DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

ARCHITECTS – GENERAL RULES

Filed with the secretary of state on May 1, 2023

These rules become effective immediately after 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 338.15201, R 338.15202, R 338.15204, R 338.15304, R 338.15401, R

338.15404, R 338.15501, and R 338.15502 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) “CACB” means the Canadian Architectural Certification Board.

(b) “Code” means the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2677.

(c) “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 the licensee’s area of professional

practice.

(d) “Course” means any qualifying activity with a clear purpose and goal that keeps,

improves, or expands 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.

(e) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(f) “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.

October 25, 2022

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(ii) Courses, which include, but are not limited to, instruction presented through

interactive classrooms, at the job site, computer conferencing, and interactive computer

systems.

(iii) Monographs, which are distant learning courses that examine or investigate

current and emerging topics in architecture, that can be in the form of an online quiz or

test offered by a sponsor, that may not require an instructor.

(g) “Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) subjects” means technical and professional

subjects related to the practice of architecture that safeguard the public and include the

continuing education subjects approved under R 339.15506.

(h) “NAAB” means the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

(i) “NCARB” means the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

(j) “Sponsor” means an individual that 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 licensure shall provide proof, as directed by the

department, verifying 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 NAAB or the CACB.

(b) An evaluation report from the Education Evaluation Services for Architects-

NCARB that states the applicant for 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 that verifies the applicant for 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 West Ottawa St., P.O. Box

30670, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and at no cost from NCARB at https://www.ncarb.org/

or at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1401 H Street NW, Suite

500, Washington, DC 20005.

R 339.15202 Experience requirement.

Rule 202. An applicant for licensure shall provide proof, as directed by the department,

verifying 1 of the following to satisfy the experience requirements under the code:

(a) A valid certificate of completion of any internship program from NCARB.

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(b) Current and continuous licensure in another state or a province of Canada of not less

than 5 years.

R 339.15204 Examination requirement.

Rule 204. An applicant for licensure shall provide proof, as directed by the department,

verifying 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) Provides a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Pays the required fee to the department.

(c) Provides proof, as directed by 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 before 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 after 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) Provides a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Pays the required fee to the department.

(c) Establishes that the applicant has met all the requirements for initial licensure under

the code and these rules.

(d) Providing proof, as directed by 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 before 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 after 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.

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(2) The NCARB model rules of conduct in the document “Model Rules of Conduct,”

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 West Ottawa Street, P.O. Box

30670, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and at no cost from NCARB at https://www.ncarb.org/

or at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1401 H Street NW, Suite

500, Washington, DC 20005.

R 339.15404 Seal design, use, security, and validation.

Rule 404. (1) 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 must 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 before 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 before 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 maintain documentation of satisfying the requirements of this rule

and R 339.15502 for a period of 4 years after the date of applying for license renewal.

(4) A licensee is subject to an audit under this part and may have to provide

documentation as described under R 339.15502 on request of the department.

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(5) The department shall receive a request for a waiver of continuing education

requirements for the board’s consideration not less than 30 days before the last regularly

scheduled board meeting before the expiration date of the license.

R 339.15502 Acceptable continuing education.

Rule 502. (1) As used in this rule, “continuous instruction” means the time taking part

in the activity, not including breakfast, lunch, or dinner periods, coffee breaks, or other

breaks in the program. Except as provided under subrule (2) of this rule, 50 minutes of

continuous instruction is equal to 1 continuing education hour.

(2) 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 the

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program was held, or the activity

completed.

(b)

Passing a postgraduate academic

course in an HSW subject under R

339.15506 that is offered by an

Fifteen continuing education hours

are granted for each semester

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 the activity was

held and attended by the licensee.

(d)

Teaching, instructing, or presenting on One continuing education hour is

a subject that is an HSW subject under granted for every 50 minutes

R 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 is

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

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or activity, and the date or dates the

course or activity took place.

(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

licensee’s name, article name, and the

date of publishing.

A maximum of 12 continuing

education hours are granted for

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 that

the licensee is a member.

receive credit, a licensee shall take part A maximum of 3 continuing

in not less than 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 not less than 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 is

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

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company, subject of seminar or

training, and the date or dates the

seminar or training was held and

completed by the licensee.

(3) Continuing education hours are not granted for a program or activity that has

substantially the same content of a program or activity that the applicant has already

earned continuing education credit during the renewal period.