Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16, § 117 – Experience Evaluation.

(a) Experience Equivalents:
Column A
Column B
Experience Description
Maximum Credit Allowed
(1) A professional degree in architecture, where the degree program has been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), or units toward such a degree credited as set out in (b)(4).
5 years
(2) A professional degree in architecture, where the degree program has not been accredited by NAAB or CACB and the program consists of at least a five-year curriculum, or units toward such a degree credited as set out in (b)(4).
4 years
(3) A four-year degree in architecture or a degree from a university or college which has an NAAB-accredited or CACB-accredited professional degree program in architecture, where the degree could be accepted for entry into a two-year NAAB-accredited or CACB-accredited Master of Architecture program, or units toward such a degree credited as set out in (b)(4).
4 years
(4) A four-year degree in a field related to architecture as defined in subsection (b)(5), or units toward such a degree credited as set out in (b)(4).
4 years
(5) Any other university or college degree which consists of at least a four-year curriculum.
1 year
(6) Any other city/community college degree which consists of at least a two-year curriculum.
6 months
(7) Any other city/community college degree or technical school certificate in a field related to architecture as defined in subsection (b)(5).
2 years
(8) A post-professional degree in architecture or with an emphasis on architecture consisting of a Master, Master of Science, or PH.D. degree or units toward such a degree.
1 year
(9) Experience under the direct supervision of an architect(s) licensed or registered in a United States jurisdiction shall be granted 100% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3).
8 years
(10) Primary source documentation showing certification by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) shall be granted 100% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3)..
8 years
(11) Primary source documentation showing completion of the NCARB administered Architectural Experience Program (AXP) or the Internship in Architecture Program of Canada shall be granted 100% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) in either program. Completion of either program shall be granted a minimum of three years credit, upon receipt in the Board office.
8 years
(12) Experience as, or experience obtained under the direct supervision of, a civil or structural engineer, or a landscape architect licensed or registered in a United States jurisdiction shall be granted 50% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) up to the 2 year maximum.
2 years
(13) Experience as, or experience obtained under the direct supervision of, a California licensed general building contractor shall be granted 50% credit.
1 year
(14) Experience as, or experience obtained under the direct supervision of, a California certified building official as defined in subsection (c)(6) shall be granted 50% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) up to the 1 year maximum.
1 year
(15) Experience as a licensed or registered architect practicing in another United States (U.S.) jurisdiction with a verified record of substantial architectural practice shall be granted 100% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) up to the 8 year maximum.
8 years
(16) Teaching and/or research in NAAB-accredited or CACB-accredited architectural curriculums shall be granted 100% credit only for those hours worked if verified by the college or university.
1 year
(17) Experience under the direct supervision of an architect licensed in the qualifying foreign country where the experience occurred shall be granted 50% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) up to the 7 year maximum.
7 years
(18) Experience as a foreign licensed architect licensed in the qualifying foreign country with a verified record of substantial architectural practice shall be granted 50% credit for every hour of work as described in (c)(3) up to the 7 year maximum.
1. (b) Education Equivalents:
  1. (1) A “professional degree program” shall be defined as one of the following types of programs:
    1. (A) Bachelor of Architecture
    2. (B) Master of Architecture, four-year undergraduate program in architecture plus a two-year graduate program in architecture;
    3. (C) Master of Architecture, four-year undergraduate program in another discipline plus a three-year graduate program in architecture.
  2. (2) Where a candidate is seeking education equivalents for having obtained a professional degree or units towards such a degree from an NAAB-accredited or CACB-accredited program, they shall be eligible for such credit if such program is or was accredited by NAAB or CACB either at the time of graduation or within two years after the date of graduation or termination of enrollment.
  3. (3) Credit allowed for units obtained without a degree shall only be computed within the categories of subsections (a)(1) through (4) or (a)(8) of this section. No credit for units obtained under subsections (a)(5) through (8) shall be recognized unless such units have been transferred to and accepted by a school within subsections (a)(1) through (4) of this section.
  4. (4) Academic units based on the categories specified in subsections (a)(1) through (4) or (a)(8) of this section shall be evaluated up to the maximum allowed for that subsection. Where a candidate has not obtained a degree, the maximum credit allowed shall be six months less than the maximum credit indicated for that category. Fractions greater than one-half of an academic year shall be counted as one-half of a year and smaller fractions will not be counted. 30 semester units or 45 quarter units is considered to be one academic year.
  5. (5) Degrees in a field related to architecture referenced in subsections (a)(4) and (a)(7) are defined as the following degrees identified by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Series:
