Virginia Regulatory Town Hall Show XML

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Action:

HB 2154/SB 1310 Amendment (Architect Education Alternative)

Stage: Fast-Track

18VAC10-20-105 Qualifications for licensure as an architect

A. Upon completing the requirements of this section, applicants may apply for licensure with the board.

B. Education. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and submit documentation acceptable to the board verifying that one of the following educational qualifications has been met:

1. ~~Applicants for original licensure must hold~~ The applicant holds a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB. The degree program must have been accredited by NAAB no later than two years after the date of the applicant's graduation from the program.

2. ~~Applicants seeking~~ The applicant has received credit for a degree or coursework ~~that is not NAAB-accredited~~, whether foreign or domestic, that is not NAAB-accredited. Such applicant must establish an NCARB record and must have that degree or coursework evaluated for equivalency to a NAAB-accredited professional degree in architecture through NAAB's evaluation service. The board reserves the right to reject any evaluation submitted. Any costs attributable to evaluation will be borne by the applicant.

3. The applicant has a minimum of 10 years of qualifying work experience, education experience, or a combination of work and education experience as provided for in this subdivision.

a. Applicants may combine work experience and education experience in the following methods.

Table 1
Education	Education Experience Credited	Supplemental Work or Education Experience Required
Architecture Baccalaureate Degree, to include Architectural Design	Four years	Six years
Baccalaureate Degree in a Related Discipline, to include engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and building construction	Three years	Seven years
Non-related Baccalaureate Degree	Two years	Eight years
Associate’s Degree	One year	Nine years

b. The methods in Table 1 may not be combined when the lower level degree was used as academic credit toward the higher level degree. Applicants must provide a transcript from the institution awarding a degree or granting coursework credit. The board may make further inquiries into an applicant’s program to assess whether a degree is in a related discipline.

c. Applicants may be awarded six months of education experience for each successfully completed full-time equivalent academic year for a graduate degree in a related discipline, to include engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, or building construction.

d. Applicants may be awarded one year of education experience for each successfully completed full-time equivalent academic year for completed NAAB accredited coursework.

e. All work experience must have been gained under the supervision of a licensed architect. Work experience gained must include the following areas:

(1) Architectural programming.

(2) Site and environmental analysis.

(3) Schematic design.

(4) Construction cost analysis.

(5) Code research.

(6) Design development.

(7) Construction documents.

(8) Specifications and materials research.

(9) Document checking and coordination.

(10) Bidding procedures.

(11) Construction phase – office.

(12) Construction phase – observation.

(13) Project management.

(14) Office management.

f. Education experience used to qualify under subdivision B 3 of this section may not be combined with experience used to meet experience qualifications under subsection C of this section.

g. Applicants qualifying under subdivision B 3 of this section must certify work and education experience annually. Any experience gained under this program must be reported to the board on the board-designated form no later than January 31^st for the preceding year’s experience. Nothing in this provision prohibits the board from awarding education experience earned prior to an individual becoming an applicant, including out-of-state experience.

h. For purposes of subdivision B 3 of this section, (i) "education experience" means credit awarded towards the alternative to the educational requirement provided for in subdivision B 3 of this section based on completed education; and (ii) "work experience" means credit awarded toward the alternative to educational requirement provided for subdivision B 3 of this section based on completed work under the direct supervision a licensed architect.

C. Experience.

1. Applicants for original licensure must successfully complete the NCARB-administered Architectural Experience Program (https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/AXP-Guidelines.pdf), which satisfies the experience requirement outlined in 18VAC10-20-35.

2. Applicants with a NAAB-accredited degree or who are actively participating in or who have completed the NCARB-accepted integrated path to architectural licensure option are required to document experience or training in architecture before licensure.

D. Examination. The board is a member board of NCARB and applicants for original licensure are required to pass the NCARB-prepared exam.

18VAC10-20-9998 FORMS (18VAC10-20)

~~Architect License Application, A416-0401LIC-v4 (rev. 3/2026)~~

Architect License Application, A416-0401LIC-v5 (rev. 5/2026)

Architect - Verification of Examination & Licensure Form, A416-0401ELV-v3 (rev. 3/2026)

Architect Experience Verification Form, 0401LIC_2018, (rev. 7/2018)

Architect Client Experience Verification Form, 0401CEXP (rev. 4/2012)

Architect Degree Verification Form, 0401DEG (rev. 4/2012)

Architect License Reinstatement Application, A416-0401REI-v2 (rev. 8/2025)

Professional Engineer License Application, A416-0402LIC-v8 (rev. 3/2026)

Professional Engineer License Reinstatement Application, A416-0402REI-v4 (rev. 8/2025)

Professional Engineer and Engineer-in-Training Degree Verification Form, 0402_20DEG (rev. 4/2012)