DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE  
ARCHITECTS – GENERAL RULES  
Filed with the secretary of state on February 23, 2022  
These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted  
under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA  
306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections become  
effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.  
(By authority conferred on the board of architects by section 308 of the occupational  
code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.308; and on the director of the department of licensing and  
regulatory affairs by sections 205 and 2009 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL  
339.205 and 339.2009; and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-  
1, and 2011-4, MCL 338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and 445.2030)  
R 339.15101, R 339.15201, R 339.15202, R 339.15204, R 339.15304, R 339.15401,  
R 339.15404, R 339.15501, and R 339.15502 of the Michigan Administrative Code are  
amended, as follows:  
PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS  
R 339.15101 Definitions.  
Rule 101. (1) As used in these rules:  
(a) “Code” means the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2677.  
(b) “Continuing education” means an instructional course or activity in an approved  
health, safety, and welfare subject that is designed to bring licensees up to date on a  
particular area of knowledge or skills relevant to a licensee’s area of professional  
practice.  
(c) “Course” means any qualifying activity with a clear purpose and goal that will  
keep, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s area of  
professional practice. Regular duties for compensation are not considered activities,  
except for employer compensated continuing education activities.  
(d) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.  
(e) “Distance learning” means any of the following:  
(i) Courses where an instructor and a licensee may be apart, and instruction takes  
place through online or electronic media.  
(ii) Courses, which include, but are not limited to, instruction presented through  
interactive classrooms, at the job site, computer conferencing, and interactive computer  
systems.  
September 29, 2021  
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(iii) Monographs, which are distant learning courses that examine or investigate  
current and emerging topics in architecture, and which can be in the form of an online  
quiz or test offered by a sponsor that may not require an instructor.  
(f) “Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) subjects” means technical and professional  
subjects related to the practice of architecture that safeguard the public and that include  
the continuing education subjects approved under R 339.15506.  
(g) “Sponsor” means a person who represents to the public that any of its courses  
fulfill the requirements of section 2009 of the code, MCL 339.2009, for continuing  
education.  
(2) A term defined in the code has the same meaning when used in these rules.  
PART 2. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND EXAMINATION STANDARDS  
R 339.15201 Educational requirement; adoption by reference of educational standard.  
Rule 201. (1) An applicant for an architect license shall provide 1 of the following to  
satisfy the educational requirements under the code:  
(a) Transcripts verifying that the applicant received a first professional degree from an  
architectural program that is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board  
(NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB).  
(b) An evaluation report from the Education Evaluation Services for Architects-  
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (EESA-NCARB) that states the  
applicant for architect licensure has met the NCARB Education Standard established in  
the NCARB Education Guidelines.  
(c) A credentials evaluation provided by a current member of the National Association  
of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that verifies the applicant for architect  
licensure received a degree that satisfies all the categories, subject areas, and semester  
credit hour requirements established under the NCARB Education Standard adopted by  
reference under subrule (2) this rule.  
(2) The NCARB Education Standard in the “NCARB Education Guidelines,” effective  
January 6, 2021, is adopted by reference. This document is available for inspection and  
distribution at the cost of 10 cents per page from the Department of Licensing and  
Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing, at 611 W. Ottawa St., P.O. Box  
30670, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and at no cost from NCARB at https://www.ncarb.org/  
or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1401 H St. NW, Suite 500,  
Washington, DC 20005.  
R 339.15202 Experience requirement.  
Rule 202. An applicant for an architect license shall provide 1 of the following to  
satisfy the experience requirements under the code:  
(a) A valid certificate of completion of any internship program from NCARB.  
(b) Proof of current and continuous licensure in another state of at least 5 years.  
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R 339.15204 Examination requirement.  
Rule 204. An applicant for an architect license shall provide proof of obtaining a  
passing score as determined by NCARB on the NCARB Architectural Registration  
Examination.  
PART 3. RELICENSURE  
R 339.15304 Relicensure requirements.  
Rule 304. (1) An applicant whose license has lapsed for less than 3 years after the  
expiration date of the last license may be relicensed under section 411(3) of the code,  
MCL 339.411, by satisfying all the following requirements:  
(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.  
(b) Paying the required fee to the department.  
