Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Updates educational and experience requirements to obtain licensure as architect.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the licensing process for architects and amending R.S.45:3-5.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of R.S.1939, c.239 (C.45:3-5) is amended to read as follows:
3. A person shall, before entering the practice of architecture in this State, first apply to the board for a license. The board shall grant a license upon satisfactory evidence that the applicant has fulfilled the requirements of education, experience and examination specified in this section or in section 1 of P.L.1952, c.131 (C.45:3-5.1). Provision shall be made by the board for holding examinations at least once a year, if there are applicants for registration to practice said profession. Applicants for examination shall, at least 60 days before an examination, present to the board a written application on forms provided by the board, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant is 18 or more years of age, is of good moral character, and has fulfilled the education and experience requirements specified in this section.
The applicant shall be regarded as having fulfilled the education requirement if [he] the applicant has a baccalaureate or master's degree in architecture from a university, college, or technical school which has an architectural program accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board, or has fulfilled the requirements of the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, or if [he] the applicant has completed education which the board deems to be equivalent to an accredited full course in architecture. Any applicant, who on or before July 1, 1987, fulfills the education requirement or the experience or experience and partial schooling equivalent requirements in effect immediately prior to the effective date of [this 1987 amendatory act] P.L.1987, c.16 (C.45:3-5 et seq.), shall also be regarded as having fulfilled the education requirement.
The applicant shall be regarded as having fulfilled the experience requirement if [he] the applicant demonstrates [three years] 3,740 hours or more of experience related to architecture, of a type and within a period of time specified by regulation of the board.
No individual shall be permitted to take the examination while a complaint is pending in which the individual is charged with the illegal practice of architecture under R.S. 45:3-10 or while penalties imposed pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-25) remain unsatisfied.
All examinations of applicants for certificates to practice architecture shall be of a form and content relative to the knowledge and current practice of the profession of architecture, as established by regulation of the board. The board may make use of all or a portion of the uniform architects' examination and the advisory grading service of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. The applicants shall pay to the board fees established by regulation for examination, certification, registration or other services performed by the board.
(cf: P.L.1987, c.16, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill updates current law by adding another option for an individual to satisfy the educational requirements necessary in order to obtain licensure as an architect in New Jersey. Currently, an applicant for a license is to demonstrate completion of either 1) a program that led to a baccalaureate or master’s degree in architecture from a university, college, or technical school which has an architectural program accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board or 2) an education which the New Jersey State Board of Architects deems equivalent to an accredited full course in architecture. Under this bill, an applicant can demonstrate completion of the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards to fulfill the educational requirements needed to obtain licensure as an architect.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least 3,740 hours of experience related to architecture are to be completed to fulfill the experience requirements needed for licensure. Currently, the law states that three years of experience related to architecture are needed to satisfy this requirement.