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1: Digital vs. Physical Stamps

Depending on the work that you do, you may only need a digital stamp or you may need a combination of the digital stamp and the physical stamp.  It’s up to you whether or not you want or need a physical stamp, but if you’re like me, you want a physical stamp if nothing else to have a stamp with your seal on it.  

We’ll discuss options on how to obtain both.

2: How to Get Your Digital Stamp

Getting your digital stamp involves getting a CAD or image file of the seal and adding your name, date and digital signature.

The best way to find out how to do that with the specific program you’re using, do a Google search.  There are plenty of articles and Youtube videos that can walk you through it.

Be careful to remember that you have to follow the rules of your state with regard to your digital signatures.  Find your state board’s website here.

3: How to Get Your Physical Stamp

Getting your professional engineering stamp is as easy as doing a Google search for a quality stamp company or asking people you know that have stamps who they used.  Most stamp companies you’ll find online already have the design of your state’s engineering seal prepared.  All you need to do is provide your license number and your name as you would like it to appear.  Check your state board’s rules about displaying your name so that you do it the right way.

They’ll do the rest and will usually get the stamp prepared and sent out to you within a week or so.  

Check your state board’s website because they may offer recommendations for companies to use or you may find a discount code.

4: What Kind of Physical Stamp to Get

Not all stamps are created equally.  There are several kinds that you need to know about.

4.0.1 Traditional rubber stamp 

This is the type of stamp you are probably most familiar with.  It’s the simplest system of the three, just a rubber stamp on a handle with an accompanying inkpad.  Simply push the stamp on the ink pad and then stamp the paper.  This option is considered to be the most economical option with a decent, but not great, stamping quality.

4.0.2 Self-inking stamp 

These stamps come in a shell or case that contains both the stamp and the ink pad.  When you push down on the device, the stamp flips to the ink pad to receive ink, then flips down to stamp the paper.  These stamps are considered the mid-range option offering a large number of impressions before needing to be reinked at a more economical price with a better stamping result than the traditional rubber stamp.

4.0.3 Pre-inked stamp 

These stamps have the ink sitting above the rubber stamp portion which uses gravity to keep the stamp always inked and ready to use.  The resulting stamp quality is excellent and provides many more stamps than the other options before needing re-inking (50,000+).  These stamps are of course the most expensive option out of the three.

As with most things, you get what you pay for in terms of reliability and quality. I chose the pre-inked stamp and have been very happy with it.  Friends and colleagues of mine have gone the traditional rubber stamp and the self-inking stamp route and have mixed results.  I recommend going for the pre-inked stamp.  You worked so hard to achieve your license and to see your name on that seal, make it an enjoyable experience by getting a stamp that you’ll enjoy using.  Plus, none of these stamps will break the bank, so go for it!

5: Getting Your Professional Engineering Stamp – Final Thoughts

Getting your professional engineering stamp is a proud and exciting moment.  Having your seal is the biggest message to the world that you are a licensed professional engineer.  Determine whether you want to go the route of a digital stamp, physical stamp or both and enjoy it!