Existing law, the Architects Practice Act, establishes the California Architects Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for licensing and regulation of persons engaged in the practice of architecture, and defines the term "architect" for those purposes. That act requires an applicant for licensure as an architect to, among other things, take an examination. The act imposes various fees on licensees and applicants for a license, which are deposited in the California Architects Board Fund, a continuously appropriated fund.
This bill would authorize a person to apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title "architect-in-training" after they have been identified as a candidate for licensure by the board and have successfully passed at least one division of the Architect Registration Examination, as developed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. The bill would prohibit the use of an abbreviation or derivative of that title, other than "AIT," and would prohibit a person from using that title to independently offer or provide architectural services to the public. The bill would authorize the board to disclose a person's authorization to use that title to a member of the public upon request. The bill would provide that the use of that title in violation of these provisions may constitute unprofessional conduct and subject the user of the title to administrative action, including denial of a license. The bill would authorize the board to charge a reasonable fee to evaluate whether a person meets the requirements to use the title "architect-in-training." By increasing moneys deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would authorize a person to use the title "architect-in-training" for no more than 4 years after approval by the board. The bill would prohibit a person from applying to the board to use the title "architect-in training" on or after January 1, 2031, and would repeal the bill's provisions on January 1, 2035.