(a) A license as a professional engineer shall be issued upon the approval of the application pursuant to §133.87 of this chapter (relating to Final Action on Applications).     
      (b) The new license holder shall be assigned a serial number issued consecutively in the order of approval.     
      (c) The executive director shall notify the new license holder in writing of:      
        (1) the license issuance;       
        (2) the license serial number; and       
        (3) the instructions to obtain a seal.       
      (d) Within 60 days from the written notice from the executive director of license issuance, the new license holder shall obtain a seal(s) that is consistent with the Board authorized-design in §137.31 of this title (relating to Seal Specifications).     
      (e) Failure to comply with subsection (d) of this section is a violation of board rules and may be subject to sanctions.     
      (f) The printed license shall bear the signature of the chair and the secretary of the board, bear the seal of the board, and bear the full name and license number of the license holder.     
      (g) The printed license shall be uniform and of a design approved by the board. Any new designs for a printed license shall be made available to all license holders upon request.     
      (h) A license issued by the board is as a professional engineer, regardless of branch designations or specialty practices. Practice is restricted only by the license holder's professional judgment and applicable board rules regarding professional practice and ethics.     
      (i) The records of the board shall indicate a branch of engineering considered by the board or license holder to be a primary area of competency. A license holder shall indicate a branch of engineering by providing:      
        (1) a transcript showing a degree in the branch of engineering;       
        (2) a supplementary experience record documenting at least 4 years of experience in the branch of engineering and verified by at least one PE reference provider that has personal knowledge of the license holder's character, reputation, suitability for licensure, and engineering experience; or       
        (3) verification of successful passage of the examination on the principles and practice of engineering in the branch of engineering.       
      (j) A license holder may request that the board change the primary area of competency or indicate additional areas of competency by providing one or more of the items listed in paragraphs (1) - (3) of this subsection:      
        (1) a transcript showing an additional degree in the new branch other than the degree used for initial licensure;       
        (2) a supplementary experience record documenting at least 4 years of experience in the new branch verified by at least one PE reference provider who has documented competence in the engineering discipline being added that has personal knowledge of the license holder's character, reputation, suitability for licensure, and engineering experience; or       
        (3) verification of successful passage of the examination on the principles and practice of engineering in the new branch.       
      (k) All requests relating to branch listings for areas of competency require the review and approval of the executive director or the executive director's designee.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §133.97 adopted to be effective May 20, 2004, 29 TexReg 4873; amended to be effective December 10, 2006, 31 TexReg 9831; amended to be effective December 21, 2008, 33 TexReg 10171; amended to be effective December 17, 2013, 38 TexReg 9042; amended to be effective December 14, 2015, 40 TexReg 8889; amended to be effective March 15, 2018, 43 TexReg 1439; amended to be effective July 3, 2022 47 TexReg 3684; amended to be effective March 23, 2023, 48 TexReg 1560