State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors


News and Hot Topics

Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors: News and Hot Topics

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New Architect Legislation: SB 08-029

This act requires architects to complete continuing education every two years in order to renew their Colorado architect’s license.  It also requires the State to development a process for architects to demonstrate continued competency.  Please see the Act for specifics.

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AES Board launches workgroup to develop Continuing Education and Continuing Competency Requirements

A workgroup comprised of four board members and any other interested parties will begin work this month to develop draft rules for architects concerning continuing education and continuing competency.  The rules are mandated by Senate Bill 08-029.  Rules regarding continuing education must be in place by December 31, 2008 so that Architects can comply with them by their next renewal in July, 2009.  Rules regarding continuing competency will follow for implementation in the subsequent renewal period.

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City of Thornton Building Code Advisory Board is accepting applications

The City of Thornton Building Code Advisory Board is accepting applications:
Board application and brochure can be found at the following link: http://www.cityofthornton.net/cclk/Boards/bdcomm.asp

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NCEES 2007 "Model Law and Model Rules"

The 2007 versions of the board member manuals, including the Model Law and Model Rules, are available now. Copies of the updated manuals, which include changes adopted at the 2007 Annual Meeting, can be downloaded as PDF files from CouncilNet (www.ncees.org/councilnet). Hard copies can be requested online at www.ncees.org/manuals.

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NCEES 2010 Approved Calculator List

Casio: All fx-115 models (any Casio calculator must contain fx-115 in its model name)
Hewlett Packard: The HP33s and HP35s models (but no others)
Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models (any TI calculator must contain TI-30X or TI-36X in its model name)

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Examination NCEES Fee Increase

NCEES exam prices increase effective October 2008.  For specific fees, please visit The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying website at http://www.ncees.org/.

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Examination Results for October 2007

The results for those that took the Principles and Practice of Surveying, the Colorado State Specific Surveying, and the Fundamentals of Land Surveying exams, as well as the Principles and Practice of Engineering and Fundamentals of Engineering are in the process of being sent to Colorado candidates by Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Services (NCEES Exam Services). Licenses will be issued from the Colorado Board office within six weeks of the date of your letter from NCEES Exam Services.

Please Note: The scores for the Nuclear and Petroleum disciplines will not be available until late January 2008. Both disciplines require cut-score studies be completed before the scores can be released.  The cut-score workshop for the Petroleum exam is currently set for January 15-16, 2008 and the cut-score workshop for the Nuclear exam is January 18-19, 2008.  NCEES Exam Services will release the results on these two exams as soon as possible after the completion of the cut-score workshops.  NCEES Exam Services understands the need for you to receive these results as soon as possible and is working to expedite the process.

Exam result information is only provided in writing by letter, not over the telephone, by e-mail or via the Internet. If your address has changed, please update it by using Registrations Online Services.

Exam results are only provided as "pass" or "fail." If an exam candidate failed an exam, a diagnostic report showing test specification areas and the candidate's performance in each area will be enclosed with the exam result information.
Those who pass the Fundamentals of Engineering and the Fundamentals of Land Surveying and become enrolled as Engineer-Interns or Land Surveyor-Interns will not have a certification or enrollment number issued. That was discontinued in 1994. In addition, interns are not included in the Division of Registrations' database and therefore do not show up when querying for licensee information.

If you should fail the exam, you will want to review Board Rule 4.3.2, which explains the application retention schedule.

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NCARB Launches Online Application for NCARB Record

The process to start an NCARB Record just got easier. Interns and architects can now fill out the Application for an NCARB Record to pursue Certification or to begin the Intern Development Program (IDP) online. The new online application will cut the time it takes to establish an NCARB Record down to one week or less. Submitting a paper application is a four-week process.

Here’s how it works:

Step one: Visit the NCARB web site (www.ncarb.org) and click on the “Start your NCARB Record online” link.

Step two:

Click under “New Users” and then fill out the necessary information pertaining to your personal information, education history, and work experience.

Step three:

Review for accuracy. Errors will delay your processing time.

Step four:

Choose your form of payment; credit card or e-check. You will have a chance to review your payment information before it is submitted.

Step five:

Hit submit and check your e-mail. You will receive two e-mails. The first will let you know your payment went through and the second will assign you an NCARB Record number.

Step six:

Log into “My NCARB Record” and download the remaining forms needed to complete your record, fill them out, and then send them to the appropriate school or reference. When they are received by NCARB your Record will be updated online in “My NCARB Record.”

