Board Rules & Regulations

All maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other professional land surveying documents shall be signed and sealed in accordance with the Professional Land Surveyors' Act and any other laws related to the practice of professional land surveying, and in a manner such that all work can be clearly attributed to the licensee(s) in responsible charge.

When documents contain work done by, or under the responsible charge of, two or more licensees, each licensee in responsible charge shall sign and seal the documents with a notation describing the work done under each licensee's responsible charge.

Each licensee shall include the date of signing and sealing immediately below or next to the signature and seal.

[Editor's summary based on CCR Title 16 §404 (sealing/signing provisions). Verify exact text at https://bpelsg.ca.gov/ before relying on it.]

A professional engineer or land surveyor licensed under the Code shall practice and perform engineering or land surveying work only in the field or fields in which he or she is by education and/or experience fully competent and proficient.

Nothing in this regulation shall be construed: (1) to prohibit a professional engineer from signing plans which include engineering work in areas other than that in which he or she is fully competent and proficient, if such work was performed by other engineers who were fully competent and proficient in such work; (2) to prohibit a professional engineer from performing engineering work or a land surveyor from performing land surveying work in areas which involve the application of new principles, techniques, ideas or technology; (3) to prohibit a professional engineer from supervising other engineers or a land surveyor from supervising other land surveyors who may respectively be performing engineering work or land surveying work in areas other than those in which the supervising professional is fully competent and proficient; and (4) to prohibit a professional engineer from signing plans which include engineering work, portions of which were designed or required by any governmental agency.

[Verbatim text from CCR Title 16 §415.]

For the purpose of denial, suspension, or revocation of certification or licensure under the Professional Engineers Act or Professional Land Surveyors' Act, a crime, professional misconduct, or act shall be considered substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a professional engineer or land surveyor if, to a substantial degree, it evidences present or potential unfitness to perform the functions authorized by the license in a manner consistent with the public health, safety, or welfare.

In making the substantial-relationship determination for a crime, the Board considers (1) the nature and gravity of the offense, (2) the number of years elapsed since the date of the offense, and (3) the nature and duties of a professional engineer or land surveyor.

Substantially related crimes, professional misconduct, or acts include — but are not limited to — violations of the Professional Engineers Act or the Professional Land Surveyors' Act, violations of other state or federal laws governing the practice, aiding and abetting any person in such a violation, and convictions arising from or in connection with the practice.

[Editor's summary; full criteria including rehabilitation factors are in CCR Title 16 §416.]