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. R.S.45:3-5 is amended to read as follows:
Architects' licenses.
45:3-5. 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 and is of good moral character.
The applicant shall be regarded as having fulfilled the education requirement if 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 if 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 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 the applicant demonstrates 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.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 16, 2023.