Who typically can serve as an RME?

• A. A non-licensed intern with project responsibilities.
• B. A licensed professional engineer (PE) or architect in the firm’s primary discipline who has the authority to oversee and sign design documents.
• C. Any employee designated by the firm.
• D. A client representative.

Answer: (B)

The RME is the person who bears professional responsibility for the firm’s design work. In practice, that means a licensed professional engineer or architect who is in the firm’s primary discipline and who has the actual authority to supervise the project and sign the design documents. Licensure is what gives someone the legal standing to seal drawings, calculations, and reports and to be accountable for their accuracy and code compliance. An intern or any non-licensed staff may contribute to the work, but they cannot assume the formal responsibility or sign off on professional documents. Similarly, simply designating someone within the firm or a client representative does not grant the authority or accountability needed for the RME role. So the best fit is the licensed professional in the main discipline who oversees and signs the design work.