The licensed architect shall:

1. (a) Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public;
2. (b) Perform their services only in areas in which they are competent;
3. (c) Issue statements only in an objective and truthful manner;
4. (d) Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees;
5. (e) Not engage in deceptive acts;
6. (f) Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession;
7. (g) Not affix their signature, seal, or stamp to any plan or document dealing with subject matter for which they lack competence by virtue of education or experience;
8. (h) Not affix their signature, seal, or stamp to any plan or document not prepared under their direct supervisory control, however the licensee may affix their seal and signature to drawings and documents depicting the work of 2 or more professionals provided the licensee designates by a note under their seal the specific subject matter for which they are responsible;
9. (i) Exercise direct supervisory control, responsible charge which requires a licensee or employee to carry out all client contracts, provide internal and external financial control, oversee employee training, and exercise control and supervision over all jobs requirements to include research, planning, design, field supervision, and work product review;
10. (j) When performing professional services, take into account all applicable state and municipal regulations;
11. (k) Compete for employment on the basis of professional qualification and competence to perform the work;
12. (l) Be objective and truthful in all professional reports, statements, or testimony, and include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony;
13. (m) When serving as an expert or technical witness before any court, commission, or other tribunal, express an expert opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts in issue, upon a background of technical competence in the subject matter, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy of their testimony;
14. (n) Issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on architectural issues connected with public policy which are influenced or paid for by an interested party, or parties, unless the licensee has prefaced their comment by explicitly identifying themselves by disclosing the identities of the party or parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest they have in the instant matters;
15. (o) Not attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly, or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of another architect;
16. (p) If a licensee believes that another licensed architect has committed misconduct or illegal practice, present such information to the OPLC;
17. (q) Avoid conflicts of interest;
18. (r) Promptly inform their employer or client of any business associations, interests, or circumstances, which could influence their judgment, or the quality of their services;
19. (s) Not accept anything of value from more than one party for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to, and agreed to, by all interested parties;
20. (t) Not solicit or accept financial or other valuable considerations from material or equipment suppliers for specifying their products;
21. (u) Not solicit or accept financial or other valuable considerations, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their client or employer in connection with work for which they are responsible;
22. (v) When in public service as a member, advisor, or employee of a governmental body, not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services provided by themselves or their organization in the private practice of the profession of architecture;
23. (w) Not attempt to supplant another architect in employment after becoming aware that the other has been selected for employment;
24. (x) When serving in a public capacity, not accept payment or gifts which appear to or might influence their judgment;
25. (y) Not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies;
26. (z) Not solicit or submit proposals for professional services containing false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or unfair statement or claim regarding the cost, quality, or extent of services to be rendered;
27. (aa) Not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their own, or their associates’, academic or professional qualifications, or misrepresent their degree of responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments;
28. (ab) Not distribute brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment which misrepresents pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, or their past accomplishments with the intent and purpose of enhancing their qualifications and their work;
29. (ac) Perform their services in an ethical and lawful manner;
30. (ad) Not knowingly associate with or permit the use of their name in a business venture by any person or firm which they know, or have reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practices of a fraudulent or dishonest nature;

31. (ae) If, in the course of work on a project, the licensed architect becomes aware of a decision taken by their employer or client which violates any law or regulation and which will, in their judgment, materially affect adversely the safety to the public of the finished project they shall:

    1. (1) Advise their employer or client against the decision;
    2. (2) Refuse to consent to the decision; and
    3. (3) Report the decision to the local building inspector or code enforcement official charged with the enforcement of the applicable law and regulations, unless the matter is satisfactorily resolved by other means;
32. (af) Report to the OPLC any knowledge that another licensed architect might be in violation of any of these regulations, or provisions of RSA 310-A:28 through RSA 310-A:52; and

33. (ag) Cooperate with investigations and requests for information from the OPLC.

