Continuing Education (CE)
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Overview
Architects, as a condition of license renewal, must complete five (5) hours continuing education (CE) coursework on disability access requirements and another five (5) hours on zero net carbon design (ZNCD) for a total of 10 CE hours during each renewal cycle.
The required CE coursework must be completed prior to the license expiration date. However, when an architect renews an expired license the CE coursework must be completed within the two years (24 months) prior the date the license is renewed.
Newly licensed architects must complete the CE requirement when they renew regardless of how long they have held a license. The law does not allow for any waiver or extension.
Coursework must be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge of and experience in the subject matter. California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 165 clarifies disability access coursework provider and course requirements. California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 166 clarifies zero net carbon design coursework provider and course requirements.
Architects must certify during the license renewal process that the required coursework hours will be completed prior to the license expiration date (or within the prior 24 months for expired renewals). The Board conducts random compliance audits; therefore, it is important to maintain records.
An architect found to be noncompliant with the renewal requirement may be cited, which may include a monetary penalty, or face disciplinary action as is determined appropriate by the Board.
Coursework Requirements and Audits
Disability access requirements focus on information and practical guidance concerning the requirements imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–336; 42 USC Sec. 12101 et seq.), state laws that govern access to public facilities, and federal and state regulations.
ZNCD addresses information and practical guidance related to building design strategies that meet their energy demands or offset carbon-based energy consumption.
The Board does not have the authority to approve course providers or courses and will not endorse a specific course or provider. Coursework is available from a variety of sources and available in many delivery formats. When selecting a course, be sure to:
- Choose a provider with subject matter content that meets the above-described requirements.
- Verify the material is presented by trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in these design requirements.
- Retain your documentation in case of an audit.
The Board is required to conduct CE coursework audits to determine compliance. Coursework records documenting completion must be retained for at least two years from the date of license renewal. The documentation must include the following:
- Course title
- Subjects covered
- Name of provider
- Name of educator or trainer
- Date of completion
- Number of hours completed
- Statement about the trainer’s or educator’s knowledge and experience
Audits are conducted via a paperless process. Architects selected for an audit will receive an email from the Board with a request for documentation. The Board recommends architects keep their email address current and set a rule that allows receipt of emails from "@dca.ca.gov". Failure to respond may result in a citation, which may have a monetary penalty, or disciplinary action.
Coursework documentation can be submitted through our online submission portal by either the architect or the course provider. Documentation will be reviewed to determine whether an architect has complied with the mandatory CE requirement. Alternately, an architect may mail their documentation to the Board; however, this may result is a delay in performing an audit.
Architects will be notified of the audit results via email. Failure of an audit may result in a citation, which may include a monetary penalty, or disciplinary action.