California Architects Board

The California Architects Board (Board) was created in 1901 by the California Legislature to fulfill the mission of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public through the regulation of the practice of architecture in California. It is one of numerous boards, bureaus, commissions, and committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs responsible for consumer protection and the regulation of licensed professionals. The Board establishes regulations for examination and licensing of the profession of architecture in California, which today numbers approximately 22,000 licensed architects and approximately 11,000 candidates who are in the process of meeting examination and licensure requirements.

NEW! - Fall 2011 Newsletter

The fall 2011 issue of California Architects is available online...read

Important CIDP Update

The California Architects Board at its June 16, 2011, meeting voted to discontinue the Comprehensive Intern Development Program (CIDP). The action will take effect upon codification of a regulatory amendment.

CIDP was originally developed and implemented as part of the Board’s structured internship requirement in 2005 as an IDP overlay program to focus on evidence-supported documentation of training and enhanced intern/supervisor interaction. Improvements to IDP, as well as enhancements being made via the implementation of IDP 2.0, prompted the Board and its Professional Qualifications Committee to re-evaluate the need for continuance of CIDP.

The Board is working to address the regulatory change, which must be approved through several control agencies. CIDP shall remain a component of the licensing process until the regulatory change is approved and codified. Affected candidates will be notified once final approval has been received.

Potential License Denial or Suspension for Failure to Pay Taxes

Effective July 1, 2012, the Board is required to suspend a license/certificate/registration if a licensee has outstanding tax obligations due to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the State Board of Equalization (BOE) and appears on either the FTB or BOE’s certified lists of top 500 tax delinquencies over $100,000. (AB 1424 [Perea], Chapter 455, Statutes of 2011)

Once it has been determined a licensee is on a certified list, the licensee has 90 days from the issuance of a “Preliminary Notice of the Intent to Suspend” to either satisfy all outstanding tax obligations or enter into a payment installment program with the FTB or BOE. If the licensee fails to come into compliance they will have their license suspended until the Board receives a release from the FTB or BOE.

The FTB and BOE are currently expanding the certified lists from 250 to 500, but you can check if you are currently on the FTB’s certified list or the BOE’s certified list. If you believe you are on either list in error, please call the FTB at (866) 418-3702 or the BOE at 916-445-5167.

Franchise Tax Board Nonresident Withholding Requirements

You may have State Nonresident Withholding responsibilities. If you pay California source income to nonresidents of California, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) wants to make you aware that unless certain exceptions apply, you must withhold and send to FTB seven percent of all payments that exceed $1,500 in a calendar year. (California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 18662). For more information on whether or not you are required by law to withhold or to get the appropriate forms to use, please see the FTB Decision Chart.

For a copy of the necessary forms visit the Forms and Publication page by clicking the link below. Or for more general information on withholding requirements, visit the Withholding on California Source Income page or contact us at (888) 792-4900.