    Source. #3029, eff 5-28-85; ss by #4599, eff 4-13-89, EXPIRED: 4-13-95

    New. #6153, eff 12-27-95; ss by #7944, eff 8-27-03; ss by #9097, eff 2-29-08; ss by #10904, eff 8-5-15; ss by #14493, eff 3-24-26, EXPIRES: 3-24-36

    Appendix A

    State and Federal Statutes/Regulations Implemented

    Rule

    Statute(s) Implemented

    Arch 101

    RSA 310-A:29

    Arch 102

    RSA 541-A:5

    Arch 102.01 intro & (e)

    RSA 310-A:32, I, (1)

    Arch 103.04

    RSA 310-A:29

    Arch 103.05

    RSA 310-A:32

    Arch 104.01

    RSA 310-A:29; RSA 91-A

    Arch 104.02

    RSA 310-A:32

    Arch 105.01

    RSA 310-A:29; RSA 541-A:16, I(a)

    Arch 105.02

    RSA 310-A:29

    Arch 201.01

    RSA 541-A:16, I(b) intro.

    Arch 201.02

    RSA 541-A:16, I(b) intro.

    Arch 301.01 and Arch 301.02

    RSA 310-A:38, I-III; RSA 310-A:39; RSA 310-A:42

    Arch 301.01(a)

    RSA 310-A:42

    Arch 301.03

    RSA 310-A:32, I(b)

    Arch 301.04

    RSA 310-A:32, I(b)

    Arch 302.01 – Arch 302.02

    RSA 310-A:32, I(b); RSA 310-A:38; RSA 310-A:39;

    RSA 310-A:40

    Arch 303.01

    RSA 310-A:32, I(c); RSA 310-A:43

    Arch 304.01

    RSA 310-A:32, I(b); RSA 310:17

    Arch 305.01 and Arch 305.02

    RSA 310:5, I

    Arch 306

    RSA 310-A:44

    Arch 306.01 – Arch 306.03

    RSA 310-A:32, I(i); RSA 310-A:44

    Arch 306.03(d)

    RSA 310-A:32, I(l), (i); RSA 310-A:44

    Arch 307.01

    RSA 310-A:42-a

    Arch 308.01

    RSA 332-G:7; RSA 310:17

    Arch 401.01 - 401.03

    RSA 310:8; RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 401.02

    RSA 310:5; RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 401.04

    RSA 310:4, II(c)

    Arch 401.05

    RSA 310:4, II(c); RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 401.06

    RSA 310:6, II; RSA 310:8; RSA 310-A:32, I (d)

    Arch 401.07

    RSA 310:8, IV

    Arch 402.01 – Arch 402.02

    RSA 310:4, II(d); RSA 310:12; RSA 310-A:32, I(d); RSA 310-A:47, II

    Arch 403.01 – Arch 403.03

    RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 403.04 – Arch 403.05

    RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 403.06

    RSA 310:17

    Arch 403.07

    RSA 310-A:32, I(d)

    Arch 501

    RSA 310-A:32, I(f)

    APPENDIX B

    INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE INFORMATION

    Rule

    Title

    Obtain at

    Arch 302.02

    Arch 304.01(c)

    Arch 308.01(c)

    NCARB Education Guidelines effective January 2026

    National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

    1801 K Street NW Suite 700K

    Washington, DC, 20006

    Phone: 202/879-0520

    Fax: 202/783-0290

    Available Free On-line at:

    https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/Main%20 Website/Data%20&%20Resources/Guidelines/EducationGuidelines.pdf

    Arch 302.01(b) (1), (2), and (3)

    Arch 302.02

    Arch 304.01(a), (c)

    Arch 308.01(c)

    NCARB Certification Guidelines effective January 2026

    National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
    1801 K Street NW Suite 700K
    Washington, DC, 20006

    Phone: 202/879-0520

    Fax: 202/783-0290
    Available Free On-line at:

    https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/Certification_Guidelines.pdf