriting image alone cannot replace the digital signature
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- NIST digital signature; verify keys by trusted third party or approved process
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Optional title seal · no separate filing route
Use the optional title seal
If you choose to use a seal, include your name, Connecticut registered interior designer title and registration number.
This optional title seal does not establish a right to file independently sealed permit drawings.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Registered designer may choose to use the state seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate signature required by the optional title-seal provision.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the optional title-seal provision.
Read the sources (1)
Section 20-377l authorizes an optional professional title seal; it does not require a signature, date or cryptographic certificate. This entry is not an unresolved mandatory-signature rule, and the title-seal permission does not establish an independent permit-filing right.
DelawareDE
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the electronic permit drawing
Apply the prescribed seal and a verifiable signature under your sole control. Link them to the file so a later edit invalidates them. Beside the seal, show the signing date and your Delaware registration expiry date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerSigning and licence expiry dates required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Prescribed seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot verify the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing and licence expiry dates required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident method required
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Sign and date the sealed engineering documents
You may create or transmit your professional seal, signature and signing date electronically.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (1)
24 Del. C. §2829(b)(2) permits a seal, signature and date created or transmitted electronically. Section 2830 requires dating, signing and sealing final engineering documents.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Landscape architect
Physical seal indicated by the current rule
Apply the physical seal
Apply the prescribed embossed or rubber stamp to the required drawings and documents. Sign and date the final documents.
The physical-format requirement concerns the seal. The cited rule does not separately require a wet-ink signature.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Paper original requiredEmbossed or rubber stamp specified.
- Handwritten signature image
- AcceptedElectronic-signature recognition does not replace the physical seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Regulation 5.1.2–5.1.3 specifies applying a seal impression or rubber stamp.
- Handwritten signature image
- Delaware UETA §12A-107 recognizes electronic signatures.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Regulation 5.0 and §212 do not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Board staff replied November 12, 2026, by directing us to Regulation 5.0. The reply did not add a new condition or approve an electronic substitute for the prescribed seal.
Current-rule interpretation: Regulation 5.1.3 specifies an embossing seal or rubber stamp, and 5.1.2 describes applying that impression or stamp to the documents. We classify the entry as physical seal indicated by the current rule. This does not establish a separate wet-ink signature requirement or an express ban on every electronic submission. Acceptance of an electronic reproduction of the seal has not been confirmed.
24 Del. C. §212(a) requires the signature, seal and date on final documents issued or filed for public record. Delaware UETA §12A-107 recognizes electronic signatures; neither cited provision requires a handwritten date or prescribes a cryptographic certificate. A cryptographic signature does not itself replace the separately specified seal.
On November 4, 2026 we asked whether a landscape architect could apply seal and handwritten-signature images plus a typed date directly to a PDF instead of signing and stamping paper. The November 12 reply referred us to Regulation 5.0 without answering yes or no. It is not confirmation of electronic seal acceptance.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Use the board’s verifiable digital signature on the dated survey bearing your electronic seal.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow survey date
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
To distribute an unsigned electronic file, remove the seal and insert the board’s required notice.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic original must have an authenticated seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan of hand-signed original may be distributed
- Date on the drawing
- Show survey date
- Digital authentication
- Use board-compliant secure digital signature for electronic original
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Interior design credential
The state has no separate interior designer permit seal identified in the cited credential survey.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior design permitting seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (2)
District of ColumbiaDC
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply your seal and an electronic signature that can be verified and becomes invalid if the document changes.
Place the signature across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Seal image accepted on the electronically authenticated drawing.
- Handwritten signature image
- A signature image alone does not provide the required verification and change detection.
- Date on the drawing
- No signing date required by this sealing rule.
- Digital authentication
- Electronic signatures must be verifiable, under the signer’s sole control and invalidated by document changes. No third-party certificate specified.
Read the sources (2)
Section 3413.7 explicitly permits electronic signatures but requires verification, exclusive control and invalidation on changes. This resolves the previously missing profession-specific rule; electronic signing is permitted, but an unauthenticated image alone is insufficient. The rule does not expressly mandate a third-party certificate.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed final
Seal and sign the final engineering document with a unique, verifiable signature under your sole control that invalidates on edits, and list the hardware, software and settings used to prepare it.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Depends on the signing methodHandwritten alternative expressly dated below the seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Handwritten alternative expressly dated below the seal
- Digital authentication
- Tamper-evident signature plus software and settings list
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Professional seal format needs verification
Supervising professional’s signature and stamp
The D.C.-licensed landscape architect in responsible charge signs and stamps the landscape drawings issued on behalf of the professional design firm.
The statute requires the responsible professional’s stamp and signature. The current landscape-architect seal-format rule still needs to be verified.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verified
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Professional seal required; image format not specified
- Handwritten signature image
- D.C. Code §28-4906 recognizes electronic signatures; no explicit ink requirement was identified in the cited professional provision.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No certificate requirement is prescribed by the cited professional provisions.
Read the sources (2)
The general electronic-signature law resolves the ordinary signature requirement. The remaining research issue is the professional seal format or current implementing rule, not whether electronic signatures are legally recognized.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed final
Seal and sign the final survey or plat with a unique, verifiable signature under your sole control that invalidates on edits, and list the hardware, software and settings used to prepare it.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Depends on the signing methodHandwritten alternative expressly dated below the seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Handwritten alternative expressly dated below the seal
- Digital authentication
- Tamper-evident signature plus software and settings list
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply your seal and an electronic signature that can be verified and becomes invalid if the document changes. Add the sealing date.
Place the signature across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Seal image accepted on the electronically authenticated drawing.
- Handwritten signature image
- A signature image alone does not provide the required verification and change detection.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the date the document was sealed; it can be added on computer.
- Digital authentication
- Electronic signatures must be verifiable, under the signer’s sole control and invalidated by document changes. No third-party certificate specified.
Read the sources (2)
Section 3214.6 explicitly permits electronic signatures but requires verification, exclusive control and invalidation on changes. This resolves the previously missing profession-specific rule; electronic signing is permitted, but an unauthenticated image alone is insufficient. The rule does not expressly mandate a third-party certificate.
FloridaFL
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate every sealed file
Apply your seal and the signing date, sign using a verifiable electronic or digital signature under your sole control that becomes invalid after an edit, and generate the required FIPS 180-4 digest for each file.
The board requires verification within the software. A permitting agency can impose additional requirements for its own portal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan alone does not meet the electronic signing rule
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Secure hash plus verifiable signature; third-party certificate not required
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Use a digital certificate authenticated by a third party, date the plans and add the seal or prescribed identifying text and the required verification statement.
- Professional seal image
- OptionalUse the seal image or the prescribed identifying text.
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate requiredMust be authenticated by a third-party certification authority.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Seal image or prescribed identifying text
- Handwritten signature image
- An image cannot replace the certified digital signature
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Third-party certificate for PDF signing; separate hash-and-report alternative
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal and date the plans and sign with a verifiable public-key signature under your sole control that becomes invalid after an edit.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan cannot substitute for electronic signature
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required: public-key signing or signature dynamics, with detection of later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal and date the survey and apply a verifiable public-key or signature-dynamics signature under your sole control that becomes invalid if the survey changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing or signed signature-file report with cryptographic codes
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate every sealed file
Apply your seal and the signing date, sign using a verifiable electronic or digital signature under your sole control that becomes invalid after an edit, and generate the required FIPS 180-4 digest for each file.
The board requires verification within the software. A permitting agency can impose additional requirements for its own portal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan alone does not meet the electronic signing rule
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Secure hash plus verifiable signature; third-party certificate not required
Read the sources (3)
GeorgiaGA
Architect
Signature image accepted
Sign and seal the permit drawings
Apply your signature and seal electronically and identify the drawing issue date and purpose.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow issue date and purpose
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show issue date and purpose
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (1)
Rule 50-2A-.01(2) expressly permits a seal and signature electronically applied to the document.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal and date the drawing and apply the board’s verifiable electronic signature before transmitting the sealed file outside your control.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Remove the computer-generated seal and insert the prescribed notice on an unsigned electronic transmission copy.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Secure signature for electronic original; scan of signed paper also allowed
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Sign and seal the PDF
Apply the prescribed electronic seal and your signature to the issued document. The landscape-architecture sealing rule does not require a signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The board expressly allows an electronic landscape architect’s seal
- Handwritten signature image
- The state electronic-transactions statute recognizes electronic signatures; the professional rule does not expressly require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- The professional sealing rule does not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (3)
The board FAQ expressly allows an electronic seal and calls for the professional’s original signature; rule 310-7-.01 requires countersigning. Neither expressly requires ink. We read the signature requirement with O.C.G.A. §10-12-7, as explained by the Georgia Attorney General. The image must be adopted by the professional as their signature, not copied by someone else. No certificate method is prescribed.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Sign a plat offered for recording
Seal the plat, include the applicable survey and certification dates, and apply a handwritten, scanned or computer-generated signature under your control.
Other electronic survey originals are governed by the board’s electronic signing rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow applicable survey and certification dates
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- For the recorded property survey plat
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimile signature allowed on this plat
- Date on the drawing
- Show applicable survey and certification dates
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic signature for this plat’s facsimile route
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Ink signature required
Sign the permit record in blue ink
Use your seal, issue date and purpose on the record and sign it in permanent blue ink. The seal may be applied electronically.
For later electronic transmissions the board permits a notice identifying the signed original.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow issue date and purpose
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Permit record requires original permanent blue ink
- Date on the drawing
- Show issue date and purpose
- Digital authentication
- Blue-ink record is the prescribed route
Read the sources (1)
Date format: the cited date requirement does not require handwriting. We read this as allowing a computer-entered date, printed onto the document where a paper original is needed. This does not change the separate signature or submission requirements.
HawaiiHI
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply the stamp, include your license expiration date below it, and sign the prescribed authentication statement with a digital signature that uses public-key encryption.
The board also accepts an original signature on paper. It prohibits facsimile signatures for authentication.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use a legible reproduction of the prescribed seal with the required digital authentication.
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimile signature prohibited as authentication
- Date on the drawing
- Show license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Use public-key digital signature for electronic original
Read the sources (2)
HAR 16-115-8 prescribes a legible, reproducible seal; 16-115-9(e) expressly permits digital authentication. We read these provisions together as permitting the seal image on the authenticated electronic document. The prohibition on facsimiles concerns signatures, not reproduction of the seal.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply the stamp, include your license expiration date below it, and sign the prescribed authentication statement with a digital signature that uses public-key encryption.
The board also accepts an original signature on paper. It prohibits facsimile signatures for authentication.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use a legible reproduction of the prescribed seal with the required digital authentication.
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimile signature prohibited as authentication
- Date on the drawing
- Show license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Use public-key digital signature for electronic original
Read the sources (2)
HAR 16-115-8 prescribes a legible, reproducible seal; 16-115-9(e) expressly permits digital authentication. We read these provisions together as permitting the seal image on the authenticated electronic document. The prohibition on facsimiles concerns signatures, not reproduction of the seal.
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply the stamp, include your license expiration date below it, and sign the prescribed authentication statement with a digital signature that uses public-key encryption.
The board also accepts an original signature on paper. It prohibits facsimile signatures for authentication.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use a legible reproduction of the prescribed seal with the required digital authentication.
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimile signature prohibited as authentication
- Date on the drawing
- Show license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Use public-key digital signature for electronic original
Read the sources (2)
HAR 16-115-8 prescribes a legible, reproducible seal; 16-115-9(e) expressly permits digital authentication. We read these provisions together as permitting the seal image on the authenticated electronic document. The prohibition on facsimiles concerns signatures, not reproduction of the seal.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic drawing
Apply the stamp, include your license expiration date below it, and sign the prescribed authentication statement with a digital signature that uses public-key encryption.
The board also accepts an original signature on paper. It prohibits facsimile signatures for authentication.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use a legible reproduction of the prescribed seal with the required digital authentication.
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimile signature prohibited as authentication
- Date on the drawing
- Show license expiration date below seal
- Digital authentication
- Use public-key digital signature for electronic original
Read the sources (2)
HAR 16-115-8 prescribes a legible, reproducible seal; 16-115-9(e) expressly permits digital authentication. We read these provisions together as permitting the seal image on the authenticated electronic document. The prohibition on facsimiles concerns signatures, not reproduction of the seal.
Interior designer
Not applicable
Interior design credential
The state has no separate interior designer permit seal identified in the cited credential survey.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior design permitting seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (2)
IdahoID
Architect
Signature image accepted
Apply all three marks electronically
Sign and date each final drawing next to or across your seal. All three may be applied electronically.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (1)
Idaho Code § 54-304(2) expressly permits the seal, signature and date to be electronically applied.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Use an image of your handwritten signature
Apply the electronic seal and place your signature image and signing date beside or across it. The board expressly accepts this method.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Board expressly allows a signature image beside or over the seal
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic signature needed for this route
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Sign and seal the PDF
Apply the prescribed electronic seal, your signature and date. Put the signature and date across or next to the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- The state electronic-transactions statute recognizes electronic signatures; the professional rule does not expressly require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- The professional sealing rule does not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (2)
The board expressly permits an electronic seal and requires a written signature and date, without specifying handwritten ink. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of those instructions together with Idaho UETA §28-50-107. The informational-copy exception is not the basis for this final-document route.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Use an image of your handwritten signature
Apply the electronic seal and place your signature image and signing date beside or across it. The board expressly accepts this method.
Recorded plats and records of survey have separate requirements for reproducible black ink.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- AcceptedRecorded plats require reproducible black ink.
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted on final surveys; recorded plats require reproducible black ink
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate for the general board route; recording rules also apply
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Electronic seal rule awaiting legislative approval
Sign the qualifying interior alteration plans
A certified interior designer may sign and seal plans for qualifying alterations within an existing building.
The published rule expressly allows an electronic seal with a signature and date, without prescribing a cryptographic certificate. It awaits approval by the 2027 Legislature; if approved, it takes effect July 1, 2027 unless the Legislature specifies another date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verifiedElectronic seal expressly allowed in the pending rule; legislative approval still required.
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The published pending rule expressly allows an electronically applied seal, but that rule is not yet effective.
- Handwritten signature image
- Idaho Code §28-50-107 recognizes electronic signatures; no explicit ink requirement was identified in the cited professional provision.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No certificate requirement is prescribed by the cited professional provisions.
Read the sources (4)
The November 4, 2026 bulletin, pages 28–30, identifies Docket 24-0101-2601 as a pending rule awaiting approval by concurrent resolution of the 2027 Idaho Legislature. If approved, it becomes effective July 1, 2027 unless the resolution specifies another date. Pending §200.03.a.i expressly permits an electronic seal and requires a written signature and date adjacent to or across it; it does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate. Those pending provisions are not presented as current requirements or permission.
The general electronic-signature law resolves the ordinary signature requirement. The remaining research issue is the professional seal format or current implementing rule, not whether electronic signatures are legally recognized.