    1. (A) 04: Architecture and Related Services except 04.10 Real Estate Development;
    2. (B) 14.04 Architectural Engineering;
    3. (C) 14.08 Civil Engineering;
    4. (D) 14.33 Construction Engineering; and
    5. (E) 52.20 Construction Management.
  6. (6) A candidate who possesses a degree and possesses units from more than one college or university shall have the degree evaluated first prior to evaluating additional education credits. All submitted degrees must be from an educational institution that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.
  7. (7) A candidate with multiple degrees shall not be able to accumulate credit for more than one degree unless they have received one professional degree in architecture and one post professional degree in architecture or with an emphasis on architecture as specified in subsection (a)(8). Otherwise, the degree that receives the most credit as determined by subsection (a) shall take priority over any other degree.
  8. (8) A candidate who possesses a professional degree and also possesses a post-professional degree in architecture or with an emphasis on architecture as specified in subsection (a)(8) shall be granted one additional year credit for the post professional degree.
  9. (9) Degrees from a foreign college or university shall be granted credit, as determined by the applicable category contained in subsections (a)(1) through (7). A transcript(s) certified by the college or university must be evaluated by NAAB or an educational evaluation service, approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) equating the degree toward a comparable U.S. degree. Any cost of evaluation shall be the responsibility of the candidate. Professional degrees accredited by CACB shall be accepted by the Board and shall not be required to be evaluated by NAAB or an NACES education evaluation service equating the degree toward a comparable U.S. degree.
  10. (10) Units from a foreign college or university shall be granted credit, as provided for in the applicable category contained in subsections (a)(1) through (4) upon submission of a transcript(s) certified by the college or university. These certified documents must be evaluated by NAAB or an NACES educational evaluation service equating the units toward a comparable U.S. degree. Any cost of evaluation shall be the responsibility of the candidate. Units accredited by CACB shall be accepted by the Board and shall not be required to be evaluated by NAAB or an NACES education evaluation service equating the units towards comparable U.S. degree.
2. (c) Training Equivalents:
  1. (1) Candidates shall be at least 18 years of age or possess a high school or high school equivalent degree before they shall be eligible to receive training credit for work experience.
  2. (2) Except as provided below, work experience shall be granted training credit only when:
    1. (A) The supervising professional is licensed or registered in a United States jurisdiction or a Canadian province and the work experience is obtained or the project is located in a United States jurisdiction or Canadian province, or
    2. (B) The supervising professional is licensed or registered in a qualifying foreign country where the work experience is obtained or the project is located.
      Training credit shall be granted for work experience obtained under the authority of or on the property of the United States Federal Government when the work experience is obtained as or under the direct supervision of a licensed or registered professional as defined in subsections (a)(9), (a)(12), and (a)(15).
      The term “qualifying foreign country” shall mean a foreign country whose standards and qualifications for issuing a license or registration to practice architecture are equivalent to those required in this state.
  3. (3) Employment shall be considered on the basis of a calendar month of 40-hour work weeks. Credit may be given for overtime. Primary source documentation shall mean issued directly from the program or sent from a United States or Canadian regulatory body.
  4. (4) Every candidate shall earn at least one year of training credit for experience as or under the direct supervision of an architect(s) licensed or registered in a United States jurisdiction granted at 100% credit or at least two years of experience under the direct supervision of an architect(s) registered in a Canadian province granted at 50% credit.
  5. (5) Pursuant to Business and Professions Code 7068(b), experience under the supervision of a “responsible managing officer,” “responsible managing employee,” “responsible managing manager,” or “responsible managing member” operating under a contractor license shall qualify as experience under subsection (a)(13) and shall be verified by the responsible managing officer, responsible managing employee, responsible managing manager, or responsible managing member of that licensed entity.
  6. (6) For the purpose of this section, a California certified building official shall be as defined by Section 18949.27 of the Health and Safety Code as an individual who is certified in accordance with or otherwise exempt from Chapter 7, Part 2.5 of Division 13 (commencing with Health and Safety Code Section 18949.25).
  7. (7) A candidate verifying their experience as an architect, civil or structural engineer, California general building contractor, landscape architect, or California certified building official may accumulate experience only after obtaining initial registration, licensure, or certification from the appropriate licensing authority of the relevant political jurisdiction. The candidate shall submit each of the following:
    1. (A) Completed Employment Verification Form, 19C-12 (NEW 6/2024) as referenced in section 109(b)(3)(C)(iii); and,
    2. (B) Proof of licensure, registration, or certification in each jurisdiction where they possess(ed) a license, registration, or certification.
7 years

