Colorado § 12-120-413 - Qualifications for architect licensure.

§ 12-120-413. Qualifications for architect licensure.

(1) The board shall set minimum educational and experience requirements for applicants within the following guidelines:

(a) The board may require:

(I) No more than three years of practical experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect or an architect exempt under the provisions of section 12-120-403 (4) and either:

(A) A professional degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board or its successor; or

(B) Substantially equivalent education or experience approved by the board, with the board requiring no more than five years of the education and experience; or

(II) No more than ten years of practical experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect or an architect exempt under the provisions of section 12-120-403 (4); or

(III) A combination of such practical experience and education, which combination shall not exceed ten years.

(b) Up to one year of the required experience may be in on-site building construction operations, physical analyses of existing buildings, or teaching or research in a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board or its successor.

(c) Full credit shall be given for education obtained in four-year baccalaureate programs in architecture or environmental design.

(2) (a) An applicant shall pass an examination or examinations developed or adopted by the board. The board shall ensure that the passing score for any examination is set to measure the level of minimum competency.

(b) The examination shall be given at least twice a year. The board shall designate a time and location for examinations and shall notify applicants of this time and location in a timely fashion and, as necessary, may contract for assistance in administering the examination.

(3) An applicant for licensure by endorsement must hold a license in good standing in a jurisdiction that requires qualifications that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure set forth in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit an application to the board in a form and manner prescribed by the board. The board may provide an application procedure so that an applicant may apply to a national clearing house designated by the board. The national clearing house shall then forward the application to the board.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 917, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (3) amended, (HB 20-1326), ch. 126, p. 535, § 17, effective June 25. L. 2024: (3) amended, (HB 24-1329), ch. 342, p. 2316, § 14, effective August 7.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-25-314 as it existed prior to 2019.

Cross references: For the short title ("Red Tape Reduction Act") and the legislative declaration in HB 20-1326, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 126, Session Laws of Colorado 2020.

ANNOTATION

Annotator's note. The following annotations include a case decided under a former provision similar to this section.

The general assembly is authorized to prescribe only such qualifications as are reasonably necessary to protect the public interest. Linder v. Copeland, 137 Colo. 53, 320 P.2d 972 (1958).

An administrative board that is charged with a duty to hear and determine applications for licenses to follow an occupation involving personal skill, specialized training, and expert knowledge in a particular field, and that presupposes a period of novitiate, is not thereby empowered to shut the door of opportunity in that field to any person who possesses the required qualifications. Linder v. Copeland, 137 Colo. 53, 320 P.2d 972 (1958).