- Idaho session law, chapter 219, effective July 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · HB 790 rulemaking (opens in a new tab)
- Idaho November 2026 bulletin · pending interior-design rule, pp.28–30 (opens in a new tab)
- Idaho Code §28-50-107 · electronic-signature recognition (opens in a new tab)
IllinoisIL
Architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal, signing and credential expiration dates, and a computer-generated signature to the PDF.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Code Enforcement Manual, page 16, permits seals, signatures and dates by any means, including electronically, for all five professions.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal, signing and credential expiration dates, and a computer-generated signature to the PDF.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Code Enforcement Manual, page 16, permits seals, signatures and dates by any means, including electronically, for all five professions.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Apply the seal and signature electronically
Place your seal, electronic signature, current date and registration expiration date on the landscape architecture documents.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow current date and registration expiration
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show current date and registration expiration
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Code Enforcement Manual, page 16, permits seals, signatures and dates by any means, including electronically, for all five professions.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal, signing and credential expiration dates, and a computer-generated signature to the PDF.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Code Enforcement Manual, page 16, permits seals, signatures and dates by any means, including electronically, for all five professions.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the seal, signing and credential expiration dates, and a computer-generated signature to the PDF.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license-expiration dates
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Code Enforcement Manual, page 16, permits seals, signatures and dates by any means, including electronically, for all five professions.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
IndianaIN
Architect
Signature image accepted
Sign the PDF on your computer
Apply your seal and signature image to each drawing sheet and the specifications cover.
Indiana DHS accepts electronically signed and sealed PDFs for state building plan review.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place your signature beside the seal, not across it. Another location is allowed with the statement “This document is certified by” followed by your signature.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate is required by the cited sealing rules or DHS electronic-filing instructions.
Read the sources (4)
Reviewed November 9, 2026. IC 26-2-8-102(10) includes an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign; IC 26-2-8-106(d) lets an electronic signature satisfy a signature requirement. DHS expressly accepts electronic seals and signatures for PDF plan submissions. Classifying a personally applied signature image as accepted follows this definition and filing guidance; it does not depend on a separate rule naming PNG files.
804 IAC 1.1-2-7 permits electronically applied seals and requires a signature on each drawing sheet and the specifications cover. It does not add a date requirement. The DHS law packet reproduces the electronic-seal provisions; its older UETA definition numbering has since changed.
This entry describes state building plan review. The cited IDOA memorandum is used for its quotations of the statute, not to apply state-contract signing procedures to drawings.
- Indiana DHS: electronic seals, signatures and PDF plan submissions (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana DHS: electronic-transactions law and professional sealing rules (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana: statutory definition and legal effect of electronic signatures (IC 26-2-8) (opens in a new tab)
- 804 IAC 1.1-2-7: seal and signature placement (Cornell reproduction) (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Sign the PDF on your computer
Apply your seal and signature image to each drawing sheet and the specifications cover. Add the date beside the seal.
Indiana DHS accepts electronically signed and sealed PDFs for state building plan review.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image beside the seal, not across it.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the date the seal is affixed beside the seal, not across it. It can be added on computer.
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate is required by the cited sealing rules or DHS electronic-filing instructions.
Read the sources (3)
Reviewed November 9, 2026. IC 26-2-8-102(10) includes an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign; IC 26-2-8-106(d) lets an electronic signature satisfy a signature requirement. DHS expressly accepts electronic seals and signatures for PDF plan submissions. Classifying a personally applied signature image as accepted follows this definition and filing guidance; it does not depend on a separate rule naming PNG files.
864 IAC 1.1-7-3(b) expressly permits handwritten, electronic or other signatures recognized under Indiana law and requires the date the seal is affixed. Both belong beside the seal, not across it.
This entry describes state building plan review. The cited IDOA memorandum is used for its quotations of the statute, not to apply state-contract signing procedures to drawings.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Sign the PDF on your computer
Apply your seal and signature image to each drawing sheet and the specifications cover.
Indiana DHS accepts electronically signed and sealed PDFs for state building plan review.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Place your signature beside the seal, not across it. Another location is allowed with the statement “This document is certified by” followed by your signature.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate is required by the cited sealing rules or DHS electronic-filing instructions.
Read the sources (4)
Reviewed November 9, 2026. IC 26-2-8-102(10) includes an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign; IC 26-2-8-106(d) lets an electronic signature satisfy a signature requirement. DHS expressly accepts electronic seals and signatures for PDF plan submissions. Classifying a personally applied signature image as accepted follows this definition and filing guidance; it does not depend on a separate rule naming PNG files.
804 IAC 1.1-2-7 permits electronically applied seals and requires a signature on each drawing sheet and the specifications cover. It does not add a date requirement. The DHS law packet reproduces the electronic-seal provisions; its older UETA definition numbering has since changed.
This entry describes state building plan review. The cited IDOA memorandum is used for its quotations of the statute, not to apply state-contract signing procedures to drawings.
- Indiana DHS: electronic seals, signatures and PDF plan submissions (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana DHS: electronic-transactions law and professional sealing rules (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana: statutory definition and legal effect of electronic signatures (IC 26-2-8) (opens in a new tab)
- 804 IAC 1.1-2-7: seal and signature placement (Cornell reproduction) (opens in a new tab)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign and retain the electronic survey
Apply the date, an electronic seal and a verifiable signature under your direct control, and permanently retain a digital copy for verification.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Signature must identify the signer, be verifiable and remain under their control
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Protected title
Registration protects the interior designer title without granting an independent permit seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Registration alone carries no independent permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (2)
IowaIA
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the drawing certification
Identify the sheets covered in the certification block, include its required dates, apply the seal, and sign with a method that verifies your identity and detects changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal in the certification block
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Use the dates on the applicable certification block
- Digital authentication
- Secure signing must verify identity and detect changes
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the drawing certification
Apply the seal, signing date and license renewal date to the certification and sign with a method that verifies your identity and detects changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license renewal dates
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal in the certification block
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license renewal dates
- Digital authentication
- Secure signing must verify identity and detect changes
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the drawing certification
Identify the sheets covered in the certification block, include its required dates, apply the seal, and sign with a method that verifies your identity and detects changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal in the certification block
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Use the dates on the applicable certification block
- Digital authentication
- Secure signing must verify identity and detect changes
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the drawing certification
Apply the seal, signing date and license renewal date to the certification and sign with a method that verifies your identity and detects changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing and license renewal dates
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal in the certification block
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing and license renewal dates
- Digital authentication
- Secure signing must verify identity and detect changes
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Seal, sign and date the original and scan the complete signed document.
- Seal on the original
- Accepted as a scan of a signed original
- Signature on the original
- Accepted as a scan of a signed originalScan the complete signed document, not just the signature.
- Date on the original
- Required on the original before scanningInclude the signing date and registration renewal date
- Digital authentication
- Not requiredFor this scan-of-the-original method.
A pasted signature image by itself cannot verify who signed the PDF or detect changes. The statute separately permits a scan of the document you signed by hand.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A pasted signature alone cannot meet the electronic signing safeguards
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signing date and registration renewal date
- Digital authentication
- Electronic signing must authenticate the signer and detect changes. The rule names digital signing as one option.
Read the sources (2)
KansasKS
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your professional seal and signing date, then use a verifiable digital signature under your control that becomes invalid if the drawing changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required for an electronic original; verify the signer and detect later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your professional seal and signing date, then use a verifiable digital signature under your control that becomes invalid if the drawing changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required for an electronic original; verify the signer and detect later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your professional seal and signing date, then use a verifiable digital signature under your control that becomes invalid if the drawing changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required for an electronic original; verify the signer and detect later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the sealed PDF
Apply your professional seal and signing date, then use a verifiable digital signature under your control that becomes invalid if the drawing changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone cannot authenticate the PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Required for an electronic original; verify the signer and detect later changes.
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Interior design credential
Kansas regulates five technical professions under its licensing act. Interior design has no separate seal under that act. Certain interior alterations, furnishings and cabinet work qualify for limited exemptions from architectural licensure under §74-7031.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior design permitting seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No filing under this credential
- Date on the drawing
- No filing under this credential
- Digital authentication
- No filing under this credential
Read the sources (4)
- Kansas Board of Technical Professions, professions covered by the seal rule (opens in a new tab)
- International Interior Design Association, March 2026 legislative map (opens in a new tab)
- Kansas §74-7031 · limited architectural exemptions (opens in a new tab)
- Kansas §74-7003 · regulated technical professions (opens in a new tab)
KentuckyKY
Architect
Signature image accepted
Sign the PDF on your computer
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to the architectural documents you issue.
For electronic plan submissions to Kentucky’s Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the prescribed architect seal on the issued drawings, specifications and reports. KRS 323.095 recognizes use of the seal in electronic transactions.
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to sign the PDF. This follows the electronic-symbol definition in KRS 369.102(8) and the signature recognition in KRS 369.107(4).
- Date on the drawing
- Date the documents as required by 201 KAR 19:265. The rule does not require an ink date; it can be added on computer.
- Digital authentication
- The architect sealing rule and cited state plan-submission instructions do not require a cryptographic signature or third-party signing certificate.
Read the sources (7)
Reviewed November 9, 2026. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of the architect sealing requirements together with KRS 369.102(8), 369.107(4) and DHBC’s published electronic plan-submission process. A personally applied signature image is an electronic symbol used to sign. This is a statutory interpretation, not a board reply specifically approving PNG signatures.
KRS 323.095(2) recognizes electronic use of the seal subject to board regulations. The applicable architect rule, 201 KAR 19:265, requires a seal, signature and date without an ink-only or certificate requirement. The stricter digital-signature conditions in 201 KAR 18:104 apply to engineers and surveyors, not architects.
This entry covers DHBC electronic plan submissions. KRS 369.118 permits government agencies to set their electronic-filing procedures. DHBC’s April 2025 guide directs submissions through its online portal; the separate PDF-format handout still refers to email. Use the current portal instructions.
A clarification was requested from the architect board on November 4, 2026. This entry is now classified from published sources rather than held unresolved pending that reply.
- 201 KAR 19:265: architect seal, signature and date (opens in a new tab)
- KRS 323.095: architect seals, including electronic transactions (opens in a new tab)
- KRS 369.102(8): electronic-signature definition (opens in a new tab)
- KRS 369.107: electronic signatures satisfy signature requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky DHBC: plan submission guide, April 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky DHBC: electronic PDF plan-submission requirements (opens in a new tab)
- KRS 369.118: government electronic-filing procedures (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic original
Use a verifiable digital signature under your control that reveals later changes in place of the original handwritten signature, seal and date.
- Professional seal image
- OptionalThe qualifying digital signature may replace the seal.
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Separate date
- OptionalThe qualifying digital signature may replace the separate date.
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
For paper submissions, provide at least one signed and sealed original. Additional copies may reproduce the signature and seal.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital signature can replace the original seal, signature and date
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimiles allowed on additional copies after supplying one signed original
- Date on the drawing
- Required on original; qualifying digital signature may replace it
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable tamper-evident signing on electronic original
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign and authenticate the electronic seal
Sign the drawing and apply an electronic seal that shows later changes and becomes invalid if the document changes. Deliver the sealed document in view-only format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted with verification, change detection and invalidation on alteration.
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign the document; a signature image alone does not satisfy the electronic-seal requirements.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- The electronic seal must be verifiable, detect changes and become invalid on alteration. No third-party certificate specified.
Read the sources (2)
The current 201 KAR 10:070 section 2 expressly permits electronic seals and specifies verification, signer control, visible change detection, invalidation on alteration and view-only delivery. These are published authentication requirements, not an unknown format question. KRS 323A.080 separately requires the signature; neither provision requires a signing date or names a third-party certificate.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic original
Use a verifiable digital signature under your control that reveals later changes in place of the original handwritten signature, seal and date.
- Professional seal image
- OptionalThe qualifying digital signature may replace the seal.
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Separate date
- OptionalThe qualifying digital signature may replace the separate date.
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
For paper submissions, provide at least one signed and sealed original. Additional copies may reproduce the signature and seal.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital signature can replace the original seal, signature and date
- Handwritten signature image
- Facsimiles allowed on additional copies after supplying one signed original
- Date on the drawing
- Required on original; qualifying digital signature may replace it
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable tamper-evident signing on electronic original
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Identify and sign your interior design work
Put your signature and Kentucky interior designer certificate number on your own qualifying interior design work.
Include your signature, certification number and certified interior designer title. This does not authorize work reserved to architects or engineers.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional certificate number instead
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the interior designer signing rule.
Read the sources (4)
Statutory interpretation: 201 KAR 19:450 section 3 requires a signature, certification number and professional title, without requiring ink, a seal, a date or cryptographic authentication. KRS 369.102(8) and 369.107 recognize electronic symbols used to sign. We therefore treat a personally applied signature image as accepted for electronic transactions. KRS 369.118 separately lets receiving agencies set electronic filing procedures; this is not blanket permit-submission approval.
- Kentucky 201 KAR 19:450, interior designer signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky KRS 369.102 · electronic signature definition (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky KRS 369.107 · electronic signature recognition (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky KRS 369.118 · agency electronic filing procedures (opens in a new tab)
LouisianaLA
Architect
Electronic seal accepted
Electronic professional seal
Apply your architect’s seal to contract drawings and specifications, including permit submissions. Electronically generated seals are accepted for both new construction and renovations.
The cited statewide sealing rules do not separately require a signature, signing date or cryptographic certificate. Receiving offices may have additional filing requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronically generated seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not separately required by the cited sealing rules
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing rules
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited sealing rules
Read the sources (4)
LAC 46:I §1303(C) accepts electronically generated seals. Section 1305 applies to contract drawings and specifications, including documents submitted for permitting; it does not distinguish renovations from new construction. This entry describes the statewide architect sealing rule.
New Orleans’ nonstructural-renovation checklist expressly accepts digital seals. Its separate new-construction checklist requests live seals, including live original seals for foundation drawings, without clearly explaining how that wording applies to electronic submissions. This is a local filing distinction, not a statewide restriction on electronic seals.
Professional engineer
Electronic document protection required
Send the signed drawing securely
Place your signature and the date beside or across your professional seal, then transmit the file in a way that protects all three marks from copying or alteration.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Electronic document protection
- Protection requiredCryptographic signing recommended; no certificate provider specified.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted; the transmitted file must protect the seal, signature and date from copying or alteration.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Electronic document protection
- Protect the seal, signature and date against reproduction or modification during electronic transmission.
Read the sources (2)
The October 2026 compilation expressly defines a signature in §105 to include a digital representation of handwriting. Section 2701(A)(5) requires secure electronic transmission. A signature image is therefore expressly recognized, but does not remove the document-protection requirement; the rule does not mandate a named certificate technology.
Implementation recommendation: use cryptographic PDF signing to authenticate the signed document and reveal later alteration. This recommendation is ours, not a board-prescribed technology or provider. A visible signature image alone does not provide the protection required by §2701(A)(5). Cryptographic signing does not prevent copying the visible image; it protects the authenticity and integrity of the signed document.
Landscape architect
Electronic signing permitted
Sign and seal the electronic drawing
Apply your legal-name signature, then place your landscape-architect seal over it on each professional document.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply an electronic reproduction of the prescribed seal over your signature.
- Handwritten signature image
- Louisiana R.S. 9:2607 recognizes electronic signatures; no explicit ink requirement was identified in the cited professional provision.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No certificate requirement is prescribed by the cited professional provisions.
Read the sources (3)
Statutory interpretation, not an express board approval of an electronic seal-image format: LAC 7:XXIX.117(B)(3) requires the prescribed seal on professional documents and the legal-name signature beneath it. R.S. 9:2607 recognizes electronic records and signatures. We read these provisions together as permitting electronic execution with an electronic reproduction of the prescribed seal. The professional rule specifies the seal design and allows a rubber-stamp facsimile; it does not expressly prohibit electronic reproduction or expressly authorize it. It does not require embossing.
The seal-over-signature placement remains required. No separate signing date or cryptographic certificate is prescribed in the cited landscape-architecture sealing provision. The separate LAPELS electronic-transmission requirement for engineers and surveyors is not imported into this profession.