(c) Providing proof to the department verifying that the applicant has completed not  
less than 24 hours of continuing education activities approved under R 339.15502 during  
the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of the relicensure application. If the  
department determines that the amount of continuing education hours provided with the  
application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year from the date of the application to  
provide proof of completing the deficient hours.  
(2) An applicant whose license has lapsed for 3 years or more after the expiration date  
of the last license may be relicensed under section 411(4) of the code, MCL 339.411, by  
satisfying all the following requirements:  
(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.  
(b) Paying the required fee to the department.  
(c) Establishing that the applicant has met all the requirements for initial licensure  
under the code and these rules.  
(d) Providing proof to the department verifying that the applicant has completed not  
less than 24 hours of continuing education activities approved under R 339.15502 during  
the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of the relicensure application. If the  
department determines that the amount of continuing education hours provided with the  
application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year from the date of the application to  
provide proof of completing the deficient hours.  
PART 4. STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT  
R 339.15401 Model rules of conduct; adoption by reference.  
Rule 401. (1) A licensee shall follow the NCARB model rules of conduct adopted by  
reference in this rule.  
(2) The NCARB model rules of conduct in the document “Model Rules of Conduct  
2018-2019,” revised July 2018, is adopted by reference. This document is available for  
inspection and distribution at the cost of 10 cents per page from the Department of  
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing, 611 W. Ottawa St.,  
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P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and at no cost from NCARB at  
https://www.ncarb.org/ or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1401 H  
St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.  
R 339.15404 Seal design, use, security, and validation.  
Rule 404. (1) Effective 60 days after the promulgation of this rule, the seal of an  
architect must include the licensee’s name and full license number, as shown on the  
licensee’s state-issued architect license and indicate “State of Michigan” and “Licensed  
Architect” in the legend surrounding the seal. The seal must have a design substantially  
equivalent to figure 404.  
(2) A licensee's seal shall be used by the licensee whose name appears on the seal for as  
long as the license is in effect. A licensee is responsible for the security of the licensee's  
seal.  
FIGURE 404  
PART 5. LICENSE RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION  
R 339.15501 License renewal requirement; continuing education waiver.  
Rule 501. (1) An applicant for license renewal who has been licensed during the 2-year  
period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license shall obtain not less than  
24 hours of continuing education in activities approved under R 339.15502 during the 2-  
year period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license.  
(2) Submission of an application for renewal constitutes the applicant’s certification of  
compliance with this rule and R 339.15502.  
(3) A licensee shall keep documentation of satisfying the requirements of this rule and  
R 339.15502 for a period of 4 years from the date of applying for license renewal.  
(4) A licensee is subject to audit under this part and may have to provide documentation  
as described under R 339.15502 upon request of the department.  
(5) A request for a continuing education waiver under section 204(2) of the code, MCL  
339.204, must be received by the department before the expiration date of the license.  
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R 339.15502 Acceptable continuing education.  
Rule 502. (1) The department shall grant credit for continuing education hours that  
satisfy the requirements in the following chart:  
Activity  
Code  
Activity and Proof Required  
Number of Credits Earned for  
Activity and Allowed for Renewal  
Cycle  
(a)  
Completing a continuing education  
program or activity, regardless of the  
format in which it is offered, if it is in  
an HSW subject under R 339.15506  
and is approved or offered for  
continuing education by any of the  
following:  
The number of credits approved  
by the sponsor or the approving  
organization.  
Another state board of  
architects.  
NCARB.  
American Institute of  
Architects.  
Construction Specifications  
Institute.  
University of Michigan.  
Lawrence Technological  
University.  
University of Detroit Mercy.  
Andrews University.  
An NAAB accredited degree  
granting institution.  
United States Green Building  
Council.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of a letter or a certificate of  
completion issued by the relevant  
above-referenced sponsor or  
organization showing the licensee’s  
name, number of credits earned,  
sponsor name or the name of the  
organization that approved the  
continuing education program or  
activity, and the date or dates on which  
the program was held, or the activity  
completed.  
