§ 9.141. Requirement.
(a) A licensee shall, upon licensure, obtain a seal, of the identical design authorized by the Board, bearing the licensee’s name and license number and the legend, ‘‘Registered Architect’’ together with a reference to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A stamp design or digital seal identical to the prescribed seal may be obtained and used in lieu of or in conjunction with, a metal seal.
(b) The following rules govern the proper use of an architect’s seal:
(1) An architect may use the architect’s seal and signature only when the work being sealed and signed was prepared by the architect or under the architect’s personal supervision, direction and control.
(2) When an architect issues final or complete architectural documents to a client for the client’s records, or when an architect submits final or complete architectural documents to public or governmental agencies for final review, the seal and signature of the architect who prepared or who personally supervised the preparation of the architectural documents, along with the date of issuance, shall be prominently displayed on the first page of all architectural documents. The seal on the first page of a final or complete architectural document shall be impressed, stamped or digital. Facsimile or digital seals shall appear on all subsequent pages of architectural documents.
(3) When an architect’s signature is applied, it shall be applied near or across the seal, but not in a location that obliterates the license number.
(4) An architect may not affix or permit a seal and signature to be affixed to an architectural document if the architect’s license has lapsed, or for the purpose of aiding or abetting another person to evade or attempt to evade a provision of the act or this chapter.
(5) When a licensee seals and signs architectural documents one of the following methods must be used:
(i) Physical placement of a seal and a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name of the licensee.
(ii) Digital placement of a seal and a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name of the licensee.
(iii) Digital placement of a seal and a digital signature containing the name of the licensee.
Authority The provisions of this § 9.141 amended under sections 5(a), 6(a)—(d), 8(b) and (c), 10(b), 11(a), 12, 13(h) and 14 of the Architects Licensure Law (63 P.S. § § 34.5(a), 34.6(a)—(d), 34.8(b) and (c), 34.10(b), 34.11(a), 34.12, 34.13(h) and 34.14).
Source The provisions of this § 9.141 amended January 30, 1987, effective January 31, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 542; amended July 10, 1998, effective July 11, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 3273; amended December 16, 2022, effective December 17, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 7702. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (294869) to (294870) and (342093).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 9.140 (relating to definitions); and 49 Pa. Code § 9.151 (relating to standards of professional conduct).
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