Land surveyor
Electronic document protection required
Send the signed drawing securely
Place your signature and the date beside or across your professional seal, then transmit the file in a way that protects all three marks from copying or alteration.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Electronic document protection
- Protection requiredCryptographic signing recommended; no certificate provider specified.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted; the transmitted file must protect the seal, signature and date from copying or alteration.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Electronic document protection
- Protect the seal, signature and date against reproduction or modification during electronic transmission.
Read the sources (2)
The October 2026 compilation expressly defines a signature in §105 to include a digital representation of handwriting. Section 2701(A)(5) requires secure electronic transmission. A signature image is therefore expressly recognized, but does not remove the document-protection requirement; the rule does not mandate a named certificate technology.
Implementation recommendation: use cryptographic PDF signing to authenticate the signed document and reveal later alteration. This recommendation is ours, not a board-prescribed technology or provider. A visible signature image alone does not provide the protection required by §2701(A)(5). Cryptographic signing does not prevent copying the visible image; it protects the authenticity and integrity of the signed document.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Interior design filing
Put your seal, signature, registration number and signing date on drawings filed for public record.
Use the prescribed seal, signature, registration number and sealing date. This describes the professional signing rule; receiving agencies set their electronic filing procedures.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the date the document was sealed.
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the interior design sealing provisions.
Read the sources (4)
Statutory interpretation: the board expressly permits an electronic seal. RS 37:3179.2 requires a signature and sealing date without an ink-only or cryptographic requirement; RS 9:2602(8) and 9:2607 recognize an electronic symbol applied with intent to sign. Read together, these support a personally applied signature image, rather than a separate unanswered PNG-permission question. This is not a claim that every receiving agency accepts the same submission format.
MaineME
Architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your professional seal to the technical submission. If a signature is required for the submission, it may be applied electronically.
Receiving agencies set the accepted electronic filing format under 10 M.R.S. §9418.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing provisions
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (5)
Section 225 requires the professional seal. Chapter 18 §3 recognizes reliance on electronic technical submissions and their reproduced seals. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of those provisions with 10 M.R.S. §§9402 and 9407; it is not a separate board confirmation.
The cited professional sealing provisions do not impose a separate signing-date requirement. Agency submission requirements still apply.
- 32 M.R.S. §225 · architects and landscape architects (opens in a new tab)
- Maine licensing board, Chapter 18 §3 · reliance on electronic submissions (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9402 · electronic signature definition (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9407 · legal recognition of electronic signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9418 · agency electronic filing requirements (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, signature and signing date to the engineering document.
Receiving agencies set the accepted electronic filing format under 10 M.R.S. §9418.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (4)
The engineering board’s Approved Seal Format expressly accepts electronic seals and signatures under 10 M.R.S. §9402. A signature image adopted with intent to sign fits that definition; no certificate is prescribed.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your professional seal to the technical submission. If a signature is required for the submission, it may be applied electronically.
Receiving agencies set the accepted electronic filing format under 10 M.R.S. §9418.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing provisions
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (5)
Section 225 requires the professional seal. Chapter 18 §3 recognizes reliance on electronic technical submissions and their reproduced seals. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of those provisions with 10 M.R.S. §§9402 and 9407; it is not a separate board confirmation.
The cited professional sealing provisions do not impose a separate signing-date requirement. Agency submission requirements still apply.
- 32 M.R.S. §225 · architects and landscape architects (opens in a new tab)
- Maine licensing board, Chapter 18 §3 · reliance on electronic submissions (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9402 · electronic signature definition (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9407 · legal recognition of electronic signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Maine §9418 · agency electronic filing requirements (opens in a new tab)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing permitted
Sign and seal electronically
Apply your professional seal and signature to the final document. When altering a previously sealed document, add your seal and signature, an “altered by” notation, the date and a description of the alteration.
Electronic seal acceptance is our reading of the professional rules together with Maine’s electronic-transactions law; it is not an express board approval of PDF seal images.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not requiredRequired when altering a previously sealed document; can be added on computer.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted under our combined reading of Chapter 50 §6 and Maine’s electronic-transactions law. Use the prescribed circular seal, at least 1½ inches in diameter, with your full name, license number and required professional wording.
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted when personally applied with intent to sign the document in a transaction conducted electronically, under 10 M.R.S. §§9405 and 9407.
- Date on the drawing
- No general signing date is prescribed by Chapter 50 §6 or 32 M.R.S. §18226. Section 18226(1)(B) requires a date when altering a previously sealed document; it does not require that date to be handwritten.
- Digital authentication
- The cited professional provisions and electronic-transactions law do not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Read the sources (5)
The board’s adopted rules effective January 13, 2026 were retrieved and reviewed on November 13, resolving the earlier source-access gap. Chapter 50 §6 requires final documents to be signed and sealed and/or embossed. It prescribes the seal’s design and minimum size but does not require wet ink, an embossed impression or a rubber stamp.
Statutory interpretation, not express board approval of a PDF seal-image format: 32 M.R.S. §18226 requires signed and sealed final documents; 10 M.R.S. §9407 recognizes electronic signatures and records. Read together, we interpret these provisions as permitting the prescribed seal to be reproduced electronically and a signature image to be personally applied to sign. Section 9405 applies this recognition to transactions the parties conduct electronically; it does not require every recipient to accept electronic delivery.
Neither Chapter 50 §6 nor §18226 imposes a general signing-date requirement. Section 18226(1)(B) separately requires an alteration notation, date, description, signature and seal when a previously sealed document is altered. No handwritten-date or cryptographic-certificate requirement appears in these provisions.
- 32 M.R.S. §18226 · surveying seal (opens in a new tab)
- Maine Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors, Chapter 50 (2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Maine surveyor board · current adopted rules (opens in a new tab)
- 10 M.R.S. §9407 · recognition of electronic signatures and records (opens in a new tab)
- 10 M.R.S. §9405 · transactions conducted electronically (opens in a new tab)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Electronic signature and professional certification
Add your signature, license number, certification that you are licensed, and signing date. A professional seal is not required by §225-A.
Receiving agencies set the accepted electronic filing format under 10 M.R.S. §9418.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the certification and license number; no seal prescribed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (4)
Section 225-A requires a signed certification of professional licensure, not a cryptographic certificate. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of this section with 10 M.R.S. §§9402 and 9407.
MarylandMD
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the drawing
Add your architectural seal and professional certification with your license expiration date, apply a verifiable digital signature under your sole control, and send the drawing in view-only format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the license expiration date in the professional certification
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the license expiration date in the professional certification
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the engineering plans
Add your seal and professional certification with your license expiration date, then apply a signature you control that can be verified and detects changes to the file.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the license expiration date in the professional certification
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the license expiration date in the professional certification
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Wet-ink signature indicated by the current rule
Sign the paper original
Sign by hand, apply your professional seal and date the final document before issuing it to a client or public authority.
Our reading of the rule’s “live signature” wording; the board has not confirmed whether signing directly on a computer is accepted.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Paper original required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not acceptedUnder our reading of the current “live signature” rule.
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signatureA digital substitute has not been confirmed by the board.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the prescribed impression seal or rubber-stamp facsimile on the paper document.
- Handwritten signature image
- Our reading of “live signature” is a signature applied by hand to the paper original, rather than an image pasted onto a PDF.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No digital alternative is expressly established by the cited landscape-architecture rule. This is not an express prohibition on certificate-based signatures.
Read the sources (5)
Board staff replied November 5, 2026, with links to the laws and regulations. The specific landscape-architecture rule still refers to a live signature; published board materials discuss reviewing that language.
Interpretation: §9-501 requires signing, sealing and dating. COMAR 09.28.01.05(B) expressly describes a rubber-stamp facsimile and a live signature on tracings or prints. We read this as indicating wet-ink execution of the original. This is our reading, not an express board ruling that all electronic signatures are prohibited. The regulation does not define live signature or expressly address signing directly on a computer.
Architects, engineers and surveyors have separate Maryland provisions expressly describing digital-signature alternatives; those provisions do not automatically apply to landscape architects. The landscape board’s October 2025 minutes discuss regulatory changes; digital-signature review remains on its October 19, 2026 agenda. An agenda item is not an adopted amendment.
Board staff replied November 5, 2026, with a link to the published laws and regulations, without answering whether live signature requires wet ink. No cryptographic certificate requirement is prescribed in the cited landscape-architecture provisions.
The date is required, but the cited provisions do not require it to be handwritten; a computer-entered date can be printed on the paper original.
- Md. Code, Business Occupations §9-501 (opens in a new tab)
- COMAR 09.28.01.05 (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland landscape architecture board · October 2025 minutes, digital-signature review (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland landscape architecture board · August 2026 agenda, digital-signature review (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland landscape architecture board · October 19, 2026 agenda, digital-signature review (opens in a new tab)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the electronic plat
Show your name, surveyor’s seal and license expiration date, then apply a signature that verifies your identity and detects changes to the electronic document.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The surveyor may use a facsimile of the seal
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic seal, signature and date permitted
Sign and seal the PDF
Apply the prescribed interior-designer seal, your signature and the date before issuing the documents. A cryptographic certificate is not required by these rules.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the seal design in COMAR 09.18.02.06.
- Handwritten signature image
- An electronic signature satisfies the signature requirement under Commercial Law §21-106.
- Date on the drawing
- Business Occupations §8-403 requires the date; it does not require an ink date.
- Digital authentication
- The cited interior-design provisions do not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (4)
Board staff replied November 5, 2026, with links to the laws and regulations. The electronic-signing classification is our reading of those professional provisions together with Maryland’s electronic-transactions law.
This classification reads Business Occupations §8-403 and COMAR 09.18.02.06 together with Commercial Law §§21-101 and 21-106. The professional provisions require the prescribed seal, signature and date without requiring ink, an impression seal or a certificate. The electronic-transactions law recognizes an electronic symbol adopted to sign the document. This is a statutory reading, not a separate board approval of a particular software product.
- Md. Code, Business Occupations §8-403 (opens in a new tab)
- COMAR 09.18.02.06, certified interior designer’s seal (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland Commercial Law §21-106 · recognition of electronic signatures (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland Commercial Law §21-101 · electronic-signature definition (opens in a new tab)
MassachusettsMA
Architect
Electronic signing permitted · certificate recommended
Board-recommended electronic signing
If the parties agree to exchange electronic drawings, stamp the drawing and apply a certificate-based encrypted signature using a private key only you control.
The board recommends certificate-based signing. Its policy expressly states that it is advisory, rather than a statute or regulation.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted with conditionsBoard guidance recommends signing the electronic transmission as well
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Recommended
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Reproduction of the prescribed seal accepted for the electronic transmission described by the board policy.
- Handwritten signature image
- Board guidance recommends signing the electronic transmission as well
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Certificate and private key recommended by the board; the bulletin is advisory
Read the sources (3)
Policy 10-001 expressly addresses electronic transmission of documents bearing the signature and stamp. It recommends an encrypted digital signature with a controlled certificate/private key and says it does not have the force of a statute or regulation. Seal-image uncertainty is therefore removed without turning this advisory certificate protocol into a binding statewide mandate.
The published electronic-signing protocol is a verified route, so this entry belongs with authenticated electronic signing, not unconfirmed methods. The certificate remains marked Recommended; this classification does not turn the advisory protocol into a binding certificate mandate or approve a signature image alone.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply the professional seal and date, then use an encrypted signature that identifies you and becomes invalid if the document changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the sealed and hand-signed original may be accepted at the filing office’s discretion
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Encrypted signature for a digitally signed original; a scan follows a separate route
Read the sources (3)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Sign and seal the electronic drawing
Apply the prescribed electronic seal, your signature image and the date to the landscape documents.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date with the seal and signature.
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the landscape architecture sealing rule.
Read the sources (3)
242 CMR 3.04 expressly permits an electronically generated seal and requires signature and date, without specifying ink or a certificate. Reading this with M.G.L. c.110G §§2 and 7, we treat a personally applied signature image as an electronic signature. This is a statutory interpretation, not a separate board approval of a particular image format. The architect board’s advisory certificate policy is not a landscape architect rule.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the digital original
Apply the professional seal and date, then use an encrypted signature that identifies you and becomes invalid if the document changes.
The board has discussed agency acceptance of scanned, hand-signed engineering plans. Confirm the recorder’s requirements before relying on a scan for a survey.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan accepted with filing-office approval
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the sealed and hand-signed original may be accepted at the filing office’s discretion
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Encrypted signature for a digitally signed original; a scan follows a separate route
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
Massachusetts does not currently issue a commercial interior designer’s permit seal. S.3107 would create registration and sealing authority. The Senate passed it and the House referred it to Ways and Means. It has not become law.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (3)
MichiganMI
Architect
Signature image accepted
Apply the seal and signature electronically
Place your professional seal on the document and affix an electronic or optically created signature with the intent to sign it.
Section 339.2007 does not specify a separate signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An optically created signature applied with intent to sign meets the statute’s definition
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Article 20 permits an optically created signature without specifying cryptography
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Apply the seal and signature electronically
Place your professional seal on the document and affix an electronic or optically created signature with the intent to sign it.
Section 339.2007 does not specify a separate signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An optically created signature applied with intent to sign meets the statute’s definition
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Article 20 permits an optically created signature without specifying cryptography
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic professional seal permitted
Apply the prescribed professional seal
Place your professional seal on the plans, specifications or reports filed with a public authority. The cited landscape-architecture rules do not require a separate signature, signing date or certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the seal design in R339.19041. The electronic-record law recognizes electronic records without a prescribed physical-only seal medium in this rule.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate signature required by MCL 339.2210 or current R 339.19041.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic signature required by the landscape architecture sealing provisions.
Read the sources (3)
This is a combined reading of MCL339.2210, R339.19041 and MCL450.837. The landscape-architecture rule specifies seal contents/design and use but does not restrict it to an embossed or rubber medium. It requires an imprint to be submitted to the department upon obtaining a seal. Article20 rules for architects and engineers are not imported into this Article22 entry.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Apply the seal and signature electronically
Place your professional seal on the document and affix an electronic or optically created signature with the intent to sign it.
Section 339.2007 does not specify a separate signing date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An optically created signature applied with intent to sign meets the statute’s definition
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Article 20 permits an optically created signature without specifying cryptography
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
Michigan allows interior designers to design within the limits in §339.601(15), including partitions that do not affect mechanical, structural, electrical or fire safety systems. That provision gives them no separate permit seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (3)
MinnesotaMN
Architect
Signature image accepted
Complete the certification block
Use the statement prescribed for an architect, add your license number and the date, and sign it with your signature image or electronic signature.
The graphic seal is optional. The certification block is required.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The graphic seal is optional; include the prescribed certification and license or certificate number
- Handwritten signature image
- An accurate image of your signature is accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Complete the certification block
Use the statement prescribed for a professional engineer, add your license number and the date, and sign it with your signature image or electronic signature.
The graphic seal is optional. The certification block is required.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The graphic seal is optional; include the prescribed certification and license or certificate number
- Handwritten signature image
- An accurate image of your signature is accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Complete the certification block
Use the statement prescribed for a landscape architect, add your license number and the date, and sign it with your signature image or electronic signature.
The graphic seal is optional. The certification block is required.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The graphic seal is optional; include the prescribed certification and license or certificate number
- Handwritten signature image
- An accurate image of your signature is accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Complete the certification block
Use the statement prescribed for a land surveyor, add your license number and the date, and sign it with your signature image or electronic signature.
The graphic seal is optional under the professional rule. The recording office may have additional plat requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The graphic seal is optional; include the prescribed certification and license or certificate number
- Handwritten signature image
- An accurate image of your signature is accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Complete the certification block
Use the statement prescribed for a certified interior designer, add your certificate number and the date, and sign it with your signature image or electronic signature.
