California Architects Board
The California Architects Board (Board) was created in 1901 by the California Legislature to fulfill the mission of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public through the regulation of the practice of architecture in California. It is one of numerous entities within the Department of Consumer Affairs responsible for consumer protection and the regulation of licensed professionals. The Board establishes regulations for examination and licensing of the profession of architecture in California, which today numbers over 21,000 licensed architects and approximately 10,000 candidates who are in the process of meeting examination and licensure requirements.
Latest News
On January 18th, the Board held a live webinar regarding Continuing Education Requirements
California Adopts NCARB Score Validity Policy
Governor Newsom signed legislation implementing NCARB’s new Score Validity Policy . Candidates may now be able to receive credit for previously expired ARE divisions in alignment with the new NCARB policy. The law takes effect January 1, 2024.
YouTube
On July 20th, the Board held a live FAQ webinar regarding licensure. This recording has been added to our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCZ75o6tni4
Candidates applying with CAB should only submit one application. You can either submit an online application through connect (recommended) or complete a paper application and submit by mail with your payment. Please do not submit more than one application as this may cause delays in processing.
Retired Architect Licenses Are Now Being Issued
The Board is now able to issue retired architect licenses. The application fee for a retired license is $40. Architects interested in retiring their eligible (a license capable of being renewed) license should submit the Application for Retired License and the application fee to the Board’s mailing address. Nonrenewal licenses (licenses that have been expired for more than five years) are not eligible for retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions on Zero Net Carbon Design Continuing Education Requirements
Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1010 into law on September 16, 2021. It requires California architects to complete five (5) hours of continuing education (CE) coursework regarding zero net carbon design (ZNCD) for all license renewals on or after January 1, 2023. The Board has created frequently asked questions regarding this new requirement.
The new Licensing 101 video is available.
If you are a candidate or know someone who would like to become a licensed architect in California, please watch our Licensing 101 video in English or Spanish at https://youtu.be/IBSIN-_cg-Q
Board Transitioning to New Licensing and Enforcement Platform
The California Architects Board is in the process of transitioning to a new licensing and enforcement platform. Working under the guidance of DCA, the Board expects a new system to come online in early 2023. It is anticipated that while a new system will bring benefits for consumers and licensees, there will be a potential impact on workload as the Board transitions throughout the project.