(a) A firm that practices or offers to practice surveying is required to obtain a certificate of authorization from the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors under the board's rules.

(b)

(1) In order to obtain a certificate of authorization, a surveying firm shall file an application with the board on a form provided by the board and shall provide all information required by the board's rules.

(2) A firm shall file a new application with the board on a form provided by the board:

(A) Upon renewal of the certificate of authorization; and

(B) Within thirty (30) days of the time that any of the information contained in the application form changes or differs for any reason from the information contained in the original application form.

(3) If in the judgment of the board the application meets the requirements of this chapter, the board shall issue a certificate of authorization for the surveying firm.

(c) A certificate of authorization is not required for a firm performing surveying for:

(1) Itself;

(2) The firm's parent organization; or

(3) A subsidiary of the firm.

(d)

(1) A firm shall not be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, officers, partners, members, or managers by reason of its compliance with this section.

(2) An individual practicing surveying under this chapter shall not be relieved of his or her responsibility for surveying services performed by reason of employment or other relationship with a firm holding a certificate of authorization.

(e) (1) Unless the board has first issued a certification of authorization or a letter stating the eligibility of an applicant to receive a certificate of authorization, the Secretary of State shall not accept organization papers or issue a certificate of incorporation, licensure, or authorization to a firm that includes among the objectives for which it is established or within its name, the words:

(A) Surveyor;

(B) Surveying; or

(C) Any modification or derivation of surveyor or surveying.

(2) The firm applying to the Secretary of State shall supply the certificate of authorization or letter from the board indicating eligibility for a certificate of authorization with its application for incorporation, licensure, or authorization.

(f) The Secretary of State shall decline to license a trade name or service mark that includes the words surveyor, surveying, or any modification or derivation of surveyor or surveying in its firm name or logotype except in the case of a firm that has a certificate of authorization under this section.

(g) The certificate of authorization may be renewed under § 17-48-204.

(h) A surveyor who renders occasional, part-time, or consulting surveying services to or for a firm may not, for the purposes of this section, be designated as being in responsible charge of the professional activities of the firm unless the surveyor is an officer or owner of the firm.