A New Mexico architect seal is two concentric circles, the outer 1 3/4 inches across and the inner 1 1/4 inches. The upper band between them reads STATE OF NEW MEXICO, the lower band reads REGISTERED ARCHITECT, and your name and registration number go inside the inner circle. Electronic sealing is allowed, on conditions. This page covers the face, sealed documents, signing, devices, electronic use and renewal.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outline and diameters | Two circles sharing a center: 1 3/4 inches across on the outside and 1 1/4 inches on the inside. | 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC |
| Upper band | STATE OF NEW MEXICO, in the ring between the two circles. | 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC |
| Lower band | REGISTERED ARCHITECT, in the same ring below. | 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC |
| Inner circle | Your name and your registration number. | 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC |
| Signature, date and address | Applied as a group with the seal; the address accompanies the seal, signature and date. | 16.30.3.18(B)(1) NMAC |
| Sealed documents | Each original construction drawing sheet; each specification cover sheet submitted for a permit; and any report an individual architect prepared or had responsible charge of. | 16.30.3.18(B)(1), (2), (5), (6) NMAC |
| Device type | Not specified in the rule. | 16.30.3.18(B)(1) NMAC |
| Electronic seal, signature and date | Permitted by the rule itself, subject to three conditions plus a requirement for authentication. | 16.30.3.18(B)(1) NMAC |
| Certificate expiration | Certificates expire on December 31. | 16.30.3.13, 16.30.3.14, 16.30.3.15 NMAC |
| Sealing after expiration | The cited rules do not say whether a seal may be used once a certificate has expired. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
To compare New Mexico with every other jurisdiction, see our table of architect seal requirements by state.
What are the exact dimensions of a New Mexico architect seal?
Two concentric circles: the outer one 1 3/4 inches in diameter and the inner one 1 1/4 inches. Subsection (A) gives both figures as fixed sizes, not a range, so there is one correct geometry for every New Mexico architect.
The quarter inch between the circles on each side forms the band that holds the two legends. With the geometry fixed, it is the lettering that adapts to your name, never the circles. For a wider look at the rule, see our New Mexico professional architect seal guide.
What wording goes in each part of the seal?
The band between the circles carries STATE OF NEW MEXICO across its upper half and REGISTERED ARCHITECT across its lower half. Inside the inner circle go your name and your registration number.
Those four are the elements 16.30.3.18(A) NMAC lists. An address, a firm name and an expiration date are not among the four items, so none of them is part of the face the rule describes. Our post on New Mexico architect stamp guidelines shows the layout in plain terms.
Which New Mexico documents take the seal?
Every original construction drawing sheet, the cover sheet of any specifications you submit for a permit, and reports that an individual architect either prepared or held responsible charge over.
Note the scope of each item. Drawings are sealed sheet by sheet, while specifications are sealed on the cover sheet of a set submitted for permitting. Reports are covered when an individual architect prepared them or held responsible charge over their preparation.
How do the signature, date and address relate to the seal?
They go on as one group. Under 16.30.3.18(B)(1) NMAC, the seal, your signature and the date are applied together, and an address accompanies them on the sealed document.
The address is part of that group on the page, not one of the four face elements in subsection (A). Plan your title block with room for the impression, the signature, the date and the address together, so none of them lands on a different part of the sheet.
Which sealing devices can you use in New Mexico?
No device type is named in the rule. What it fixes is the result: the two circles at their stated diameters and the four elements in their places, whatever tool produces the impression.
So choose by how your sets are produced and reviewed. A device that prints the 1 3/4 inch outline and the legends cleanly on your drawing stock is what matters. Our overview of the range of New Mexico architect stamps compares formats.
Can a New Mexico architect seal electronically?
Yes. 16.30.3.18(B)(1) NMAC lets you apply the seal, your signature and the date by electronic means, subject to three conditions plus a requirement for authentication.
This page does not list the three conditions or describe the authentication method. Read paragraph (B)(1) itself before you set up an electronic workflow, and meet every condition it states before an electronic set goes out.
When does a New Mexico certificate expire, and what then?
Under 16.30.3.13 NMAC, certificates run out each December 31, with the related provisions in 16.30.3.14 and 16.30.3.15 NMAC. The cited rules do not address using the seal after a certificate has expired.
Because the text is silent on that point, the practical answer is to renew before the year ends so the question never arises on a live project. Put the December 31 date on your calendar well before permit deadlines around year end.
What should you send us for a New Mexico order?
Your name and registration number exactly as they appear on your certificate, and your choice of device. The diameters and both legends are fixed by the rule, so there is nothing to choose there.
Leave your address off the order for the seal itself; it travels with the seal on the page rather than inside it. For how the stamp fits a licensed practice, read our piece on the New Mexico architect license stamp.
How do you check an impression against the rule?
Measure both circles: the outer should read 1 3/4 inches and the inner 1 1/4 inches. Then confirm the upper band reads STATE OF NEW MEXICO, the lower band reads REGISTERED ARCHITECT, and your name and number sit inside.
Sign and date a test sheet next to the impression and add your address, just as you will on a construction drawing. Our article on New Mexico architect stamps on your drawings has more on placement.
Frequently asked questions
Can my New Mexico seal be 2 inches across?
No. Subsection (A) fixes the outer circle at 1 3/4 inches and the inner at 1 1/4 inches, so a 2 inch seal does not match the rule.
Should my address be cut into the seal?
The rule does not put it there. The four face elements are the two legends, your name and your registration number. The address accompanies the seal, signature and date on the document instead.
Do I seal every sheet or only the first sheet of drawings?
Every original sheet of construction drawings. Specifications are different: the seal goes on the cover sheet of a set submitted for permitting.
Is the lower legend REGISTERED ARCHITECT or LICENSED ARCHITECT?
REGISTERED ARCHITECT. Subsection (A) puts that wording in the lower half of the band, with STATE OF NEW MEXICO above it, so a die lettered licensed architect does not follow the rule.
Does the seal carry my certificate's expiration date?
Not under the rule. The expiration date is not one of the four elements in subsection (A). Certificates expire each December 31, which is a matter for renewal, not for the seal face.
Get a seal cut to the two-circle geometry above from our New Mexico stamps and seals collection, with your name and registration number as certified.
