Policies: Washington State Board for Architects

Board policies direct activities in the following areas:

Disciplinary reporting

RCW 18.08.340: Board of registration — Rules — Executive secretary

Summaries of complaints, investigations, and dispositions of disciplinary action will be included in the Executive Secretary Report. Details of investigations in progress, that may come before the Board for resolution, shall not be presented to the Board.

Board members other than assigned reviewing board member(s) will only discuss or involve themselves in complaints or investigations in board session. Questions shall be referred to the Executive Secretary, Registration Board for Architects, Department of Licensing.

Board, 08/93. This policy supersedes Policy 340-1 dated 11/86.

Financial reports

RCW 18.08.340: Board of registration — Rules — Executive secretary

The Executive Secretary shall provide the Board with a summary of the quarterly financial status report.

Board, 9/86.

Education evaluation and equivalents

RCW 18.08.350: Certificate of registration — Application — Qualifications

The Board recognizes the below listed education and academic degrees with the corresponding practical work experience credit.

Education Equivalent Education/ Practical Work Experience Credit
  First 2 yrs Add’l yrs Degree
Accredited Professional Degree (M/Arch), NAAB & CACB 75% 100% 5 yrs
Accredited Professional Degree (B/Arch), NAAB & CACB 75% 100% 5 yrs
Non-Accredited Professional Degree in Architecture and Foreign Professional Degree with EESA evaluation 75% 75% 4 yrs
Foreign Non-Accredited Professional Degree in Architecture without EESA evaluation 50% 75% 3 yrs
4-year Pre-Professional or related Degree, e.g.,
  • Environmental Design
  • Urban Planning
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Construction Management
  • Civil Engineering
  • Naval Architecture
  • Interior Architecture (B. IARC & M. IARC)
50% 75% 3 yrs
Non-Professional Undergraduate Degree N/A N/A 0 yrs

Board, 5/94. This policy supersedes Policy 350-1 dated 9/86.

Experience evaluation and equivalents

RCW 18.08.350: Certificate of registration — Application — Qualifications

Experience is applicable for both reciprocal and initial registration. Experience with naval architects shall be considered to be equivalent to engineering experience. “Architect” means a licensed architect in any US or Canadian jurisdiction. “Experience” means training as an intern.

The Board adopts the work experience and training definitions as currently published in the NCARB “Handbook for Interns and Architects”.

Board, 5/98. This policy supersedes Policy 350-2 dated 11/96.

Foreign (Non-US) Education and Experience

RCW 18.08.350: Certificate of registration — Application — Qualifications

Foreign educational credit may be granted for the purpose of qualifying for the examination based upon an evaluation as outlined in the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards publication entitled NCARB Education Standard.

Foreign experience credit may qualify for related experience. Experience under the direct supervision of an architect may be accrued only in a jurisdiction recognized by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Board, 9/97. This policy supersedes Policy 350-4 dated 5/88.

Building design experience

RCW 18.08.350: Certificate of registration — Application — Qualifications

Building design experience as an employee must be documented on Department of Licensing Employment Experience Summary Forms, AR 636-104 (R/8/91), signed by a supervisor or employer.

Building design experience accrued as self-employment must be documented in time-line format listing project dates, type of project, scope of services provided, size/cost to construct, location of project and client contact information. Each project will include supporting documentation. A board member will evaluate all self-employment for practical work experience credit.

Board, 08/93.

Oral examinations

RCW 18.08.360: Examinations

Each oral examination packet shall contain a copy of applicant’s summary of Chapter 18.08 RCW and Chapter 308-12 WAC.

Oral Examination applicants shall be notified that examination materials may be retained by the Board until such time as a final determination is made.

Oral examinations referred to the board shall be conducted by an examination committee appointed by the board chair.

Board, 9/98. This policy supersedes Policy 360-1 dated 9/97.

Notification to applicant

RCW 18.08.360: Examinations

When reporting scores to candidates, the department will list all valid scores and dates from previous examinations, including the results of the current examination.

Applicant shall be notified of the provisions of RCW 18.08.360.

Board, 11/96.This policy supersedes Policy 360-2 dated 9/86.

Education, training, and practice standards and examination requirements for reciprocal registration of Canadian architects

RCW 18.08.400: Registration of out-of-state registrants

The Board adopts the requirements for NCARB certification of Canadian architects as set forth in Chapter 2, of Handbook for Interns and Architects, published by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, as the minimum requirements for registration as an architect in the state of Washington.

In addition to the requirements of Chapter 2 above, the individual qualifications and experience must be equivalent to the qualifications and experience required of a person registered under the provisions of RCW 18.08.350.

Applicants must document seismic qualification by examination record or completion of a seismic seminar program prior to January 1986 that was certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Based upon submission of a current NCARB certificate with the completed Washington application for registration, the Board may approve setting aside the required oral interview based upon the experience and qualifications documented in the NCARB certificate.

