Did you know that the State of Arkansas has specific requirements for those who wish to obtain their Professional Engineer (PE) seal? To qualify, engineers must meet rigorous academic and experience requirements. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at these requirements and discuss how they benefit the engineering community in Arkansas. Stay tuned!
The Arkansas PE Seal Requirements
Many states have extremely restrictive requirements when it comes to the design of a professional engineer stamp or handheld embosser. Arkansas is an exception, in that the seal or stamp used by one engineer could look very different from those used by another. This can make it difficult to find answers on the required information from the Arkansas State Board for professional engineers. There is a greater degree of flexibility in how the seal or stamp must appear. Many states, for instance, have one specific diameter for the seal or stamp, but in Arkansas, as long as it’s between 1-1/4" and 2", it’s up to you. Most Arkansas professional engineers use a diameter of 1-5/8 inches for their stamps or embossers.
It’s also up to you whether or not you use a border around your seal. The state board does not require a specific ink color for the Arkansas professional engineer self-inking stamp either. There are, of course, aspects to the use of a PE stamp or seal that are the same in Arkansas as in most other states. All applicable professional engineers in Arkansas are required to have an Arkansas stamp, and it is acquired at the engineer’s own expense. It also has to conform to the rules and requirements as set forth by the Arkansas State Board.
An Arkansas engineer stamp must have the name of the Arkansas engineer as it appears on the license form issued by the state board. It can be a self-inking stamp, a pre-inked stamp, or a regular rubber stamp. Our orders come with the add-ons of several digital files with a white or transparent background that contain a digital stamp that can be used as an Arkansas professional engineer stamp on PDF or AutoCAD files. Once you have placed the order for your supplies online, most orders are shipped within one business day.
Using the Arkansas Professional Engineer Stamp
As in every other state, you have to file all your calculations, plans, specifications, reports, or other documents with the state, and they have to have the date, your signature and the PE stamp or seal.
You can be subject to discipline if you use your seal, or if you practice engineering while your license is inactive, suspended, revoked or not renewed. You can also be disciplined if you affix your signature or seal to any instrument of practice that hasn’t been thoroughly checked by a professional engineer who is not in control of the project. Remember- this stamp constitutes your approval of any plans as an Arkansas engineer.
Safeguarding the Seal
You must keep your Arkansas PE seal or stamp in a safe location. Although the State of Arkansas is fairly relaxed, when it comes to misuse of the seal, there is no room for error. As we have stated, you may not affix your stamp or seal to work that you have not actually done or directly supervised. You can also be disciplined if anyone else takes your stamp and uses it on work that hasn’t been conducted by you.
For that reason, if you should ever lose your seal, or if you suspect that it has been stolen, it is very important that you report the loss or theft to the Board immediately. If you procrastinate, you could end up being held legally liable for any defects in work that was done under your stamp or seal from the time that you noticed it was missing until the time when you reported it gone.
About ESS
ESS is a lead supplier of professional seals and stamps. Our typical production time on products is one business day at which the order ships and is delivered a few days later. Our stamps are made here in the USA and we invite you to check out and shop our professional products if you are thinking about purchasing.