The graphic seal is optional. The certification block is required.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Optional
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The graphic seal is optional; include the prescribed certification and license or certificate number
- Handwritten signature image
- An accurate image of your signature is accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (2)
MississippiMS
Architect
Signature image accepted
Use a signature image on the PDF
On a final PDF that is difficult to alter, apply your professional seal, an accurate image of your own handwritten signature and the signing date.
Apply the signature separately from the seal. Sending an editable source file requires a digital signing process that authenticates the signer.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate signature image accepted on a PDF that is difficult to alter
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the final sheets
Apply your seal and date, then sign with a digital signature that only you control, can be verified, and becomes invalid if the file changes.
The board’s temporary rules took effect October 16, 2026. They include a title-sheet exception for bound sets that identify the covered sheets.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Use a signature image on the PDF
On a final PDF that is difficult to alter, apply your professional seal, an accurate image of your own handwritten signature and the signing date.
Apply the signature and date separately from the seal. Sending an editable source file requires a digital signing process that authenticates the signer.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate signature image accepted on a PDF that is difficult to alter
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the final sheets
Apply your seal and date, then sign with a digital signature that only you control, can be verified, and becomes invalid if the file changes.
The board’s temporary rules took effect October 16, 2026. They include a title-sheet exception for bound sets that identify the covered sheets.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
Mississippi certification protects the interior designer title and does not confer an architect’s or engineer’s permit seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (1)
MissouriMO
Architect
Signature image accepted
Issuing a final PDF
Place your professional stamp and a scan of your actual signature on the sheet, and add the date. They can appear together in one image. This applies to a PDF that is difficult to alter.
For an editable Revit or CAD file, use a verifiable digital signature that detects later edits.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate scan accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Issuing a final PDF
Place your professional stamp and a scan of your actual signature on the sheet, and add the date. They can appear together in one image. This applies to a PDF that is difficult to alter.
For an editable Revit or CAD file, use a verifiable digital signature that detects later edits.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate scan accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF
Read the sources (3)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Issuing a final PDF
Place your professional stamp and a scan of your actual signature on the sheet, and add the date. They can appear together in one image. This applies to a PDF that is difficult to alter.
For an editable Revit or CAD file, use a verifiable digital signature that detects later edits.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate scan accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF
Read the sources (3)
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Issuing a final PDF
Place your professional stamp and a scan of your actual signature on the sheet, and add the date. They can appear together in one image. This applies to a PDF that is difficult to alter.
For an editable Revit or CAD file, use a verifiable digital signature that detects later edits.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accurate scan accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Seal required by law; interior-designer seal rules pending clarification
Licensed interior design submission
Apply your licensed interior designer’s personal seal to final technical submissions.
The statute requires a seal in a board-prescribed form, but the published seal-design rule still names only the other four professions. The unresolved point is the interior-designer seal, not a stated certificate requirement.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verified
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The statute requires a board-prescribed seal. The published rule does not yet prescribe an interior-designer seal design; electronic use remains unresolved during the transition.
- Handwritten signature image
- Section 327.411 gives the professional seal the force and effect of the interior designer’s signature. A separate signature is not prescribed by that provision.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No certificate requirement is prescribed for this discipline in the cited provisions.
Read the sources (4)
Board staff confirmed on November 5, 2026, that the Interior Design Council remains active pending the appointment and confirmation of the two interior-designer board members. The reply did not prescribe a certificate or settle the PDF image format.
Effective August 28, 2026, §327.411 requires licensed interior designers to seal final technical submissions and makes that seal the legal equivalent of their signature. That provision does not separately prescribe a signing date or a cryptographic certificate.
The published 20 CSR 2030-3.060 prescribes seal designs for architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects and permits computer-generated reproductions. It does not yet name interior designers or prescribe their seal design. The current Interior Design Council rules, 20 CSR 2193 Chapters 1–6, provide no separate sealing instructions. This is an implementing-rule gap, not a published prohibition on electronic signing.
In its November 5, 2026 reply, the board directed us to §327.031(9) and stated that the Interior Design Council remained active because the two interior-designer board appointments had not been made and confirmed. It also linked general digital-signature guidance, but did not expressly approve or reject an interior-designer seal image. The transition provision preserves council rules until revised, amended or repealed.
- Missouri Revised Statutes §327.411 · effective August 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Missouri board · seal and signature rules (opens in a new tab)
- Missouri Revised Statutes §327.031(9) · Interior Design Council transition (opens in a new tab)
- Missouri Code of State Regulations · Division 2193, Interior Design Council (opens in a new tab)
MontanaMT
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your architectural seal and signature electronically to the permit drawings. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- No separate signing-date requirement in ARM 24.114.402
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (1)
ARM 24.114.402 expressly accepts electronically generated seals and signatures, including on the permit set. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of this permission; the rule does not prescribe authentication technology.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal, signature and signing date electronically. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed.
Electronic filing is subject to the receiving agency’s published process under MCA 30-18-117.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (5)
ARM 24.183.511 permits digital seals and requires an original signature. Read together with MCA 30-18-102(9) and 30-18-106(4), an electronic symbol adopted to sign satisfies the signature requirement. Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of these provisions, not a separate board approval.
DEQ’s Coal and Uranium Program submittal guide gives a concrete example: apply the PE stamp and electronic signature in the native drawing, then convert to PDF. This is a program-specific example, not a universal recording-office rule.
- ARM 24.183.511 · license seal (opens in a new tab)
- Montana UETA · electronic signature definition (opens in a new tab)
- Montana UETA · electronic signature satisfies a signature requirement (opens in a new tab)
- Montana UETA · electronic filing by government agencies (opens in a new tab)
- Montana DEQ · electronic PE stamp and signature before PDF conversion, p. 9 (opens in a new tab)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the landscape drawing
Apply the landscape architect’s seal and a signature you control that the recipient can verify and that becomes invalid if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- A facsimile of the seal is allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal, signature and signing date electronically. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed.
Electronic filing is subject to the receiving agency’s published process under MCA 30-18-117.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited professional rules
Read the sources (4)
ARM 24.183.511 permits digital seals and requires an original signature. Read together with MCA 30-18-102(9) and 30-18-106(4), an electronic symbol adopted to sign satisfies the signature requirement. Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of these provisions, not a separate board approval.
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
The 2026 IIDA legislative survey lists no independent interior design permitting privilege in this state.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (3)
NebraskaNE
Architect
Signature image accepted
Use an electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, then sign across its face and add the signing date so all three marks are legible. The board permits electronic seals and signatures.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (3)
The board’s published seal guidance expressly permits electronic seals and signatures. Rule 6.1.8 addresses their use and security.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Use an electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, then sign across its face and add the signing date so all three marks are legible. The board permits electronic seals and signatures.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (3)
The board’s published seal guidance expressly permits electronic seals and signatures. Rule 6.1.8 addresses their use and security.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, signature and signing date. Sign across the face of the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (1)
Security requirements clarified by Nebraska State Board of Landscape Architects staff on November 5, 2026.
4.1 expressly addresses electronically produced seals and signatures. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of that permission; the rule does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
The general duty to safeguard the seal and signature applies to both electronic and paper methods. It is not a separate certificate requirement.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, signature and signing date. Place the signature beside or across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (1)
Chapter 6, 001 expressly addresses electronically produced seals and signatures. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of that permission; the rule does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
The general duty to safeguard the seal and signature applies to both electronic and paper methods. It is not a separate certificate requirement.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Place your seal, signature across the seal, and date on the technical submissions.
For electronic filing, use the receiving agency’s accepted submission format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (3)
Section 71-6106 requires a seal, signature and date that reproduce with copies of the drawing. Sections 86-621 and 86-634 recognize an electronic symbol adopted as a signature. Image acceptance is our reading of these provisions together, not a separate board ruling.
NevadaNV
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal, sign and date the sheets electronically
Apply a legible seal, signature and date to each sheet. The board accepts electronic marks and a reproduced signature.
The board also permits mixed methods and legible copies of originals.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- The board accepts a reproduced signature, including a rubber-stamped signature
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply both the visible marks and the digital signature
Show your seal, signature and date on the plan sheets, and use a signing certificate to digitally sign the cover or first page of your discipline’s PDF.
The visible signature on each sheet and the certificate-based signature on the file serve separate purposes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Show the signature image on each plan sheet; also digitally sign the discipline’s file
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate-based digital signature required
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Sign the landscape drawing on your computer
Apply the board stamp and your signature, signing date and registration expiration date to the front page of the final drawing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow signing date and registration expiration
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Board guidance allows a computer-generated stamp on a final original
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image across the electronic stamp and add the required dates.
- Date on the drawing
- Show signing date and registration expiration
- Digital authentication
- No certificate specified in this guidance
Read the sources (4)
The joint boards’ Blue Book expressly permits electronic seals and signatures for landscape architects. NRS 719.100 includes an electronic symbol adopted to sign a record. Our reading includes a personally applied signature image; no certificate is specified for the landscape drawing route. Do not import the separate engineer encryption requirement into this profession.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply both the visible marks and the digital signature
Show your seal, signature and date on the plan sheets, and use a signing certificate to digitally sign the cover or first page of your discipline’s PDF.
The visible signature on each sheet and the certificate-based signature on the file serve separate purposes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Show the signature image on each plan sheet; also digitally sign the discipline’s file
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate-based digital signature required
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Seal, sign and date the sheets electronically
Apply a legible seal, signature and date to each sheet. The board accepts electronic marks and a reproduced signature.
The board also permits mixed methods and legible copies of originals.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- The board accepts a reproduced signature, including a rubber-stamped signature
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for this PDF route
Read the sources (1)
New HampshireNH
Architect
Electronic signing permitted
Sign and seal the electronic drawing
Apply your professional seal, signature and date to the document issued or filed for public record.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply an electronic reproduction of the prescribed professional seal.
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image with intent to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- Date required by RSA 310-A:44 and Arch 306.02; neither requires handwriting.
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed by RSA 310-A:44, Arch 306.02 or the electronic-signature provisions.
Read the sources (3)
Statutory interpretation, not an express board approval of a seal-image format: RSA 310-A:44 requires the professional seal, signature and date. RSA 294-E:2(VIII) and :7 recognize electronic signatures and records. We read these provisions together as permitting electronic execution with the prescribed seal reproduced on the document. Arch 306.02 requires acquisition of an impression seal or rubber stamp; we do not treat that acquisition wording as an express prohibition on electronic reproduction. The rule does not expressly authorize a seal image either. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed by these provisions.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing permitted
Sign and seal the electronic drawing
Apply your professional seal, signature and date to the document issued or filed for public record.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply an electronic reproduction of the prescribed professional seal.
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image with intent to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- RSA 310-A:18 requires the date without requiring handwriting.
- Digital authentication
- The cited professional rules do not prescribe a certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Statutory interpretation, not an express board approval of a seal-image format: RSA 310-A:18 requires the professional seal, signature and date. RSA 294-E:2(VIII) and :7 recognize electronic signatures and records. We read these provisions together as permitting electronic execution with the prescribed seal reproduced on the document. Eng 308.02 requires acquisition of an impression seal or rubber stamp; we do not treat that acquisition wording as an express prohibition on electronic reproduction. The rule does not expressly authorize a seal image either. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed by these provisions.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Sign and seal the electronic drawing
Apply the landscape architect’s digital seal, your signature image and the date to the public-record document.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal expressly permitted by Lsa 305.03.
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to sign the electronic document.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date; it can be added on computer.
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the landscape architecture sealing provisions.
Read the sources (3)
Date format: the cited date requirement does not require handwriting. We read this as allowing a computer-entered date, printed onto the document where a paper original is needed. This does not change the separate signature or submission requirements.
Lsa 305.03 expressly allows a digital seal. RSA 310-A:152 requires signature and date on public-record documents. Reading these with RSA 294-E:2(VIII) and :7(IV), we treat a personally applied signature image as an electronic signature, without inventing a certificate requirement. This is a statutory interpretation; RSA 294-E:18 still permits receiving agencies to specify their electronic filing formats.
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Recording a boundary or subdivision plat
Put original signatures and dates in permanent black ink on the certifications, seals and approval blocks. Hillsborough County also specifies Mylar for plans drawn after January 1, 1988.
These are registry requirements for recording a plat. A survey report delivered privately is a different filing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Paper original requiredThe registry requires a surveyor’s seal on the original plan
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · handwritten in ink
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signature
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The registry requires a surveyor’s seal on the original plan
- Handwritten signature image
- Original signatures in permanent black ink
- Date on the drawing
- Original dates in permanent black ink
- Digital authentication
- A certificate does not replace the ink signature on this plat
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
The 2026 IIDA legislative survey lists no independent interior design permitting privilege in this state.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (2)
New JerseyNJ
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a digital signature and seal
Add your professional seal and signing date, then sign with a method that meets the NIST Digital Signature Standard, verifies your identity and detects later edits.
An image may show your signature, but it cannot by itself authenticate the electronic filing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the seal as part of the digital signing process
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature must meet the NIST Digital Signature Standard
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a digital signature and seal
Add your professional seal and signing date, then sign with a method that meets the NIST Digital Signature Standard, verifies your identity and detects later edits.
An image may show your signature, but it cannot by itself authenticate the electronic filing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the seal as part of the digital signing process
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature must meet the NIST Digital Signature Standard
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a digital signature and seal
Add your professional seal and signing date, then sign with a method that meets the NIST Digital Signature Standard, verifies your identity and detects later edits.
An image may show your signature, but it cannot by itself authenticate the electronic filing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the seal as part of the digital signing process
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature must meet the NIST Digital Signature Standard
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Apply a digital signature and seal
Add your professional seal and signing date, then sign with a method that meets the NIST Digital Signature Standard, verifies your identity and detects later edits.
An image may show your signature, but it cannot by itself authenticate the electronic filing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the seal as part of the digital signing process
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature must meet the NIST Digital Signature Standard
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
Interior design certification does not authorize its holder to seal building plans that require an architect or engineer.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (2)
New MexicoNM
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the digital permit drawing
With the client’s agreement to electronic delivery, place your seal, signing date and a verifiable digital signature on each original permit drawing. A later change must invalidate the signature.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the electronic original
With the parties’ agreement to electronic delivery, place your date and signature next to your professional seal, using a signing method under your sole control that detects changes to the file.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic seal, signature and date permitted
Sign across the landscape-architect seal
Apply your prescribed seal and sign across it. Include the date, as directed by the joint boards’ permit handbook. Electronic signing does not require a specified certificate technology.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerRequired by the joint boards’ permit guidance.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the board-authorized professional seal with your name, registration number and professional title.
- Handwritten signature image
- New Mexico’s electronic-signature rule expressly recognizes a digitized handwritten signature; sign across the professional seal.
- Date on the drawing
- The 2025 Joint Practice Committee handbook requires a date with the landscape-architect seal and signature.
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate is prescribed by the cited professional rule; the state electronic-signature rule is technology-neutral.
Read the sources (4)
The professional rule requires a signature across the seal. UETA recognizes electronic signatures, and 1.12.7.13(A)(1) expressly lists a digitized handwritten signature as an accepted form. The state rule imposes attribution and integrity controls and permits agency standards; it does not require one certificate technology. This is distinct from electronic signatures on licence applications.
NMAC 16.44.1.11(A) describes the board’s own embossed seal; subsection B describes the registrant’s seal without that physical-only wording. The date comes from the 2025 joint boards’ handbook, not the text of subsection B.