The Board's evaluation of candidates' training and educational experience for licensure is based on the Board's Table of Equivalents as listed below.

The Table is comprised of two columns. Column A lists the types of training and educational experience for which credit may be granted. Column B specifies the maximum credit that may be granted to a candidate for that experience.

TABLE OF EQUIVALENTS

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5526, 5550 and 5552, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 5550 and 5552, Business and Professions Code.

History

1. Repealer and new section filed 7-16-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 29).

2. Amendment of first paragraph and new subsections (a)-(e) filed 10-28-88; operative 11-27-88 (Register 88, No. 45).

3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)(1) filed 8-30-90 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations; operative 9-29-90 (Register 90, No. 42).

4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)(1) filed 7-10-91 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 91, No. 43).

5. Amendment filed 8-26-92; operative 9-25-92 (Register 92, No. 35).

6. Amendment filed 4-5-95; operative 4-5-95 (Register 95, No. 14).

7. Amendment of first paragraph and subsections (a), (b)(9), (d)(2), (e)(2) and (e)(3) filed 10-16-96; operative 10-16-96 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 42).

8. Amendment of subsection (a)15.(a)-(b) and repealer and new subsection (c)(2) filed 2-6-97; operative 2-6-97 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 97, No. 6).

9. Amendment filed 11-12-97; operative 12-12-97 (Register 97, No. 46).

10. Editorial correction of subsection (a) Table and subsections (b), (c) and (d) (Register 98, No. 16).

11. Editorial correction of subsection (e)(2) (Register 98, No. 33).

12. Editorial correction of subsections (c)(7) and (e)(2) (Register 98, No. 49).

13. Amendment filed 12-7-98; operative 1-6-99 (Register 98, No. 50).

14. Amendment of subsection (e)(3) filed 2-25-99; operative 2-25-99 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 99, No. 9).

15. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d)(2) filed 1-7-2000 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2000, No. 1).

16. Amendment of subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), (a)(11), (a)(14)(B), (b)(1), (b)(3)-(5), (b)(11) and (b)(12) filed 3-13-2000; operative 3-13-2000 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 2000, No. 11).

17. Amendment filed 1-15-2003; operative 2-14-2003 (Register 2003, No. 3).

18. Amendment filed 7-16-2004; operative 7-16-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 29).

19. Amendment of second paragraph and subsections (b)(11)-(12), (c)(2) and (c)(4) filed 7-22-2005; operative 8-21-2005 (Register 2005, No. 29).

20. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (c)(8), (d)(2) and (e)(2) filed 10-31-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 44).

21. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)(2) filed 9-29-2010 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2010, No. 40).

22. Amendment of subsection (c)(2) and new subsections (c)(2)(a) and (c)(2)(b) filed 3-3-2011; operative 3-3-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 9).

23. Amendment of subsections (c)(8) and (e)(2) filed 1-11-2012; operative 2-10-2012 (Register 2012, No. 2).

24. Amendment of first paragraph and subsection (a) filed 3-29-2012; operative 3-29-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 13).

25. Redesignation of portions of former subsection (b)(7) as new subsections (b)(7)(A)-(B) and new subsection (b)(7)(C) filed 10-9-2013; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 41).

26. Amendment filed 10-23-2024; operative 1-1-2025 (Register 2024, No. 43).