(b)  
Passing a postgraduate academic  
course in an HSW subject under R  
Fifteen continuing education hours  
are granted for each semester  
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339.15506 that is offered by an  
credit or 10 continuing education  
architectural program that is accredited hours are granted for each quarter  
by NAAB or CACB.  
credit.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of the transcript issued by the  
A maximum of 15 continuing  
education hours are granted for  
NAAB-accredited or CACB-accredited this activity in each renewal  
architectural program showing the  
number of completed credit hours for  
the academic courses.  
period.  
(c)  
Attending a seminar, in-house course,  
One continuing education hour is  
workshop, or professional or technical granted for every 50 minutes of  
presentation made at a meeting,  
continuous instruction.  
convention, or conference in which the  
subject matter is an HSW subject under One-half (0.5 credit) of 1  
R 339.15506.  
continuing education hour is  
granted for every additional 25  
minutes of continuous instruction  
that follows the initial 50 minutes  
of continuous instruction.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of a letter or a certificate of  
completion issued by the sponsor or  
organization of the seminar, in-house  
course, workshop, or professional or  
technical presentation made at a  
meeting, convention or conference  
showing the licensee’s name, sponsor  
name or the name of the organization,  
and the date or dates on which the  
above-referenced activity was held and  
attended by the licensee.  
(d)  
Teaching, instructing, or presenting a  
One continuing education hour is  
subject that is an HSW subject under R granted for every 50 minutes  
339.15506.  
continuous instruction.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
letter issued by the course or activity  
One-half (0.5 credit) of 1  
continuing education hour shall be  
sponsor or organization confirming the granted for every additional 25  
licensee as the teacher, instructor, or  
presenter of a course or activity,  
together with a copy of the course  
syllabus, or other program  
minutes of continuous instruction  
that follows the initial 50 minutes  
of continuous instruction.  
documentation, showing that licensee  
is the instructor, the name of the course  
or activity, and the date or dates the  
course or activity took place.  
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(e)  
Publishing a peer-reviewed paper,  
article, or book on a subject that is an  
HSW subject under R 339.15506.  
Six continuing education hours are  
granted for this activity.  
Credit for continuing education  
hours is not granted for multiple  
publications of the same peer-  
review paper, article, or book.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of the publication that identifies  
the licensee as the author of the  
publication and the publication  
acceptance letter showing the  
A maximum of 12 continuing  
licensee’s name, article name, and date education hours are granted for  
of publishing.  
this activity during each renewal  
period.  
(f)  
Serving as a voting member on a local, Three continuing education hours  
state, or national committee, board,  
council, or association, if it enhances  
the participant’s knowledge and  
understanding of architecture. To  
are granted for each committee,  
board, council, or association on  
which the licensee is a member.  
receive credit, a licensee must take part A maximum of 3 continuing  
in at least 50% of the regularly  
scheduled meetings of the committee,  
board, council, or association.  
education hours are granted for  
this activity during each renewal  
period.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide  
documentation satisfactory to the  
department verifying the licensee’s  
participation in at least 50% of the  
regularly scheduled meetings of the  
committee, board, council, or  
association and provide verification of  
the licensee’s status as a voting  
member on the committee, board,  
council, or association.  
(g)  
Participating in a company-sponsored  
seminar or training that is on an HSW  
subject under R 339.15506.  
One continuing education hour is  
granted for every 50 minutes of  
continuous instruction.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a  
copy of a letter or a certificate of  
completion issued by the company or  
One-half (0.5 credit) of 1  
continuing education hour shall be  
granted for every additional 25  
organization presenting the seminar or minutes of continuous instruction  
training on its behalf, showing the that follows the initial 50 minutes  
licensee’s name, company name or the of continuous instruction.  
name of the organization presenting  
the seminar or training on behalf of the  
company, subject of seminar or  
training, and the date or dates on which  
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the above-referenced seminar or  
training was held and completed by the  
licensee.  
(2) Continuing education hours are not granted for a program or activity that has  
substantially the same content of a program or activity for which the applicant has  
already earned continuing education credit during the renewal period.  
(3) Except as provided under subrule (1) of this rule, 50 minutes of continuous  
instruction is equal to 1 continuing education hour. For purpose of this rule, “continuous  
instruction” means the time taking part in the activity, not including breakfast, lunch, or  
dinner periods, coffee breaks, or any other breaks in the program.  
;