- 16.44.1.11 NMAC · landscape architecture seal (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico electronic-signature rule · 1.12.7.13, accepted signature forms (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico UETA · enacted electronic-signature recognition (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico Joint Practice Committee · 2025 building-official handbook, p.4 (opens in a new tab)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Sign the electronic original
With the parties’ agreement to electronic delivery, place your date and signature next to your professional seal, using a signing method under your sole control that detects changes to the file.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Sign across the interior-designer seal
Apply the prescribed professional seal and sign across it electronically. The cited sealing rule does not require a separate signing date or a specified certificate technology.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal in 16.42.1.12(C)(2)–(3), with the designer’s name, licence number and professional title.
- Handwritten signature image
- New Mexico’s electronic-signature rule expressly recognizes a digitized handwritten signature; sign across the professional seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate is prescribed by the cited professional rule; the state electronic-signature rule is technology-neutral.
Read the sources (3)
The professional rule requires a signature across the seal. UETA recognizes electronic signatures, and 1.12.7.13(A)(1) expressly lists a digitized handwritten signature as an accepted form. The state rule imposes attribution and integrity controls and permits agency standards; it does not require one certificate technology. This is distinct from electronic signatures on licence applications.
The embossed official seal described in (C)(1) is distinguished from the licensee’s seal authorized in (C)(2)–(3). Electronic seal acceptance is the combined reading of those professional provisions and electronic-record law, not a separate board software approval.
New YorkNY
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal and signature electronically. For building permits, include your registration expiration date.
Receiving agencies may specify their own electronic filing and signature requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerFor building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- For building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (4)
NYSED’s published practice guidance permits electronic seals and signatures. ESRA gives electronic signatures the same effect as signatures made by hand and does not require a cryptographic certificate. Signature-image acceptance follows from ESRA’s electronic-symbol definition.
NYC Buildings’ eFiling FAQ expressly permits adding the seal and signature in CAD before upload. This is a concrete municipal example, not an assertion that every New York municipality accepts the same files.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal and signature electronically. For building permits, include your registration expiration date.
Receiving agencies may specify their own electronic filing and signature requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerFor building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- For building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (3)
NYSED’s published practice guidance permits electronic seals and signatures. ESRA gives electronic signatures the same effect as signatures made by hand and does not require a cryptographic certificate. Signature-image acceptance follows from ESRA’s electronic-symbol definition.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal and signature electronically. For building permits, include your registration expiration date.
Receiving agencies may specify their own electronic filing and signature requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerFor building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- For building permits, include your registration expiration date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (3)
NYSED’s published practice guidance permits electronic seals and signatures. ESRA gives electronic signatures the same effect as signatures made by hand and does not require a cryptographic certificate. Signature-image acceptance follows from ESRA’s electronic-symbol definition.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal and signature electronically.
Receiving agencies may specify their own electronic filing and signature requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (4)
Education Law 7209 requires the surveyor’s seal and personal signature. ESRA and 9 NYCRR 540.4 allow an electronic signature in place of a handwritten signature without prescribing a certificate. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of these provisions together; recording requirements remain separate.
Interior designer
Ink signature required
Manually sign the original
Sign the original final interior design plans or specifications by hand.
The interior design statute does not identify a digital substitute for the manually signed original.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signature
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- The interior design statute prescribes a signature
- Handwritten signature image
- The statute calls for the designer’s manual signature on the original
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Does not replace the manual signature required on original final documents by Education Law 8302.
Read the sources (3)
Rechecked November 9, 2026: Education Law 8302 expressly requires manually signed original final documents. State Technology Law 304 allows electronic signatures unless another law specifically provides otherwise; the broad ESRA permission alone does not resolve this express manual-signature wording.
North CarolinaNC
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your seal and date on the drawing and apply a verifiable digital signature that becomes invalid if the document changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the whole hand-signed, dated, sealed original is allowed; an image alone does not sign a digital original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- A digital original needs verifiable signing; a scan of the properly signed original follows a separate route
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your seal and date on the drawing and apply a verifiable digital signature that becomes invalid if the document changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the whole hand-signed, dated, sealed original is allowed; an image alone does not sign a digital original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- A digital original needs verifiable signing; a scan of the properly signed original follows a separate route
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply your seal, signature and effective date. Use a digital signature that identifies you, can be verified, stays under your sole control and breaks if the file changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
For editable files sent without the digital signature, remove the seal and insert the rule’s notice that the file is uncertified.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal permitted with the signed original
- Handwritten signature image
- A pasted signature does not authenticate the electronic original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the effective date
- Digital authentication
- A digital signature is required for a sealed electronic original. A non-alterable scan of the certified document is exempt.
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your seal and date on the drawing and apply a verifiable digital signature that becomes invalid if the document changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
For a plat submitted for recording, follow the recorder’s additional filing rules.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the whole hand-signed, dated, sealed original is allowed; an image alone does not sign a digital original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- A digital original needs verifiable signing; a scan of the properly signed original follows a separate route
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your seal and date on the drawing and apply a verifiable digital signature that becomes invalid if the document changes.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image alone
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A scan of the whole hand-signed, dated, sealed original is allowed; an image alone does not sign a digital original
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- A digital original needs verifiable signing; a scan of the properly signed original follows a separate route
Read the sources (2)
North DakotaND
Architect
Wet signature required for building permits
Use a digital stamp, then sign the permit set by hand
A digital seal image is allowed. For building-permit documents, add a handwritten signature and date over the digital stamp, signature and date.
For other construction and technical documents, the rule permits either a digital or wet signature.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · handwritten in ink
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signature
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- For a building permit, sign and date by hand over the digitally signed and dated stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Add the handwritten date to the permit drawing
- Digital authentication
- A certificate does not replace the handwritten permit signature
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the original
Add your professional seal and date, then apply a signature under your sole control that verifies your identity and becomes invalid if the document changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (1)
N.D. Admin. Code 28-02.1-08-02(3) requires verifiable, tamper-evident signing for an electronic original and prohibits a facsimile signature. Under 28-02.1-08-03(9), distributed electronic reproductions may instead contain a reproduction of the original seal and signature.
Landscape architect
Wet signature required for building permits
Use a digital stamp, then sign the permit set by hand
A digital seal image is allowed. For building-permit documents, add a handwritten signature and date over the digital stamp, signature and date.
For other construction and technical documents, the rule permits either a digital or wet signature.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · handwritten in ink
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signature
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- For a building permit, sign and date by hand over the digitally signed and dated stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Add the handwritten date to the permit drawing
- Digital authentication
- A certificate does not replace the handwritten permit signature
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally sign the original
Add your professional seal and date, then apply a signature under your sole control that verifies your identity and becomes invalid if the document changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal image accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone cannot authenticate the signed PDF
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable, tamper-evident signing required; no specific crypto method named
Read the sources (1)
N.D. Admin. Code 28-02.1-08-02(3) requires verifiable, tamper-evident signing for an electronic original and prohibits a facsimile signature. Under 28-02.1-08-03(9), distributed electronic reproductions may instead contain a reproduction of the original seal and signature.
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior design permit seal
The 2026 IIDA legislative survey lists no independent interior design permitting privilege in this state.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Date on the drawing
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
- Digital authentication
- No separate permit-sealing privilege
Read the sources (2)
OhioOH
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated PDF
Apply your seal and electronic signature to the required architectural sheets, show the license expiration date, and issue a view-only file that shows and invalidates any change after signing.
The electronic signature must be verifiable and under the signer’s sole control.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Show the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated PDF
Put your seal, signature and date on the engineering drawing using a signature that only you control, that others can verify and that becomes invalid if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated PDF
Apply your seal and electronic signature to the indexed landscape plan set, place the seal over your signature on the first sheet, and issue a view-only file that shows and invalidates any change after signing.
The electronic signature must be verifiable and under the signer’s sole control.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated PDF
Put your seal, signature and date on the survey plat using a signature that only you control, that others can verify and that becomes invalid if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (3)
OklahomaOK
Architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply your seal and signature image to the drawing, and place the date across the seal.
Use the receiving office’s accepted electronic filing format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Handwrite or type the date across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited board rule
Read the sources (3)
Signature-image acceptance is our reading of board rule 55:10-11-8 together with 12A O.S. §§15-102(10) and 15-107(d): an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign can satisfy a signature requirement. The board rule expressly allows an electronic seal and date; it does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Section 15-118 allows receiving agencies to set their electronic submission requirements. This filing condition does not make the statewide electronic-signature route unconfirmed.
Professional engineer
Scanned signature and date OR authenticated digital signature
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Sign and date on paper, then scan both together and apply that image to this project’s drawings. The seal can be electronic.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image
- Accepted only with the handwritten date scanned alongside it for this project
- Date
- Required · handwritten, then scanned with the signature
- Digital authentication
- Not required
A reusable signature image with a typed date alone does not satisfy either method.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image method: scan the signature and original handwritten date together for this project.
- Date on the drawing
- A date is required in both methods: handwritten and scanned with the signature for method 1; an electronic date is allowed for method 2.
- Digital authentication
- Method 1 does not require digital authentication. Method 2 must verify the signer and detect changes to the document; the rule does not explicitly require a third-party certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply your seal and signature image to the drawing, and place the date across the seal.
Use the receiving office’s accepted electronic filing format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Handwrite or type the date across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited board rule
Read the sources (3)
Signature-image acceptance is our reading of board rule 55:10-11-8 together with 12A O.S. §§15-102(10) and 15-107(d): an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign can satisfy a signature requirement. The board rule expressly allows an electronic seal and date; it does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Section 15-118 allows receiving agencies to set their electronic submission requirements. This filing condition does not make the statewide electronic-signature route unconfirmed.
Land surveyor
Scanned signature and date OR authenticated digital signature
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Sign and date on paper, then scan both together and apply that image to this project’s drawings. The seal can be electronic.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Signature image
- Accepted only with the handwritten date scanned alongside it for this project
- Date
- Required · handwritten, then scanned with the signature
- Digital authentication
- Not required
A reusable signature image with a typed date alone does not satisfy either method.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image method: scan the signature and original handwritten date together for this project.
- Date on the drawing
- A date is required in both methods: handwritten and scanned with the signature for method 1; an electronic date is allowed for method 2.
- Digital authentication
- Method 1 does not require digital authentication. Method 2 must verify the signer and detect changes to the document; the rule does not explicitly require a third-party certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply your seal and signature image to the drawing, and place the date across the seal.
Use the receiving office’s accepted electronic filing format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Handwrite or type the date across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the cited board rule
Read the sources (4)
Signature-image acceptance is our reading of board rule 55:10-11-8 together with 12A O.S. §§15-102(10) and 15-107(d): an electronic symbol adopted with intent to sign can satisfy a signature requirement. The board rule expressly allows an electronic seal and date; it does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Section 15-118 allows receiving agencies to set their electronic submission requirements. This filing condition does not make the statewide electronic-signature route unconfirmed.
- HB1793 and Interior Designer Licensure (opens in a new tab)
- Oklahoma board rule 55:10-11-8(a) and (c), pp. 29–30 (opens in a new tab)
- Oklahoma electronic transactions law, §§ 15-102(10), 15-107(d) and 15-118 (opens in a new tab)
- Oklahoma City permit upload standards (no signature format specified) (opens in a new tab)
OregonOR
Architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Permanently affix a scan of your own handwriting across your architectural stamp on each permit or construction sheet and the specifications title page.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
In either case, the signature must be personally applied, unique to you, independently verifiable and under your exclusive control.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Personally affix a verifiable scan across your stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Certificate-signed electronic original
Sign the final engineering drawing using a certificate verifiable through an independent certificate authority, put “Digitally Signed” in the seal’s signature space, and include the registration and renewal or expiration dates.
The signature must be linked to the final electronic file and must invalidate if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- AcceptedInclude “digitally signed” in the seal’s signature position.
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerInclude the registration date. Put the expiration or renewal date in the seal; otherwise it must be handwritten in permanent ink.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal must read “Digitally Signed”
- Handwritten signature image
- The seal displays “Digitally Signed” in the signature space
- Date on the drawing
- Registration date and expiration or renewal date on seal
- Digital authentication
- Independent third-party certificate authority required
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place a scan of your original handwritten signature across your landscape architect’s stamp and add the registration expiration date.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerRegistration expiration date required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
The signature must be verifiable, uniquely yours and under your control. A stamp alone is allowed on preliminary review drafts.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- A verifiable scan across the stamp is allowed
- Date on the drawing
- Registration expiration date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Certificate-signed electronic original
Sign the final survey using a certificate verifiable through an independent certificate authority, put “Digitally Signed” in the seal’s signature space, and include the registration and renewal or expiration dates.
The signature must be linked to the final electronic file and must invalidate if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- AcceptedInclude “digitally signed” in the seal’s signature position.
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerInclude the registration date. Put the expiration or renewal date in the seal; otherwise it must be handwritten in permanent ink.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal must read “Digitally Signed”
- Handwritten signature image
- The seal displays “Digitally Signed” in the signature space
- Date on the drawing
- Registration date and expiration or renewal date on seal
- Digital authentication
- Independent third-party certificate authority required
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
PennsylvaniaPA
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated seal and signature
Use a digital seal and a digital signature on the final architectural documents. Both must identify you, be verifiable, remain under your sole control and invalidate if the file changes.
Show the date of issuance on the first page.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal must itself be authenticated
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Show issuance date on the first page
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated seal and signature
Use a digital seal and a digital signature on the final engineering documents. Both must identify you, be verifiable, remain under your sole control and invalidate if the file changes.
Show the date of issuance on the first page.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal must itself be authenticated
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Show issuance date on the first page
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated seal and signature
Use a digital seal and a digital signature on the final landscape documents. Both must identify you, be verifiable, remain under your sole control and invalidate if the file changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal must itself be authenticated
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticated seal and signature
Use a digital seal and a digital signature on the final survey documents. Both must identify you, be verifiable, remain under your sole control and invalidate if the file changes.
Show the date of issuance on the first page.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Authentication required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal must itself be authenticated
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Show issuance date on the first page
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signature and date permitted
Sign the interior-design document
Sign and date the title block and include your certification number. A separate seal or cryptographic certificate is not required by the cited provisions.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the certification number in the title block, subject to the statutory architect-supervision exception; no seal is prescribed.
- Handwritten signature image
- Act 69 §303(d) recognizes an electronic signature for a legal signature requirement.
- Date on the drawing
- Section 704 requires the signing date without requiring handwriting.
- Digital authentication
- The interior-design rule and electronic-transactions statute do not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (2)
Section 704 supplies the professional signature, date and certification-number requirements. Act 69 §§103 and 303 recognize an electronic symbol adopted to sign a document. Image acceptance is our combined reading of these provisions; §502 leaves government submission formats to the receiving agency and does not impose a statewide certificate requirement.
Rhode IslandRI
Architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic signature
Place your electronic signature across the architect’s seal and the date below the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Architect’s seal may be submitted electronically
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Date below the seal; electronic dating allowed
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (1)
415-RICR-00-00-1, § 1.7(A)(3), expressly permits electronic signature and dating.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Seal and sign the electronic drawing
For a government agency that accepts electronic plans, seal, sign and date the drawing and encode the electronic signature and seal to prevent unauthorized use.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Section 1.3.1(E)(3) permits electronic seals for agencies accepting electronic submissions.
- Handwritten signature image
- Protect the electronic signature against unauthorized use
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- No signing certificate specified; the rule requires protection against unauthorized use.
Read the sources (1)
The map reports the state professional rule: section 1.3.1(E)(3) expressly allows electronic seals and signatures and requires protection against unauthorized use. Agency acceptance of electronic submissions is a filing condition, not uncertainty about the board’s permission. No third-party certificate is specified.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic signature
Apply the landscape architect’s stamp, sign it electronically and date it on the permit drawing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image to the electronic seal and add the date.