If you cannot fill out the entire application in one sitting, no problem! You can save the information you have already entered and come back to it at your convenience.

The electronic version of the Application for an NCARB Record is the first step in changing how NCARB processes and maintains Records for interns and architects. NCARB is already hard at work preparing other forms so they may be completed online to further cut down on process and evaluation times.

To learn more, visit the NCARB website at www.ncarb.com.

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Governor Ritter signs HB-1225

This Professional Land Surveying law covers several areas, one of which now allows seniors in an accredited surveying program to take the FS exam. Please see the attached Act for specifics on all areas. The Act is effective at 12:01 am on August 8, 2007. Provisions of this bill that address the practice of land surveying will be covered on the October 2007 administration of the State Specific Surveying Examination.

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ARE 4.0 Launching July 2008

In July 2008, NCARB will launch ARE 4.0. The latest version of the exam updates and improves the current format by combining graphic and multiple-choice content. ARE 4.0 integrates the exam format while emphasizing the problem-solving skills architects regularly use in day-to-day practice.

The Council has continuously worked toward improving the ARE's content, delivery, grading, and administration. The evolution to ARE 4.0 has been guided by the 2001 Practice Analysis survey conducted by NCARB that provided a comprehensive analysis of the architecture profession.

Benefits of ARE 4.0:

  • Seven divisions instead of nine
  • Reduced number of trips to the test center
  • Better assessment of your knowledge, skills, and abilities
  • Condensed subject matter—study for a subject all at once
  • Integration of multiple choice and graphic content
  • Slightly less testing time

To learn more about Council’s launch of ARE 4.0, visit the NCARB website at www.ncarb.com.

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Newly Combined Architects, Engineers, Surveyors Board as of July 1, 2006 and the Related Impacts

Through the statutorily required sunset review process, the Colorado Board of Examiners of Architects was evaluated last year. The sunset report recommended to the legislature that the board be combined with the Colorado Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. Within the resulting legislation, HB06-1196, the new board becomes the Colorado Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. HB06-1196 was signed into law by the Governor on May 1, 2006 and became effective on July 1, 2006.

The Governor made appointments to the new 13-member board in June and the board members have begun their service. Visit this web page for a list of the new board members.

The new board regulates the practice of the three professions. Its responsibilities encompass those of the previous two boards: the evaluation of whether applicants are minimally qualified for licensure, the examination of such applicants, licensing, license renewal, setting policy with regard to the practice of the profession, consideration of complaints against licensees and those who may have practiced without a license, and disciplining those who have not complied with the law.

There are a few other notable changes to the laws for the professions as a result of HB06-1196 besides the combining of the boards. The authority of the board to issue Confidential Letters of Concern to architects was added. The authority to issue such letters to engineers and land surveyors has been in place for two years and it has been a useful tool to put licensees on notice officially about inappropriate behavior or practice without taking formal disciplinary action. Such letters are not public information.

A second change is that complaints received against engineers and land surveyors are no longer confidential. Previously, the law required that the access to the complaint must be restricted, presumably to protect licensees against frivolous complaints. The sunset report recommended that this be eliminated in the spirit of open government and the right of the public to know about substandard practice allegations.

A third change has to do with notification to the board by architects of any life safety claims. Previously, such notice was required within 90 days of such a claim being filed. The change in the law now requires architects to submit notice within 60 days of the settlement or judgment in such a matter.

Finally, a process to review all of the rules and policies of the two previous boards and integrate them will begin in the fall. Revised rules and policies will hopefully be put in place by July 1, 2007. To stay apprised of the activity and changes, please visit our Laws, Rules and Policies web page, or our Rulemaking web page.

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"Rolling Clock" Instituted for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE)

A five-year rolling clock has been implemented as of January 1, 2006. A series of transitional steps is in place to best accommodate candidates.

In order to anticipate candidate inquiries about this new standard, the Council is providing a list of "frequently asked questions" that will be updated on a regular basis. An initial question has been distributed to all member boards and is provided below.

Why is a rolling clock being instituted for the ARE?
After two years of study, NCARB's Procedures & Documents Committee decided to require that all divisions of the ARE be passed in a reasonable amount of time. Committee members reviewed the historical changes to the exam, the requirements of those Member Boards that currently have rolling clock provisions, similar requirements in other professions, and related content validity information provided by the Chauncey Group, and ultimately determined that a five-year eligibility period was most appropriate for this new national standard.

To learn more about the Council's rolling clock, visit the "News" section of the NCARB website at www.ncarb.org.

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