Board, 9/97. This policy supersedes Policy 400-1 dated 12/91.

Structure examinations

RCW 18.08.400: Registration of out-of-state registrants

Reciprocity applicants who have not successfully completed Section B of the Qualifying Test or Section B, Part III of the Professional Examination or Division E, of the Architect Registration Examination (A.R.E.), or have not satisfactorily completed the Seismic Structural Technology Test from the Education and Testing Service (E.T.S.), and were licensed in California after 1936 or in National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Regions 1 through 5 after 1979 or in Region 6 after 1963, shall be required to successfully complete Division LF-Lateral Forces of the A.R.E.

Reciprocity applicants who have not successfully completed Section B of the Qualifying Test or Section B, Part III of the Professional Examination, or Division E of the A.R.E., or have not satisfactorily completed the Seismic Structural Technology Test from the E.T.S., and were licensed in California before 1936 or in National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Regions 1 through 5 before 1979 or in Region 6 before 1963, shall be required to successfully complete Division LF-Lateral Forces of the A.R.E.

Board, 11/96. This policy supersedes Policy 400-2 dated 11/90.

Disaster relief licensing

RCW 18.08.400: Registration of out-of-state registrants

Out-of-state architects entering Washington State to do work under disaster relief must be licensed in Washington. If the architect is a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Certificate holder, the Washington State Board for Architects will expedite the licensing process and issue a license within seven working days.

If an architect is not licensed in Washington State and is not an NCARB certificate holder, the architect must align with a local, licensed architect.

Board, 3/07.

Interpretation of RCW 18.08.410 (5) & (6)

RCW 18.08.410 (5) & (6): Application of chapter

The Board’s interpretation of RCW 18.08.410 (5) and (6) is as follows:

Persons not licensed as architects can design, build, and alter:

  • Residential buildings regardless of the size of the building so long as it does not contain more than four dwelling units.
  • Residential buildings of more than four dwelling units, but only if the entire completed building is less than 4,000 square feet.
  • Farm buildings of any size.
  • Buildings such as garages, sheds, barns or shelters for animals and machinery. There is no size limit on garages, sheds, barns or similar buildings; however, the buildings must be intended to be used in connection with or auxiliary to farm buildings, or, residential buildings of four dwelling units or less.
  • Non-residential buildings not exceeding 4,000 square feet.

 
Board, 6/07.

Determination of qualification for reinstatement of delinquent licenses

RCW 18.08.430: Renewal of certificates of registration — Withdrawal

A registrant who fails to pay a renewal fee for a period of five years or more may be reinstated upon payment of all delinquent renewal fees plus a penalty fee equal to one-third of the renewal fee, and submittal of the following:

  1. An analysis of the current law and rules governing architects.
  2. A professional resume of architectural activities during the delinquent period, in sufficient detail to demonstrate to the Board maintenance of minimum skills.
  3. A list of current and delinquent state registrations.

 
The board may require additional evidence as needed to verify minimum competency and qualifications. The registrant may be required to appear before the board or a representative member thereof for an oral interview where questions of competency remain.

Board, 08/93. This policy supersedes Policy 430-1 dated 12/91.

Obtaining inactive license status and reinstatement

RCW 18.08.430: Renewal of certificates of registration — Withdrawal

Any registrant in good standing may withdraw from the practice of architecture by giving written notice to the director, and may within five years thereafter, resume active practice provided that:

  1. the registrant submits a written request for reinstatement and,
  2. payment of the current renewal fee as for an active license is made.

 
Registrants who exceed five years in an inactive status shall request reinstatement in writing to the board and shall submit the following:

  1. An analysis of the current law and rules governing architects.
  2. A professional resume of architectural activities during the inactive period, in sufficient detail to demonstrate to the board maintenance of minimum skills.
  3. A list of current and delinquent state registrations.

 
The board may require additional evidence as needed to verify minimum competency and qualifications. The registrant may be required to appear before the board or a representative member thereof for an oral interview where questions of competency remain.

Board, 12/91. This policy supersedes Policy 430-2 dated 11/90.

Succession order for presiding officers in adjudicative proceedings

RCW 18.235.030: Disciplinary authority — Powers

The Board, in its role to regulate the practice of architecture, shall adopt the following pre-established order of succession for appointment of a presiding officer for adjudicative matters:

  1. Board Chair (unless unavailable because he or she is already the appointed reviewing Board member, or is unavailable for other reasons — conflict of interest, out of town etc.). If the Board Chair is unavailable, the role defaults to:
  2. Board Vice Chair (unless unavailable because he or she is already the appointed reviewing Board member, or is unavailable for other reasons —conflict of interest, out of town etc.). If the Board Vice Chair is unavailable, the role defaults to:
  3. Board Secretary

 
Board, 11/07.