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- No certificate required by the landscape architecture sealing rule.
Read the sources (2)
420-RICR-00-00-1.9(B) expressly permits an electronic seal and signature and requires a date. Section 42-127.1-2(8) includes an electronic symbol adopted to sign a record. Our reading includes a personally applied signature image; no cryptographic certificate is specified. The October 2026 amendment retains the same sealing provision.
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Original ink signature
Imprint the prescribed surveyor’s seal, sign your name by hand in ink across it and put the date below it.
The surveyors’ rule expressly prohibits electronic signing and dating.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Paper original requiredImprint the prescribed surveyor’s seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · handwritten in ink
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the handwritten signature
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Imprint the prescribed surveyor’s seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign across the seal in ink
- Date on the drawing
- Date below the seal; electronic dating prohibited
- Digital authentication
- Cannot replace the required ink signature
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
No state interior-design permit seal identified
Proposed interior-design seal
The 2026 House and Senate bills proposed a permit seal for registered interior designers. Neither appears in the legislature’s 2026 public laws. The proposed seal is unavailable under those bills.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No state interior-design permit seal identified
- Handwritten signature image
- No state interior-design permit seal identified
- Date on the drawing
- No state interior-design permit seal identified
- Digital authentication
- No state interior-design permit seal identified
Read the sources (6)
- CIDQ legislative map for interior design registration and permitting (opens in a new tab)
- 2026 -- H 7842 (opens in a new tab)
- RI professional licensing rules (opens in a new tab)
- CIDQ 2026 legislative update, proposed frameworks (opens in a new tab)
- Rhode Island 2026 enacted laws by bill number (opens in a new tab)
- Rhode Island General Laws · regulated professions (opens in a new tab)
South CarolinaSC
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Apply a legible architect’s seal, signature and date under your direct control, using an electronic signature that uniquely identifies you and can be verified.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign with a unique, verifiable identifier you control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, signature and date through the agreed electronic filing process.
Use a secure e-filing/e-recording agreement with the receiving authority, or a written electronic-transactions agreement with the recipient.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (2)
The engineering/surveying board’s July 2023 guidance expressly applies UETA to electronic signatures in place of personal signatures. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of that guidance and the electronic-symbol definition in §26-6-20.
Regulation 49-207C(5) requires removal of the electronic seal outside a secure e-filing/e-recording submitter agreement or a written agreement with the other party. The board’s electronic route is therefore conditional on that agreement, not a blanket permission to email certified PDFs.
The professional board does not impose a statewide cryptographic certificate requirement in this guidance. A receiving agency may prescribe a particular method under §26-6-180.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal and signature to the final landscape architectural documents.
For electronic filing, use the receiving agency’s accepted submission format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by Regulation 76-4
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (2)
Regulation 76-4 expressly covers seals on electronic documents and requires the responsible landscape architect’s signature. Image-signature acceptance is our reading of that rule with UETA §§26-6-20 and 26-6-80. No cryptographic certificate is prescribed by those provisions.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal, signature and date through the agreed electronic filing process.
Use a secure e-filing/e-recording agreement with the receiving authority, or a written electronic-transactions agreement with the recipient.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the signing date
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (2)
The engineering/surveying board’s July 2023 guidance expressly applies UETA to electronic signatures in place of personal signatures. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of that guidance and the electronic-symbol definition in §26-6-20.
Regulation 49-207C(5) requires removal of the electronic seal outside a secure e-filing/e-recording submitter agreement or a written agreement with the other party. The board’s electronic route is therefore conditional on that agreement, not a blanket permission to email certified PDFs.
The professional board does not impose a statewide cryptographic certificate requirement in this guidance. A receiving agency may prescribe a particular method under §26-6-180.
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
The proposal to create a state interior-design registration was referred to committee. It provides no authority to stamp a permit drawing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
South DakotaSD
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed original
Apply your seal, signature and date to the final architectural sheet. The digital signature must be uniquely yours, verifiable, under your sole control and invalidated by later changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed original
Apply your seal, signature and date to the final engineering drawing. The digital signature must be uniquely yours, verifiable, under your sole control and invalidated by later changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed original
Apply your seal, signature and date to the final landscape plan. The digital signature must be uniquely yours, verifiable, under your sole control and invalidated by later changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed original
Apply your seal, signature and date to the final survey plat. The digital signature must be uniquely yours, verifiable, under your sole control and invalidated by later changes.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
TennesseeTN
Architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your electronic signature and date across or beside your seal on the architectural construction drawing.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Apply the signature and date separately from the seal, across or beside it. Do not build them into the seal image.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically, separately from the seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Secure digital signing is an alternative to an electronic signature
Read the sources (2)
Rule 0120-02-.08(8) permits electronically generated seals, signatures and dates. Treating a personally applied signature image as an electronically generated signature is our reading of this permission; the rule does not require a certificate for that route. Its separate digital-signature route requires verifiability, sole control and invalidation on document changes.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your electronic signature and date across or beside your seal on the engineering drawing.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Apply the signature and date separately from the seal, across or beside it. Do not build them into the seal image.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically, separately from the seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Secure digital signing is an alternative to an electronic signature
Read the sources (2)
Rule 0120-02-.08(8) permits electronically generated seals, signatures and dates. Treating a personally applied signature image as an electronically generated signature is our reading of this permission; the rule does not require a certificate for that route. Its separate digital-signature route requires verifiability, sole control and invalidation on document changes.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place your electronic signature and date across or beside your seal on the landscape construction drawing.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Apply the signature and date separately from the seal, across or beside it. Do not build them into the seal image.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically, separately from the seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Secure digital signing is an alternative to an electronic signature
Read the sources (2)
Rule 0120-02-.08(8) permits electronically generated seals, signatures and dates. Treating a personally applied signature image as an electronically generated signature is our reading of this permission; the rule does not require a certificate for that route. Its separate digital-signature route requires verifiability, sole control and invalidation on document changes.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Digitally signed survey
Apply the surveyor’s seal, date and digital signature to the electronic plat. The signature must identify you, remain under your control and invalidate on later changes.
A computer-generated seal paired with handwriting on an original drawing is a separate paper method.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- An image alone does not satisfy the digital-signature route
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Title registration
Tennessee registration allows the title “registered interior designer” and does not confer an official professional seal.
Plans requiring an architect’s or engineer’s seal still require that professional.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
TexasTX
Architect
Signature image accepted under the board rule
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply the responsible professional’s seal, signature and date electronically to the architectural drawings.
The board lets you choose how to place your seal, signature and signing date. That permits you to place your own signature image on the PDF. Keep all three legible on copies and leave your name and registration number visible.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- You may choose how to apply your signature
- Date on the drawing
- May be applied electronically
- Digital authentication
- The board rule specifies no certificate
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply your electronic seal, signature and date to the engineering drawing. The board expressly includes a scan of your handwritten signature.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Board definition expressly includes a scan of handwriting
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted under the board rule
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply the responsible professional’s seal, signature and date electronically to the landscape drawings.
The board lets you choose how to place your seal, signature and signing date. That permits you to place your own signature image on the PDF. Keep all three legible on copies and leave your name and registration number visible.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- You may choose how to apply your signature
- Date on the drawing
- May be applied electronically
- Digital authentication
- The board rule specifies no certificate
Read the sources (3)
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply your electronic seal, signature and date to the survey. The board expressly includes a scan of your handwritten signature.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Board definition expressly includes a scan of handwriting
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Signature image accepted under the board rule
Electronic seal, signature and date
Apply the responsible professional’s seal, signature and date electronically to the registered interior-design drawings.
The board lets you choose how to place your seal, signature and signing date. That permits you to place your own signature image on the PDF. Keep all three legible on copies and leave your name and registration number visible.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- You may choose how to apply your signature
- Date on the drawing
- May be applied electronically
- Digital authentication
- The board rule specifies no certificate
Read the sources (3)
UtahUT
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to the final architectural submission.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic professional seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Date required; typed date allowed
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the professional rule
Read the sources (2)
Clarified by Utah Division of Professional Licensing staff on November 5, 2026. General guidance, not a binding ruling.
Utah’s electronic-transactions law applies where the parties agree to electronic transactions. The receiving office may prescribe its own submission format.
The licensing rules require adequate security for electronic seals and signatures. DOPL leaves the security method to the professional and does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to the final engineering documents. Place the signature and date across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic professional seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Date required; typed date allowed, across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the professional rule
Read the sources (2)
Clarified by Utah Division of Professional Licensing staff on November 5, 2026. General guidance, not a binding ruling.
Utah’s electronic-transactions law applies where the parties agree to electronic transactions. The receiving office may prescribe its own submission format.
The licensing rules require adequate security for electronic seals and signatures. DOPL leaves the security method to the professional and does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to the final site plans. Place the signature and date across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic professional seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Date required; typed date allowed, across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the professional rule
Read the sources (2)
Clarified by Utah Division of Professional Licensing staff on November 5, 2026. General guidance, not a binding ruling.
Utah’s electronic-transactions law applies where the parties agree to electronic transactions. The receiving office may prescribe its own submission format.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Seal + signature image + date
Apply your professional seal, signature image and date to the final survey documents. Place the signature and date across the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic professional seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Date required; typed date allowed, across the seal
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by the professional rule
Read the sources (2)
Clarified by Utah Division of Professional Licensing staff on November 5, 2026. General guidance, not a binding ruling.
Utah’s electronic-transactions law applies where the parties agree to electronic transactions. The receiving office may prescribe its own submission format.
The licensing rules require adequate security for electronic seals and signatures. DOPL leaves the security method to the professional and does not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Signature image + certification number
Sign the final commercial interior plans or specifications and show your Utah certification number. A separate professional seal and signing date are not prescribed by this provision.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate seal required; show your state certification number
- Handwritten signature image
- Signature image accepted under Utah’s electronic-signature law
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by this professional provision
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate required by this professional provision
Read the sources (2)
Utah DOPL referred us to 58-86-401 on November 5, 2026: signature and state certification number required. Signature-image acceptance is our reading of that provision together with Utah’s electronic-signature law; the reply did not separately confirm the image format.
Utah’s electronic-transactions law applies where the parties agree to electronic transactions. The receiving office may prescribe its own submission format.
VermontVT
Architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your professional seal to plans and specifications. Sign the permit set where the submission requires it.
Electronic signing does not replace the receiving office’s required submission format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing provisions
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (5)
Signature-image acceptance for an agreed electronic transaction is our reading of the professional sealing provisions together with 9 V.S.A. §§271(9), 274 and 276. Those provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
- Adminstrative Rules for Architects (opens in a new tab)
- 26 V.S.A. § 208 (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont Department of Public Safety, Fire and Building Safety Code, construction documents (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont electronic-transactions law · §§271, 274 and 276 (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont construction permit · paper and electronic submission (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Electronic signature and seal
Apply the responsible engineer’s electronic seal and signature to the final engineering document and control their use.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (1)
Professional Engineer Rule 2.7(a) expressly accepts manual or electronic forms of the seal and signature.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your professional seal to the plans and specifications. An electronic signature can be added when required for the submission.
Electronic signing does not replace the receiving office’s required submission format.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Not separately required by the cited sealing provisions
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (2)
Signature-image acceptance for an agreed electronic transaction is our reading of the professional sealing provisions together with 9 V.S.A. §§271(9), 274 and 276. Those provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
Apply your seal and signature to the survey certification. Show the plat’s compilation date.
Town-recorded plats still require the physical materials specified in §1403. The PDF sent to VCGI is an additional copy, not the official recorded plat.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Apply the professional seal image
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Show the date of compilation on the plat
- Digital authentication
- No statewide certificate requirement in the cited rules
Read the sources (6)
Signature-image acceptance for an agreed electronic transaction is our reading of the professional sealing provisions together with 9 V.S.A. §§271(9), 274 and 276. Those provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic certificate.
27 V.S.A. §§1401 and 1403 distinguish the town’s official plat from the digital PDF copy. Section 1403 specifies polyester film or linen for recording and permits certified reproductions; this entry does not describe a PDF-only recording route.
- 26 V.S.A. § 2596 (opens in a new tab)
- Adminstrative Rules for Land Surveyors (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont §1401 · official plat and digital copy (opens in a new tab)
- Survey board · wording for the unofficial copy (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont electronic-transactions law · §§271, 274 and 276 (opens in a new tab)
- 27 V.S.A. §1403 · recording materials and PDF copies (opens in a new tab)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
VirginiaVA
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Seal, sign and date the final architectural sheets you are responsible for. Your electronic signature must uniquely identify you, be verifiable and remain under your direct control.
Clearly marked preliminary documents are exempt from sealing, signing and dating under this rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Must be uniquely yours, verifiable and under your control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Seal, sign and date the final engineering drawings you are responsible for. Your electronic signature must uniquely identify you, be verifiable and remain under your direct control.
Clearly marked preliminary documents are exempt from sealing, signing and dating under this rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Must be uniquely yours, verifiable and under your control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Seal, sign and date the final landscape sheets you are responsible for. Your electronic signature must uniquely identify you, be verifiable and remain under your direct control.
Clearly marked preliminary documents are exempt from sealing, signing and dating under this rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Must be uniquely yours, verifiable and under your control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Seal, sign and date the final plat sheets you are responsible for. Your electronic signature must uniquely identify you, be verifiable and remain under your direct control.
Clearly marked preliminary documents are exempt from sealing, signing and dating under this rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Must be uniquely yours, verifiable and under your control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Verifiable electronic signature
Seal, sign and date the final certified interior-design sheets you are responsible for. Your electronic signature must uniquely identify you, be verifiable and remain under your direct control.
Clearly marked preliminary documents are exempt from sealing, signing and dating under this rule.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Must be uniquely yours, verifiable and under your control
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Verifiable signing required; no particular certificate specified
Read the sources (1)
WashingtonWA
Architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Permanently affix a scan of your original handwritten signature across the architect’s stamp.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
The architect or a designee acting under the architect’s direction may apply the scan.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Permanently affix the scan across the stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Not required by the cited sealing rule
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Permanently affix a scan of your original handwritten signature directly over the engineering seal. Include the signing date.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
The licensee must personally apply the scanned signature.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Personally affix the scan permanently over the seal
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Permanently affix a scan of your original handwritten signature next to the landscape architect’s stamp. Include your license expiration date.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerShow the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
The licensee must personally apply the scanned signature.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Personally affix the scan permanently next to the stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Show the license expiration date
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Permanently affix a scan of your original handwritten signature directly over the surveyor’s seal. Include the signing date.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
The licensee must personally apply the scanned signature.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Personally affix the scan permanently over the seal
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
Washington’s proposed interior-design credential reached a committee hearing. The legislative history does not establish an enacted permit-signing route.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (3)
West VirginiaWV
Architect
Signature image accepted
Converted PDF with scanned signature
Convert the native drawing to a PDF that is not easily altered, then place an accurate scan of your handwritten signature and the date across and beyond your seal.
For editable native files such as Revit drawings, use a verifiable digital signature that you alone control and that invalidates on a change.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Allowed on a PDF converted so it is not easily altered
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (2)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing permitted
Seal and sign electronically
Apply your professional seal, sign electronically and include the signing date. A copied handwritten signature alone is not accepted.
The board permits electronic signatures; the statute prohibits facsimile signatures.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- State law expressly rejects a facsimile signature
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required; may be added electronically
- Digital authentication
- No certificate requirement stated in the cited signing provisions
Read the sources (4)
The boards’ current Professional Use of Seals brochure expressly permits electronic seals, signatures and dates. The older brochure also allowed electronic signatures for engineers while rejecting facsimile signatures. We therefore distinguish electronically signing the document from merely inserting a copied handwritten signature; the statute’s facsimile restriction is not treated as an ink-only requirement.
