§ 83A-7.  Qualifications and examination requirements.

(a) Licensing by Examination. - Any individual who is at least 18 years of age and of good moral character may make written application for examination by completion of a form prescribed by the Board accompanied by the required application fee. Subject to qualification requirements of this section, the applicant shall be entitled to an examination to determine qualifications for licensure.

(1) The qualification requirements for licensure by examination as a duly licensed architect shall be all of the following:

a. Practical training and experience as specified by rules of the Board.

b. The successful completion of a licensure examination in architecture as specified by the rules of the Board.

c. The successful completion of an accredited master's or bachelor's degree in architecture as specified by the rules of the Board.

(2) The Board shall adopt rules to set requirements for professional education, practical training and experience, and examination which must be met by applicants for licensure and which may be based on the published guidelines of nationally recognized councils or agencies for the accreditation, examination, and licensing for the architectural profession.

(b) Licensing by Reciprocity. - Any individual holding a current license for the practice of architecture from another state or territory, and holding a certified record issued by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, NCARB, may upon application and within the discretion of the Board be licensed without written examination. The Board may, in its discretion, waive the requirement for National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certified record if the qualifications, examination and licensing requirements of the state in which the applicant is licensed are substantially equivalent to those of this State and the applicant otherwise meets the requirements of this Chapter.

(c) Registration. - Any individual who is at least 18 years of age and of good moral character may apply for registration as a registered interior designer, and shall provide substantial evidence to the Board that the applicant meets one of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant shall provide a verification from the Council for Interior Design Qualification or its successor in interest as proof that he or she passed the NCIDQ examination and the applicant is an NCIDQ Certificate holder in good standing.

(2) The applicant is a licensed architect certified by the Board.

(d) Registration by Reciprocity. - The Board may accept satisfactory evidence of registration, licensure, or certification as an interior designer in another jurisdiction, if the jurisdiction's requirements for registration, licensure, or certification are substantially equivalent to or greater than those required for registration in this State at the date of application. (1915, c. 270, s. 3; 1919, c. 336, s. 1; C.S., s. 4992; 1957, c. 794, s. 7; 1971, c. 1231, s. 1; 1979, c. 871, s. 1; 1983, c. 47; 1989, c. 62; 2020-74, s. 29(c); 2021-81, s. 1.)