The Route to Colorado Licensure
General
Information || Licensure by Examination
|| Licensure by Transfer of Grades
Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity)
|| Finale
Title 12, Article 25, Part 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes ("Architect Law") creates the Board and grants it the authority to examine and license duly qualified applicants to practice architecture and use the title "Architect" in Colorado. The Architect Law provides minimum education and experience requirements for examination and licensure and grants the Board the authority to adopt the examinations, recommended grading procedures, and educational and practical experience requirements and equivalents of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
NCARB issues a national certificate to qualified licensed architects. The NCARB certificate is recognized in most licensing jurisdictions for the purpose of granting licensure by endorsement or reciprocity. NCARB also administers the "Intern Development Program" (IDP) which qualifies candidates to take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
For more information about NCARB and/or IDP, contact NCARB:
National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards
1801 K Street, Suite 1100-K
Washington, DC 20006-1310
Voice - 202.783.6500
Fax - 202.783.0290
www.ncarb.org
The Colorado Board recognizes successful completion of NCARB’s IDP as meeting the requirements to take the ARE and the NCARB certificate as meeting the requirements for licensure by endorsement.
The following information pertains to:
- individuals who are preparing to take the ARE; and
- individuals who have taken the entire ARE, or a portion of the ARE, in another licensing jurisdiction and seek to transfer the grades earned on the examination to Colorado.
There are three basic requirements an individual must meet to qualify for Colorado licensure. They are: education, experience (training) and examination. The education and experience (training) requirements must be met to qualify to take the examination. Upon successful passage of the examination, an individual is eligible to apply for licensure.
The Board establishes by its Rules the education and experience requirements to take the examination. Since the Architect Law allows the Board the authority to adopt education and experience requirements of NCARB, its education and experience requirements are designed to mirror, with certain exceptions, the NCARB requirements for examination and certification. The exceptions are sometimes referred to as "equivalencies" and conform with the provisions set forth in the Architect Law. It is important for individuals who are just beginning to plan their careers in architecture to understand that Colorado’s equivalent education and experience requirements depart from NCARB’s requirements; thus, individuals who obtain Colorado licensure by meeting the "equivalent" requirements may not be able to obtain an NCARB certificate or licensure by endorsement in other licensing jurisdictions.
Colorado’s education and experience requirements to qualify for examination are explained in Board Rule 100.300 and Appendix A. A publication entitled "Qualifying for the ARE in Colorado" is also available to assist you in understanding the requirements.
Successful completion of NCARB’s IDP meets Colorado’s education and experience requirements. The Board encourages new applicants to become familiar with the IDP requirements as successful completion of IDP is a pre-requisite for an NCARB certificate.
When you are ready to apply to take the ARE, you will be required to complete an application process. All applications with the exception of the Licensure by Examination Application are available online. Go to the Licensee / Applicant Services web page to download the application. The packet contains all of the information needed to apply to take the examination, e.g., instructions, application form, employment verification forms and fee schedule. An official transcript of your academic record will be required when making application.
An Application for Licensure by Examination will be mailed to those eligible upon notification from NCARB that all parts of the examination have been successfully completed.
For additional information concerning examination and licensure procedures, please refer to Board Rules 4.8 and 4.9.
NOTE: The requirements are subject to change after legislative and/or Board rule-making hearings. Contact the Board to verify the currency of the requirements.
Licensure by Transfer of Grades
If you have passed a portion of the exams, or all portions of the exam but are not yet licensed in another jurisdiction, you may apply to transfer your grades to Colorado. To be eligible for transfer of grades, you must have met all of Colorado's exam requirements. You are also required to provide verification to the Board of having passed the exams in another jurisidiction.
Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity)
If you hold a valid Architect License in another licensing jurisdiction and you are seeking to become licensed in Colorado by endorsement, you may file an application in one of two ways. First, you may apply for licensure by direct endorsement which means that you are seeking licensure without an NCARB certificate. Second, you may apply for licensure via NCARB Certificate which means that you intend to request NCARB to transmit your certificate record to Colorado for the Board’s consideration.
You are required to complete an application process for each method. If you choose the "direct" method, please contact the Board’s office for the application material. If you intend to request NCARB to transmit your record, contact NCARB at (202) 783-6500.
Applicants for direct endorsement are required to provide the Board with an affirmation from another licensing jurisdiction verifying that the applicant has successfully passed the ARE and holds a license in good standing in that jurisdiction. As a pre-requisite to the approval of the application, the Board will determine if the applicant gained licensure in another licensing jurisdiction under substantially equivalent education and experience requirements as those required by the Colorado Architect Law.
Upon approval of the application, the applicant is issued a license which will expire on July 31 of odd numbered years.
Licensees are required to renew their license prior to its expiration. Renewal applications are mailed to all licensees approximately six weeks prior to the expiration date. Failure to renew a license may have an adverse affect on the licensee if he/she continues to practice architecture and/or holds out as an Architect in Colorado during the time his/her license is expired.
The unlicensed practice of architecture and the improper use of the title "Architect" or the word "Architect" may constitute a violation of the Colorado Architect Law.
The Board encourages you to contact its office for clarification and/or additional information about the Colorado requirements for licensure.
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