<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 09.21.02.03" title_num="09" subtitle_num="21" chapter_num="02" heading="Sealing Requirements.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A licensee may sign or seal plans, specifications, drawings, reports, or other documents that are required to be signed and sealed pursuant to Business Occupations and Professions Article, §3-501, Annotated Code of Maryland, only if the following requirements are met:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The licensee is competent in the subject matter of those documents by virtue of education or experience, or both; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The licensee either:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Personally prepared the documents; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Approved the documents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>For purposes of §A(2)(a) and (b) of this regulation and Business Occupations and Professions Article, §3-501, Annotated Code of Maryland, “approval” means:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Direct knowledge and responsible control over the content of technical submissions during their preparation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Substantive review and authority to make revisions with regard to the preparation of submissions described in these regulations.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>In addition, a licensee may sign or seal, after review and inspection, the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Portions of the professional work that are not required by Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 3, Annotated Code of Maryland, to be prepared or approved by an architect, only if the architect reviewed and adopted in whole or in part those portions, has coordinated their preparation, and has integrated them into the project; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Prototype standard drawings prepared by an out-of-State architect licensed in any United States jurisdiction, in connection with the design of a commercial chain establishment.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The licensee who signs and seals the documents in accordance with the requirements set forth in these regulations shall be considered to be the architect of record with regard to these documents.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Signature.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>For the purposes of this regulation, the term “signature” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name of the person who applied it; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For electronic or digital documents, an electronic authentication process attached to or logically associated with the document.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A digital signature described in this section shall satisfy the following criteria:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>It must contain an identification unique to a licensee using it;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>It must be under the exclusive control of the licensee using it;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>It must be verifiable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>It is linked to the document in such a manner that any subsequent modifications to the document will result in the document no longer being considered prepared or approved by the licensee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Once the digital signature is applied to the document, the document shall be available in a View Format only if the document is to be transmitted electronically.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Nothing in this regulation is intended to modify any of the requirements applicable to professional certification or titleblock more specifically set forth in Regulation 09.21.02.04.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>