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! - CIDP NO lONGER REquired

Effective March 29, 2012, the Comprehensive Intern Development Program (CIDP) is no longer a requirement for licensure in California. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ Intern Development Program (IDP) remains a requirement for California candidates (unless deemed exempt due to establishing candidate eligibility with the Board prior to 2005).

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 made via the implementation of IDP 2.0, prompted the Board to re-evaluate the need for the continuance of CIDP last year.

At its June 16, 2011, meeting, the Board voted to discontinue CIDP. This action required codification of a regulatory amendment, which ultimately took effect March 29, 2012 with final approval by the Office of Administrative Law. This means that candidates who are in various stages of the examination/licensure process and who were previously required to complete CIDP as a condition of licensure no longer need to complete the program and submit CIDP Evidence Verification forms to the Board. Affected candidates will be notified by the Board in April and those who are now eligible for the California Supplemental Examination (CSE) as a result of this change will be mailed an application for the CSE.

The Board is in the process of revising its website content and other materials to reflect the discontinuance of the CIDP requirement.

The Board trusts that this regulatory change is evidence of its commitment to ensure an efficient licensure process.

NEW! - 2012 NCARB Practice Analysis

This April, more than 80,000 architects, interns, and educators will be invited to participate in the 2012 NCARB Practice Analysis of Architecture Survey. As the foundation of NCARB's 2012 Practice Analysis, the survey is designed to help identify the tasks and knowledge/skills necessary for the independent practice of architecture.

Survey findings will help: drive the Architect Registration Examination, inform the Intern Development Program, and guide NCARB's response to the National Architectural Accrediting Board 2013 Accreditation Review Conference. The results will also be used to inform the Council's continuing education policies.

The greater the number of architects, interns, and educators that complete the survey, the more depth and relevance the collected data will have across the profession.

It is more than data collection—it is about the future of the profession.

For more information visit the NCARB website.

NEW! - spring 2012 Newsletter

The spring 2012 issue of California Architects is available online...read

NEW! - Architects Practice Act Revised

The 2012 Architects Practice Act is now available online...read

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.