Architects
The Arkansas State Board of Architects adopts regulations setting the minimum standards of continuing education to ensure that all registered architects remain informed of those technical and professional subjects which the Board deems appropriate to professional architectural practice. Failure to satisfy such minimum standards shall be grounds for non-renewal of an architect’s individual certificate of registration.
How much Continuing Education is required?
Each Arkansas registered architect is required to complete a minimum of twelve (12) continuing education hours each fiscal year. One continuing education hour (CEH) shall represent a minimum of fifty (50) minutes of actual course time. No credit will be allowed for meals, breaks, or business/administration matters related to courses of study.
Registrants shall complete a minimum of twelve (12) CEH's in structured course study. Structured course study shall consist of participation in education activities presented by individuals or groups qualified by professional, practical, or academic experience to conduct courses of study. Structured activities do not include reading magazine articles.
Self reporting hours or non-structured course study (including architectural record) will not be counted toward your arkansas continuing education requirment.
Topics for the twelve (12) continuing education hours shall meet the following requirements:
- Eight (8) CEH's (minimum) shall include the study of relevant technical and professional architectural subjects related to safeguarding life, health, property, and promoting public welfare.
- Four (4) CEH's (maximum) may consist of elective topics related to any other area in the practice or architecture.
The Arkansas State Board of Architects does not allow the carry-over of continuing eduction hours from the previous year.
What does the Board accept as proper Continuing Education credit?
Any structured program in health, safety, and welfare contained in the record of an approved professional registry will be accepted by the board as fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the Board. The Board approves the American Institute of Architects as a professional registry, and contact hours listed in structured health, safety, and welfare in the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Services (AIA/CES) Transcript of Continuing Education Activities will be accepted by the board for both resident and non-resident architects.
You are required to provide individual participant documentation from a person other than yourself. documentation provided for board consideration must clearly indicate (hsw) or (lu) for proper credit to be applied toward your individual contiuning education requirement.
What happens if I don’t file me Continuing Education by the deadline?
Failure to fulfill the continuing education requirements, or file the annual report, properly completed and signed, by July 31, 2010 shall result in a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per month for a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) each year in addition to the renewal fee and late payment fees. Failure to comply with the Continuing Education requirements may also result in revocation of your license.
Who is exempt from the Continuing Education requirement?
A registrant may be exempt from participating in the continuing education program required by the Board for one of the following reasons:
- First time new registrants by examination or first time reciprocal registrants with the license number 4338 or higher are exempt for 2010 renewal period.
- Individual registrants who hold emeritus status.
- Registrants who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding ninety (90) consecutive days during the annual report period of August 1, 2009 thru July 31, 2010.
- Any individual registrant experiencing physical disability, illness or other extenuating circumstances may request exemption from the continuing education requirements. The Registrant shall provide supporting documentation for the Board's review. The Board on an individual basis will consider such hardship cases. The request for a hardship must be received in the Board office by June 1, 2010.
- Non-Registrant license holders from another NCARB jurisdiction with either a mandated or voluntary continuing education program, provided that same jurisdiction accepts Arkansas continuing education requirements as satisfying their continuing education requirement.
The Arkansas State Board of Architects accepts the continuing education programs of the following: AL, FL, IL IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MN, NE, NM, NJ, NY, NC, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WV and WY.
Non-resident license holders wishing to claim exemption from arkansas’ mandatory continuing education program must provide a copy of a current license or affidavit stating that all requirements of that jurisdiction for current continuing education compliance and registration have been met.
Failure to provide the required continuing education documentation will result in late fee(s) and continuing education penalty fee(s) in addition to renewal fees.