Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 121 - [Operative 4/1/2025] California Reciprocity Licensure Requirements

(a)

(1) A candidate who is licensed or registered as an architect in another United States jurisdiction, (i.e., state, territory or possession of the United States) either by having passed a written architectural licensing examination administered by that United States jurisdiction on or before January 1, 1966 and who has engaged in the practice of architecture as a licensed architect for five (5) or more years in one or more United States jurisdiction or by having passed an examination prepared by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), comparable to the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) (as determined by the Board), shall be eligible to apply for licensure as specified in Section 109(g) upon passing the California Supplemental Examination (CSE) as specified in Section 124. All such candidates that meet the documentary requirements set out in Section 109(b)(5) shall have the review of their application expedited and the fee waived pursuant to Section 115.5 of the code.

(2) A candidate who is licensed or registered as an architect in another United States jurisdiction and does not meet the qualifications set forth in subsection (a)(1) shall, prior to applying for licensure as specified in Section 109(g), pass the CSE as specified in Section 124 and submit:

(A) A current and valid NCARB Certification transmitted directly by NCARB, or

(B) Each of the following:

(i) Proof of licensure or registration in another United States jurisdiction,

(ii) License verification(s) from each jurisdiction where the candidate has possessed a license,

(iii) Documentation supporting five (5) years of architectural educational experience or the equivalent, as specified in Section 117, and

(iv) Completion of an experience-based program as specified in Section 109(b)(2), or an Employment Verification Form, as referenced in Section 109(b)(3)(C)(iii) documenting three (3) years of post-licensure architectural practice in another United States jurisdiction.

(b) A candidate who is licensed or registered as an architect in a foreign country and who holds a current and valid Certification issued by NCARB shall be eligible to apply for licensure as specified in Section 109(g) upon passing the CSE as specified in Section 124.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 121

Note: Authority cited: Sections 115.5, 5526, 5550 and 5552.5, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 115.5, 5550, 5552 and 5552.5, Business and Professions Code.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5526, 5550 and 5552.5, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 5550, 5552 and 5552.5, Business and Professions Code.

1. Amendment filed 12-14-72 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 72, No. 51). For prior history, see Register 63, No. 13.
2. Certificate of Compliance filed 3-5-73 (Register 73, No. 10).
3. Amendment filed 12-12-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 50).
4. Amendment filed 7-16-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 29).
5. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 3-25-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 13).
6. Amendment filed 2-24-83; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 83, No. 9).
7. Amendment filed 3-3-86; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 86, No. 10).
8. Amendment filed 10-17-86; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 86, No. 42).
9. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 7-28-87; operative 7-28-87 pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 87, No. 31).
10. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 11-10-88; operative 12-10-88 (Register 88, No. 49).
11. Amendment of introductory paragraph and subsections (a) and (b), and repealer of subsection (c) which expired by its own terms on 12-31-88 filed 12-4-89; operative 12-4-89 pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 89, No. 49).
12. Amendment of subsections (a), (b)(1) and (b)(2) filed 3-7-90; operative 3-7-90 (Register 90, No. 12).
13. Repealer of subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (b)(4), (b)(5) and (b)(6) filed 12-18-90; operative 1-1-91 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 91, No. 5).
14. New subsection (b) and subsection relettering filed 6-22-95; operative 7-22-95 (Register 95, No. 25).
15. Amendment filed 10-16-96; operative 10-16-96 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 42).
16. Editorial correction of subsection (c) (Register 97, No. 5).
17. Amendment of newly designated subsection (b)(1), new subsection (b)(2) and amendment of Note filed 1-28-97; operative 1-28-97 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 97, No. 5).
18. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 10-15-98 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 98, No. 42).
19. Amendment filed 1-15-2003; operative 2-14-2003 (Register 2003, No. 3).
20. Redesignation and amendment of former subsection (a) as subsection (a)(1), new subsection (a)(2) and new last paragraph filed 7-16-2004; operative 7-16-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 29).
21. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(2) filed 9-29-2010 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2010, No. 40).
22. Repealer of subsection (a)(2) pursuant to final paragraph 1-1-2011 (Register 2011, No. 38).
23. New subsection (a)(2), repealer of final paragraph and amendment of Note filed 9-22-2011; operative 10-22-2011 (Register 2011, No. 38).
24. Amendment of subsection (a)(2) filed 1-11-2012; operative 2-10-2012 (Register 2012, No. 2).
25. Amendment of subsection (a)(2) filed 3-29-2012; operative 3-29-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 13).
26. New subsection (b)(3) filed 11-21-2013; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 47).
27. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 12-4-2024; operative 4/1/2025 (Register 2024, No. 49).