Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Board
Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects
chapter
Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects Regulations [18 VAC 10 ‑ 20]
Action:
HB 2154/SB 1310 Amendment (Architect Education Alternative)
Action 6967
 
General Information
Action Summary This action amends provisions of the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (“APELSCIDLA”) Regulations to conform to changes resulting from the enactment of Chapters 534 and 541 of the 2025 Acts of Assembly. The General Assembly enacted House Bill (HB) 2154 / Senate Bill (SB) 1310, which created § 54.1-406.1 of the Code of Virginia mandating the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects (“the Board” or “Board for APELSCIDLA”) establish an alternative pathway to licensure for architects who do not hold a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program. The law directs the Board to adopt regulations creating work and education experience equivalencies as an alternative to the NAAB degree requirement. The regulation establishes a credit system for combinations of work and education experience, requires a minimum of 10 years of qualifying education experience and work experience, and directs applicants to certify work and education experience annually.
Chapters Affected Only affects this chapter.
Executive Branch Review This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process.
RIS Project Yes  [8419]
Associated Mandates
Bill: HB2154 (2025)
Bill: SB1310 (2025)
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
11113 Fast-Track DPB Fast-Track authorization in progress.
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: Kathleen R. Nosbisch  / Executive Director
Address: 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233
Email Address: apelscidla@dpor.virginia.gov
Phone: (804)367-8514    FAX: (866)465-6206    TDD: ()-

This person is the primary contact for this chapter.