Stamping requirements for geology documents
When and how to use your stamp
All Registered Geologists and Certified Engineering Geologists must use a stamp that shows their name, registration number, and their professional designation ("Registered Geologist" or "Certified Engineering Geologist"). The stamp is required on every final geology product created as part of their public practice.
Signing and expiration date
After placing your stamp on any document, you must also sign your name across the stamp and write your registration expiration date. You can use an electronic or digital signature if it meets the Board's rules. For detailed requirements, see Oregon Administrative Rules
(OAR) 809-050-0000 (Use of Seal) and
809-050-0005 (Signature).
Drafts and final products
You do not need to stamp documents or other work products that are clearly labeled as drafts. The Board expects these drafts to be updated and replaced by final, stamped versions.
Stand-alone reports and individual products
If you stamp a stand-alone report as the responsible registrant, you do not also need to stamp each individual figure, map, or log in the report. However, if any geology product in the report was created by someone else, that product must also be stamped by the registrant who prepared it. Any final geology product that is not part of a compiled report—such as a boring log or map—must be individually stamped.
Responsibility for your stamp
If you stamp a final geology product, you are responsible for the geology content of that product. This responsibility includes any work done by unregistered people working under your supervision. You must also make sure that no one else uses your stamp improperly.
Multiple registrants on a project
When two or more registrants work together on a project, the stamped work product must clearly state who completed each part. If this is not clearly shown, then all registrants who stamp the work product are legally responsible for everything in it. If the work product is stamped by professionals with different types of registrations, such as Certified Engineering Geologists and Geotechnical Engineers, it must be clear from the explanation in or permanently attached to the work product which professional is responsible for which part of the work.
More information
For further details on stamping and signing, review the Board's Professional Practices and Stamping Guidance documents found on the
publications page of this website. The Board treats the terms "stamp/seal" and "stamping/sealing" as meaning the same thing.
Code of Professional Conduct
All Board registrants and anyone applying for registration must be familiar with the Board's Code of Professional Conduct. Since the Code is part of the Oregon Administrative Rule, it has the force of law. The Code sets out the responsibilities that registrants have to the public, the profession, employers, and the Board.
Related laws and rules
Violation of the Code of Professional Conduct by a registrant is considered misconduct and grounds for disciplinary action by the Board, as well as a possible assessment of civil penalties. Misconduct also includes various unethical acts such as fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, negligence, misuse of a stamp, and claiming responsibility for someone else’s work.