The cited engineering rule permits electronic seals and requires a signature and date. The reviewed provisions do not expressly require a cryptographic certificate. The brochure is currently linked by both boards and listed by the PE board as FY2027; the printed 7/1/27 is not identified as a rule effective date.
- West Virginia boards · Professional Use of Seals, electronic signatures and dates (opens in a new tab)
- West Virginia Code §30-13-16(c) · facsimile signature restriction (opens in a new tab)
- West Virginia engineering board · current publications (opens in a new tab)
- West Virginia engineering rule §7-1-7 · professional seals (opens in a new tab)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Board-approved digital signature
Seal and date the final landscape documents and sign them through a board-approved electronic authentication process that verifies the signer and invalidates the signature on a change.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Reproducible facsimile of the seal allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone does not authenticate the file
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Use a board-approved digital authentication process
Read the sources (2)
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Original handwriting on a certified survey
Apply the surveyor’s seal and sign the certified survey by hand. A digital seal may be used on a final original plat when accompanied by the required handwriting.
Write the date below the seal. For an electronic copy of a certified survey, remove the digital seal and replace the signature and date with the board’s prescribed notice identifying the signed original.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · handwritten in ink
- Digital authentication
- Not accepted
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital seal allowed on final original with handwriting
- Handwritten signature image
- Certified surveys require original handwriting
- Date on the drawing
- Write the date below the seal on the original
- Digital authentication
- Digital signatures forbidden on certified surveys
Read the sources (1)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
WisconsinWI
Architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
For publicly filed architectural drawings, digitally place your registration seal and an electronic signature containing your name and the date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital placement expressly allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signer’s name and date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 expressly permits a digitally placed seal and an electronic signature containing the credential holder’s name and date.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
For publicly filed engineering drawings, digitally place your registration seal and an electronic signature containing your name and the date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital placement expressly allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signer’s name and date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 expressly permits a digitally placed seal and an electronic signature containing the credential holder’s name and date.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
For publicly filed landscape plans, digitally place your registration seal and an electronic signature containing your name and the date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital placement expressly allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signer’s name and date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 expressly permits a digitally placed seal and an electronic signature containing the credential holder’s name and date.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
For publicly filed survey documents, digitally place your registration seal and an electronic signature containing your name and the date.
Specific plat statutes prevail if they prescribe a different standard.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital placement expressly allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signer’s name and date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 expressly permits a digitally placed seal and an electronic signature containing the credential holder’s name and date.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
Interior designer
Signature image accepted
Electronic seal and signature
For publicly filed registered interior-design plans, digitally place your registration seal and an electronic signature containing your name and the date.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Digital placement expressly allowed
- Handwritten signature image
- Apply your signature image electronically
- Date on the drawing
- Include the signer’s name and date
- Digital authentication
- No cryptographic certificate prescribed
Read the sources (2)
A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 expressly permits a digitally placed seal and an electronic signature containing the credential holder’s name and date.
Signature-image acceptance is our interpretation of the published permission to apply signatures electronically.
WyomingWY
Architect
Signature image accepted
Seal, signature and date on the PDF
Apply your seal and handwritten signature image to the drawing, with your signature and signing date across the face of the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted under our reading of the digital-signature rule
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- The board’s rules do not specify a digital certificate.
Read the sources (4)
Signature-image acceptance is our reading of Chapter 9, Section 3(b), which accepts digital seals and signatures. Board staff referred us to this provision on November 9, 2026, in response to our specific question about applying a handwritten signature image and date to a PDF. Staff had stated on November 6 that the rules do not mention certificate-based signatures. The reply referred to the rule without separately approving the image format.
Professional engineer
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place the seal, a scan of your original handwritten signature and the signing date on the electronic engineering document.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Dated scan expressly permitted
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (3)
Landscape architect
Signature image accepted
Seal, signature and date on the PDF
Apply your seal and handwritten signature image to the drawing, with your signature and signing date across the face of the seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted under our reading of the digital-signature rule
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- The board’s rules do not specify a digital certificate.
Read the sources (4)
Signature-image acceptance is our reading of Chapter 9, Section 3(b), which accepts digital seals and signatures. Board staff referred us to this provision on November 9, 2026, in response to our specific question about applying a handwritten signature image and date to a PDF. Staff had stated on November 6 that the rules do not mention certificate-based signatures. The reply referred to the rule without separately approving the image format.
Land surveyor
Signature image accepted
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Place the seal, a scan of your original handwritten signature and the signing date on the electronic survey.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Electronic seal accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Dated scan expressly permitted
- Date on the drawing
- Signing date required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the permitted image route
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Not applicable
No separate interior-design permit seal
No independent permit-signing authority for interior designers was identified in the state’s professional registration framework.
Sheets requiring architectural or engineering services follow the rules for the professional responsible for that work.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Date on the drawing
- No separate interior-design permit seal
- Digital authentication
- No separate interior-design permit seal
Read the sources (2)
Canada
AlbertaAB
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing a sealed PDF
When issuing a sealed drawing electronically, apply your AAA seal and sign the file with the AAA-approved Notarius certificate. For a paper original, seal, sign and date the sheet by hand.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- AAA-approved certificate required
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the engineering original
The digital original needs an image of your stamp, your handwritten signature across it, the date you authenticate it, and your APEGA digital signature. Place your APEGA ID on the drawing if it is missing from the stamp.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Required with the stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Required; date image accepted
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sending a sealed drawing
If you send a drawing electronically with your AALA stamp on it, sign the file with your AALA digital certificate. This also applies when you scanned a stamped paper drawing.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Real Property Reports can be signed electronically
Real Property Report
Include the applicable permit stamp, report dates and your electronic signature. ALSA expressly accepts a digital representation of your signature.
Land-title registration follows a separate filing procedure; this answer covers Real Property Reports.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- AcceptedPermit stamp, where applicable.
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Include the permit stamp where applicable under ALSA §6.9.
- Handwritten signature image
- The 2026 ALSA glossary includes a digital representation of the practitioner’s signature.
- Date on the drawing
- Include the survey date, title-search date and report date in the §6.10 report form.
- Digital authentication
- An ordinary electronic signature is an accepted alternative for this RPR route.
Read the sources (3)
The 2026 manual expressly permits ink or digital signatures on original Real Property Reports. Its glossary includes either a digital signature image or an authenticated digital signature. This does not remove the distinct Land Titles Act §§56.2–56.21 submission and authentication rules for plans filed with the Registrar.
Interior designer
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing a sealed PDF
For work you can seal as a licensed interior designer, apply your AAA seal and sign each electronic original with the AAA-approved Notarius certificate. You can also issue a paper original signed, sealed and dated by hand.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- AAA-approved certificate required
Read the sources (4)
British ColumbiaBC
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing a sealed architectural PDF
Place your architect’s seal on the drawing and sign the electronic original with an AIBC-approved digital certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the AIBC seal file
- Handwritten signature image
- Add your signature to the seal file
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing an electronic original
For an electronic original, apply the seal, signature and date images, then sign the file with your approved digital certificate. A scan of a signed paper original is a copy.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Required with the stamp
- Date on the drawing
- Required; date image accepted
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing a sealed landscape plan
When issuing a sealed drawing electronically, include your seal and sign and date the drawing using the BCSLA digital seal.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Registering an electronic land-title plan
For an electronic land title plan, sign the Survey Plan Certification in SurveyHub with your Juricert digital certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verified
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Unconfirmed
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Juricert certificate required
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Not applicable
Interior designer membership
Membership in the Interior Designers Institute of BC does not give a designer a provincial permit seal. Check who can sign for the building and work proposed.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Does not apply
- Handwritten signature image
- Does not apply
- Date on the drawing
- Does not apply
- Digital authentication
- Does not apply
Read the sources (1)
ManitobaMB
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing a sealed architectural PDF
When issuing a sealed architectural drawing electronically, use your Manitoba Association of Architects seal and sign the file with your MAA Notarius certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- MAA Notarius certificate required
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing an electronic engineering original
To issue an electronic original, show your engineering seal and sign with a certificate from a provider approved by Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. The regulator lists Notarius as its approved provider.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (2)
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Finalizing the landscape plan
Use your MALA digital seal to sign a landscape drawing that you finalize electronically. A picture of the stamp alone will not authenticate the file.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Permitted with the digital seal
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Submitting through Teranet
Sign the physical survey plan. For Teranet’s electronic intake, upload the checklist and a scan of the signature area. Keep the signed paper plan for delivery when requested.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Paper original requiredOriginal seal on the physical plan
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Original seal on the physical plan
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign the paper original by hand
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Paper-original route
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
Identify the designer by name, stamp or mark
Identify the responsible designer
Identify the designer responsible for the work by name, distinctive stamp or mark. A stamp is one option; the professional rule does not require a separate signature, signing date or certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- OptionalA name or distinctive mark is also allowed.
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- M.R. 91/91 §4 allows the member’s name, distinctive stamp or mark. A professional stamp is not the only identification method.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate signature or signing date is prescribed by M.R. 91/91 §4.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate signature or signing date is prescribed by M.R. 91/91 §4.
- Digital authentication
- The attribution rule does not prescribe a signing certificate.
Read the sources (2)
Section 4 is an attribution rule: name OR distinctive stamp OR mark, where applicable. It does not mandate all three, a separate signature or a signing certificate. The map describes that professional requirement, not an exemption from project-specific permit requirements.
New BrunswickNB
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Sending a sealed architectural drawing
For a sealed drawing sent electronically, apply your Certificate of Practice seal, date it and sign with the association’s digital certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- AANB digital certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Issuing the electronic original
To issue a final engineering drawing electronically, apply your professional seal and sign the original file with a digital certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Digital signing certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
APALA’s published bylaws require full members’ stamp on drawings bearing their signature. This is an association obligation, not a separate provincial professional sealing regime.
The provincial map does not treat association membership as a statutory permit-signing licence.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (4)
APALA’s published bylaws §10.2.2 describe the member stamp. The public PDF includes proposed-change material, so it is not used here as evidence of a newly enacted provincial law. The province’s professional-licensing classification is separate from APALA member duties and any project-specific requirement to use a qualified designer.
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Submitting an eligible scanned plan
For eligible plan types, surveyors with a Service New Brunswick submission agreement may sign the paper plan and send a scan. This route starts with a signed original.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted as a scan of a signed original
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Scan of sealed paper plan
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign paper before scanning
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Paper-original route
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
Electronic signing permitted
Sign and stamp electronically
Apply your registered stamp, signature and approval date, and identify the submission as an interior-design document. Register a copy of your electronic or physical stamp with the Registrar annually.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- April 2026 bylaws §2.1.2 expressly recognize an electronic or physical stamp and require registration of a copy with the Registrar annually.
- Handwritten signature image
- Electronic Transactions Act §11(2)(a) expressly recognizes an electronic representation of a manual signature.
- Date on the drawing
- April 2026 bylaws §2.1.2 require the approval date. No handwritten-ink requirement is prescribed; the date can be added electronically.
- Digital authentication
- The April 2026 bylaws and Electronic Transactions Act §11 do not prescribe a cryptographic signing certificate.
Read the sources (3)
The April 2026 bylaws were downloaded from the association’s current governance page and reviewed on November 13, 2026, resolving the earlier download-access gap. Section 2.1.2, printed page 6, requires the registered member’s signature, stamp and approval date on technical submissions and expressly recognizes electronic or physical stamps. A copy of the stamp must be registered with the Registrar annually; submissions must be identified as interior-design documents.
New Brunswick Electronic Transactions Act §11(1) recognizes electronic signatures and §11(2)(a) expressly includes an electronic representation of a manual signature. Read with the bylaws, a personally applied signature image may accompany the electronic stamp and computer-entered approval date. Neither cited provision prescribes a cryptographic certificate.
Newfoundland and LabradorNL
Architect
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Sign and seal the document
Apply the architect’s seal and your electronic signature to the issued drawings. Include your licence expiry date in the stamp.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerLicence expiry date in the stamp.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal prescribed for this document; electronic records and equivalent electronic forms are recognized by the provincial Electronic Commerce Act.
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act recognizes an electronic signature. Ordinary signature or original-document wording does not itself require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- Architects Regulations §6 requires the licence-expiry date in the stamp, not a separate signing date.
- Digital authentication
- The cited provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic signing certificate.
Read the sources (4)
Electronic signing is based on the professional duty read with the Electronic Commerce Act: NL §§2(c), 4(3), 10–12; NS §§2(b), 3(8), 11–12. These provisions recognize electronic signatures and originals without a specified certificate. They do not erase a specific professional format or registry rule.
- NLR 105/10 - Architects Regulations under the Architects Act, 2008 (opens in a new tab)
- ARCHITECTS LICENSING BOARD OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR (opens in a new tab)
- Newfoundland and Labrador · Architects Act, section 37 (opens in a new tab)
- NL Electronic Commerce Act · signatures and electronic originals (opens in a new tab)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Signing an electronic original
For a final engineering drawing issued electronically, sign with your PEGNL digital seal or an alternative credential approved under PEGNL’s rules.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Permitted with a digital seal
- Date on the drawing
- Required; date image accepted
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
APALA’s published bylaws require full members’ stamp on drawings bearing their signature. This is an association obligation, not a separate provincial professional sealing regime.
The provincial map does not treat association membership as a statutory permit-signing licence.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (4)
APALA’s published bylaws §10.2.2 describe the member stamp. The public PDF includes proposed-change material, so it is not used here as evidence of a newly enacted provincial law. The province’s professional-licensing classification is separate from APALA member duties and any project-specific requirement to use a qualified designer.
Land surveyor
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Real Property Report
Apply the surveyor’s seal or digital stamp and your electronic signature to the Real Property Report.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal prescribed for this document; electronic records and equivalent electronic forms are recognized by the provincial Electronic Commerce Act.
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act recognizes an electronic signature. Ordinary signature or original-document wording does not itself require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- The ANLS public RPR guidance does not establish the complete report-date standard; that specific detail still needs the applicable practice standard.
- Digital authentication
- The cited provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic signing certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Electronic signing is based on the professional duty read with the Electronic Commerce Act: NL §§2(c), 4(3), 10–12; NS §§2(b), 3(8), 11–12. These provisions recognize electronic signatures and originals without a specified certificate. They do not erase a specific professional format or registry rule.
Interior designer
No provincial interior-designer sealing regime
Voluntary professional membership
IDNL membership is voluntary. It does not establish a provincial interior-designer seal-and-signature requirement.
Project and building-authority requirements remain separate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- IDNL states that membership is voluntary and is not a legal condition for practising interior design.
- Handwritten signature image
- IDNL states that membership is voluntary and is not a legal condition for practising interior design.
- Date on the drawing
- IDNL states that membership is voluntary and is not a legal condition for practising interior design.
- Digital authentication
- IDNL states that membership is voluntary and is not a legal condition for practising interior design.
Read the sources (1)
IDNL’s governance page explicitly states that there is no legal obligation to join or meet its membership standards and advocates future title/practice legislation. A missing statutory sealing route is not an unresolved certificate requirement.
Nova ScotiaNS
Architect
Electronic signing · authorized seal format required
Use the council-authorized electronic seal
Sign the technical submission electronically and use an electronic-format seal authorized by council. The seal authorization is a separate requirement from the signature.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Approved format requiredUse the council-authorized electronic seal.
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Architects Regulations §19 allows council to authorize electronic-format seals.
