Professional Licensure Sealing and Signing (Digital Signatures)

Since July 2009, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has used PKI based digital signatures in order to be in compliance with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) requirements for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Certified Landscape Architects to sign and seal their work.

IdenTrust provides IdenTrust Global Common (IGC) certificates to both VDOT staff and consultants.
The cost of the certificate for VDOT staff will be covered by the department. Consultants will be responsible for purchasing their own certificates. The department utilizes Bluebeam Revu as the signing solution to place the seal and digital signature in the PDF file and recommend consultants use the same for consistency. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act Title 59.1, Chapter 42.1 does support Professional Engineers, Certified Landscape Architects and Land Surveyors to sign and seal their work electronically. The Purpose of UETA is to enable electronic commerce by providing that contracts and records are not invalid simply because they are in an electronic format rather than on paper. Also, Title 54.1, Chapter 4 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, regarding Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects does not prohibit these individuals to sign and seal their work electronically.

VDOT recognizes the need for entities, citizens, and public employees to interoperate with the department's applications for the purpose of conducting business electronically. The agency uses IdenTrust Services to provide such persons and entities with compliant digital certificates. The digital certificates will be managed and controlled by IdenTrust Services as part of the IdenTrust Global Common (IGC). IdenTrust Services, LLC will supply Certification Authority (CA) service to entities and citizens located within or desiring to interface with the department in a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). 
             
          
To purchase your ACES Digital Certificate, click on IdenTrust         
  

• Chief Engineer Memorandum 02/18/09
• Division Memorandums 
• Professional Licensure Sealing & Signing Committee White Paper Final 11/12/07                   
• DPOR Clarification – Right of Way Sheet 1/01/2013
  • DPOR Acceptance Minutes 9-25-2012
  • VDOT Submitted Clarification Right-of-Way 7-17-2012 

Presentations

• Presentation on Signing and Sealing Plans Electronically 9/08 by Jeff Wyatt
• Implementation of the Signing and Sealing Requirements 9/08 by Kendal R. Walus, PE
• PE Signing and Sealing Update Presentation 12/18/07 by Kendal R. Walus, PE  

If you have any questions about the implementation of Digital Signatures at VDOT, please e-mail CADD Support Helpdesk.