- Handwritten signature image
- Electronic Commerce Act §11 recognizes an electronic signature; ordinary signature wording does not require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate signing date is prescribed in the cited architectural sealing provisions.
- Digital authentication
- No mandatory signing certificate is prescribed by the cited provisions.
Read the sources (4)
Architects Regulations §19 expressly preserves council authorization for electronic seals; §20 separately concerns facsimiles for photocopies. The electronic-signature conclusion follows the Electronic Commerce Act, not the bylaw clause governing signatures on association-administration documents.
Review of the publicly posted October 2022 bylaws did not locate the council-prescribed electronic seal format. Section 19 authorizes council to approve that format; it is not blanket permission to reproduce any seal. The map therefore retains the authorized-format condition. No certificate mandate was identified in these provisions.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Signing an electronic original
Apply the Engineers Nova Scotia stamp, an image of your handwritten signature and the date, then digitally sign the file with a certificate. A signature image alone does not authenticate an electronic original.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Digital signing certificate required
Read the sources (2)
The current guideline index still links the council-endorsed July 2019 guideline. Sections 4.1 and 4.5.1 require digital signing for electronic work products; the visible stamp, signature and date do not replace authentication. This is professional guidance, not a claim that the Act names a certificate provider.
Section 2.3 allows a qualifying certificate provider or another trusted provider, using a secured PDF as its example. Appendix B describes certificate-authority best practices. No exclusive provider is asserted here. The 2025 consultation draft and British Columbia guideline are not used as governing Nova Scotia sources.
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
APALA’s published bylaws require full members’ stamp on drawings bearing their signature. This is an association obligation, not a separate provincial professional sealing regime.
The provincial map does not treat association membership as a statutory permit-signing licence.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (4)
APALA’s published bylaws §10.2.2 describe the member stamp. The public PDF includes proposed-change material, so it is not used here as evidence of a newly enacted provincial law. The province’s professional-licensing classification is separate from APALA member duties and any project-specific requirement to use a qualified designer.
Land surveyor
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Surveyor’s location certificate
Sign the location certificate electronically and include the prescribed surveyor’s stamp and dates.
Land-interest registration follows separate filing rules; this entry covers the location certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computerSurvey and certification dates.
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal prescribed for this document; electronic records and equivalent electronic forms are recognized by the provincial Electronic Commerce Act.
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act recognizes an electronic signature. Ordinary signature or original-document wording does not itself require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- Show the field-survey date and date the certification and any accompanying signed report.
- Digital authentication
- The cited provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic signing certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Electronic signing is based on the professional duty read with the Electronic Commerce Act: NL §§2(c), 4(3), 10–12; NS §§2(b), 3(8), 11–12. These provisions recognize electronic signatures and originals without a specified certificate. They do not erase a specific professional format or registry rule.
The general Electronic Commerce Act excludes specified documents creating or transferring registrable land interests. This entry is limited to location certificates, not a blanket authorization for electronic land-title filings.
Interior designer
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Sign and seal the document
Apply the registered member’s seal and electronic signature to the technical submissions.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the professional seal prescribed for this document; electronic records and equivalent electronic forms are recognized by the provincial Electronic Commerce Act.
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act recognizes an electronic signature. Ordinary signature or original-document wording does not itself require ink.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate signing date is prescribed in the cited IDNS sealing provisions.
- Digital authentication
- The cited provisions do not prescribe a cryptographic signing certificate.
Read the sources (5)
Electronic signing is based on the professional duty read with the Electronic Commerce Act: NL §§2(c), 4(3), 10–12; NS §§2(b), 3(8), 11–12. These provisions recognize electronic signatures and originals without a specified certificate. They do not erase a specific professional format or registry rule.
- Interior Designers Act (opens in a new tab)
- THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS OF NOVA SCOTIA (opens in a new tab)
- NS Electronic Commerce Act · signatures and electronic originals (opens in a new tab)
- IDNS bylaws · §§12–13, seals and technical submissions (opens in a new tab)
- Nova Scotia Interior Designers Regulations (opens in a new tab)
OntarioON
Architect
Electronic signing permitted · authentication recommended
Issuing a permit or construction drawing
Sign, date and seal permit and construction drawings. For electronic delivery, the OAA recommends a secure platform with an identity check and an audit trail. Its notice does not prescribe a digital signing certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- AcceptedOAA recommends a secure, traceable signing platform.
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Recommended
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Electronic signatures are permitted. OAA recommends a secure, traceable signing platform.
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Secure authentication recommended
Read the sources (2)
RN.01 (2025), pages 5–6, permits the OAA-issued seal image and recognizes electronic signatures. Its digital-authentication section recommends secure platforms, traceability and identity verification; it does not prescribe a third-party certificate. We distinguish this recommendation from a mandatory certificate requirement. Signature-image acceptance is read with the Electronic Commerce Act, s.11.
Professional engineer
Electronic seal and signature permitted
Seal and sign the electronic drawing
Apply images of your professional seal and signature to the drawing and add the date. PEO permits electronic seal and signature images without requiring a PDF signing certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Scan accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Not required for the image route
Read the sources (3)
Classification scope: PEO expressly permits electronic facsimiles of seals and signatures. Recipient submission requirements remain separate from this provincial professional permission and do not make it unknown.
Landscape architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Using the association’s digital seal
OALA members can seal a drawing in ink. To use the association’s digital seal, sign the PDF with the member’s Notarius certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not yet verified
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Used with the OALA digital seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Unconfirmed
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Notarius certificate required for the OALA digital seal
Read the sources (1)
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
Filing through the land registry
For a plan filed directly through Ontario’s electronic land registration system, complete the surveyor’s certification in the registry. That declaration serves as the surveyor’s signature on the plan.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verified
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Registry authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Unconfirmed
- Handwritten signature image
- Use the registry declaration
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Registry certification required; the declaration serves as the signature.
Read the sources (3)
Interior designer
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
Ontario protects the interior-designer title but does not impose a separate professional seal-and-signature procedure under the ARIDO Act. ARIDO members must follow its rules on signing or sealing work.
Building-code designer qualifications and permit forms are separate from ARIDO membership.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (5)
The enacted 1999 Act protects the designation and preserves nonmembers’ right to practise. ARIDO E.1 restricts whose documents a member may sign or seal; it does not require a seal on every drawing. This classification concerns the provincial professional credential, not a designer’s separate BCIN qualifications or permit forms.
- Hiring a Designer for Building Permit Drawings | City of Hamilton (opens in a new tab)
- Vaughan · drawing submission requirements (opens in a new tab)
- ARIDO · title and scope (opens in a new tab)
- ARIDO Act, 1999 · enacted title-protection law, s.11 (opens in a new tab)
- ARIDO standards of practice · E.1, signing and sealing (opens in a new tab)
Prince Edward IslandPE
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Authenticate the signed drawing
Apply the Certificate of Practice stamp and sign through it. An electronic signature must identify you and reveal later changes to the document. The law does not prescribe a particular certificate provider.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Authentication requiredNo particular certificate provider is prescribed.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Use the prescribed Certificate of Practice stamp with the authenticated electronic signature.
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act requires unique linkage, signer identification, signer control and detection of later document changes.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate signing date is prescribed in Architects Act §16 or AAPEI bylaw 15.1.19.
- Digital authentication
- PEI’s electronic-signature definition requires signer verification and change detection; no particular certificate issuer is mandated.
Read the sources (4)
Electronic signature validity follows ECA §9, with the security characteristics in §1(1)(b). Section 2(7) says ordinary signature wording is not itself an electronic prohibition. Section 8 recognizes substantially equivalent electronic representations. Government consent and format requirements remain separate from the province-wide professional signing standard.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Signing an electronic original
Show your seal, signature and date on the drawing. For an electronic original, sign with a certificate from Engineers PEI’s approved provider or obtain approval for another provider.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Regulator-approved certificate required
Read the sources (1)
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
APALA’s published bylaws require full members’ stamp on drawings bearing their signature. This is an association obligation, not a separate provincial professional sealing regime.
The provincial map does not treat association membership as a statutory permit-signing licence.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (4)
APALA’s published bylaws §10.2.2 describe the member stamp. The public PDF includes proposed-change material, so it is not used here as evidence of a newly enacted provincial law. The province’s professional-licensing classification is separate from APALA member duties and any project-specific requirement to use a qualified designer.
Land surveyor
Survey certification format needs verification
Certifying a final subdivision plan
For a subdivision that requires a final survey plan, a PEI land surveyor certifies the plan showing the survey pins. The provincial rule does not specify a PDF certificate for every plan.
Provincial law recognizes authenticated electronic signatures. The remaining gap is the survey-certification format and applicable association standard, not whether electronic signatures exist.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not yet verified
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted · authentication also required
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Unconfirmed
- Handwritten signature image
- The Electronic Commerce Act recognizes electronic signatures with signer identification and change detection.
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Electronic signatures must meet the Act’s security definition; it does not prescribe a named certificate provider.
Read the sources (4)
Subdivision Regulations §27 requires an accredited surveyor’s certification but does not establish the complete professional certification format. The general Act resolves electronic-signature validity; the applicable association/filing standard remains to be verified.
Interior designer
Not applicable
Exempt interior design work
PEI’s Architects Act exempts some interior design work. We found no separate permit seal for an interior designer working under that exemption.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not applicable
- Handwritten signature image
- Not applicable
- Date on the drawing
- Not applicable
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Does not apply
- Handwritten signature image
- Does not apply
- Date on the drawing
- Does not apply
- Digital authentication
- Does not apply
Read the sources (3)
QuébecQC
Architect
Electronic signing with authentication
Choose either method. You do not need both.
Apply your professional seal and use the Ordre’s digital signature on the electronic original.
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Authentication requiredUse the Ordre’s digital signature.
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature or equivalent integrity check
Read the sources (3)
Professional engineer
Electronic signing with authentication
Signing final electronic plans
For final electronic plans and specifications, the OIQ practice guide calls for a digital signature, the seal image and the date. The OIQ offers Notarius and allows other providers that meet Québec’s document-integrity requirements.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Recommended
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Recommended with the digital signature
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Digital signature for electronic plans
Read the sources (5)
- OIQ practice guide · authenticating plans and specifications (opens in a new tab)
- Seal and Signature Explained to the Public – OIQ – Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (opens in a new tab)
- Grille_PLAN.qxd (opens in a new tab)
- OIQ · seal and signature (opens in a new tab)
- OIQ · authentication by document type (opens in a new tab)
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
AAPQ membership provides a professional credential and member seal. Its ethics rules control whose work a member may sign or seal; this is not a separate provincial professional sealing requirement.
Association obligations and project-specific submission requirements still apply.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (3)
AAPQ’s published ethics rules restrict sealing and signing to work prepared by the member or under immediate supervision. The cited association materials do not establish a province-wide statutory electronic-signing or certificate requirement.
Land surveyor
Electronic signing with authentication
A horizontal cadastral operation
For a horizontal cadastral operation, digitally sign the official and administrative files specified in Québec’s instructions with the professional surveyor’s credential. The transmittal and certain supporting documents are exempt.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not sufficient on its own
- Date on the drawing
- Not yet verified
- Digital authentication
- Registry authentication required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Professional digital seal
- Handwritten signature image
- Image alone is insufficient
- Date on the drawing
- Unconfirmed
- Digital authentication
- Professional credential for cadastral files
Read the sources (2)
Interior designer
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
APDIQ supplies members with a PDF seal for their plans. It also offers a professional digital-signature subscription; that certificate service is optional, not a provincial signing requirement.
The member seal includes the member’s name, number and current year.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Optional
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- APDIQ supplies a PDF member seal for use on plans.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement was established.
- Date on the drawing
- No professional signing date is prescribed; the APDIQ member seal contains the current year.
- Digital authentication
- APDIQ offers a professional digital-signature subscription as a member service.
Read the sources (2)
APDIQ’s own service page distinguishes its PDF member seal from its optional Notarius professional digital-signature subscription. Availability of that certificate is not evidence that Quebec requires it for interior-design drawings.
SaskatchewanSK
Architect
Electronic seal, signature and date permitted
Sign and seal the PDF
Apply your SAA-issued seal, signature and date to the drawing. The bylaws permit a physical or digital seal and signature; they do not require a signing certificate.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- An electronic signature may be applied with the seal.
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Bylaw 45 does not prescribe certificate-based signing.
Read the sources (1)
SAA Bylaw 45 expressly permits an electronic seal and a physical or digital signature, with the date. The bylaws do not define digital signature as a certificate-based method. We therefore do not add a certificate requirement or treat an image format as separately unconfirmed.
Professional engineer
Electronic signing permitted · authentication recommended
Sign and seal electronically
Apply your seal, signature image and date. For electronic transmission, APEGS recommends a verifiable digital signature; a signing certificate is recommended, not expressly mandated.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Recommended
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Accepted on the PDF
- Handwritten signature image
- Electronic signature reproductions are permitted by §1.4.
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- APEGS recommends digital signing and a certificate.
Read the sources (3)
Regulatory bylaws §§24–25 require the prescribed seal, signature and date without prescribing a cryptographic certificate. Guidance §1.4 permits electronic reproductions; §§1.5 and 3.4 recommend digital signing and certificates.
Section 3.4 still requires protection of transmitted documents and authenticating marks. It recommends removing seals and signatures and marking documents for information or coordination when the secure signing procedure cannot be used. Recommended digital signing is distinguished here from a mandatory certificate.
Landscape architect
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
SALA requires full members to apply their stamp to professional documents and explicitly accepts an electronic stamp. Its code recommends signing and dating originals. These are association duties, not a separate provincial sealing statute.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Recommended
- Date on the drawing
- Recommended
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- SALA expressly permits an imprint or electronic version of its member stamp.
- Handwritten signature image
- SALA says original stamped copies should be signed; it does not prescribe a separate certificate method.
- Date on the drawing
- SALA says original stamped copies should be dated.
- Digital authentication
- SALA’s published code does not prescribe a digital-signing certificate.
Read the sources (2)
The SALA Code of Ethics applies to full members. It requires use of the stamp on their own or supervised professional documents and explicitly permits an electronic version. Its signature/date wording is advisory (should), not a separate statutory ink or certificate requirement.
Land surveyor
Ink signature required
Signing an original real property report
For an original real property report, apply the embossed surveyor’s seal, sign the report by hand and date it.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not accepted
- Handwritten signature image
- Not accepted
- Date on the drawing
- Required · can be added on computer
- Digital authentication
- Not applicable
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- Emboss the paper original
- Handwritten signature image
- Sign the paper original by hand
- Date on the drawing
- Required
- Digital authentication
- Paper-original route
Read the sources (1)
Date format: the cited date requirement does not require handwriting. We read this as allowing a computer-entered date, printed onto the document where a paper original is needed. This does not change the separate signature or submission requirements.
Interior designer
No separate provincial sealing requirement
Provincial requirement and member obligations
The Interior Designers Act protects the professional title. The published Act and IDAS bylaws do not establish a separate procedure for sealing and signing drawings.
Title protection and project-specific permit requirements still apply.
What the rule says
- Professional seal image
- Not required
- Handwritten signature image
- Not required
- Date on the drawing
- Not required
- Digital authentication
- Certificate not required
Conditions and placement
- Professional seal image
- No separate provincial professional-seal requirement was identified in the cited law.
- Handwritten signature image
- No separate provincial professional-signature requirement in the cited law.
- Date on the drawing
- No separate professional signing-date requirement in the cited law.
- Digital authentication
- No provincial professional signing-certificate requirement in the cited law.
Read the sources (4)
Section 20 protects the title. References to a seal in the Act concern the association’s corporate seal, not a compulsory professional drawing stamp. The public bylaws do not prescribe a drawing-signing certificate.