1. (1) The grade retention provisions of section 59.5(f) of this Title shall not be applicable to the examination.
2. (2) Applicants who have passed a division of the examination prior to January 1, 2006 shall retain credit for that examination division up to and including June 30, 2014. Applicants who have passed a division of the examination on or after January 1, 2006 shall retain credit for that division for a five-year period that begins on the date of the administration of that examination division.

3. (3) Extensions.

   1. (i) The department may allow an extension of the time period provided in paragraph (2) of this subdivision for an applicant to pass one or more divisions of the examination passed on or after January 1, 2006, where completion of all divisions of the examination by the applicant in accordance with the time limitations set forth in paragraph (2) of this subdivision is prevented by one or more of the following:

      1. (a) the birth or adoption of applicant's child;
      2. (b) the applicant has a serious medical condition;
      3. (c) the applicant is engaged in active duty with the Armed Forces; or
      4. (d) the applicant is faced with extreme hardship or other circumstances beyond the control of the applicant.
   2. (ii) An applicant shall request such an extension by submitting a written request to the department with supporting documentation for the department's review.

   3. (iii) Upon a finding by the department that the conditions for an extension have been met, the department may in its discretion provide the applicant with an appropriate extension as follows:

      1. (a) for the birth or adoption of applicant's child, a six month extension;
      2. (b) for an applicant with a serious medical condition, a period of time not to exceed two years;
      3. (c) for an applicant engaged in active duty with the Armed Forces, a time period equivalent to that of the applicant's active service in the Armed Forces, running from the end of the applicant's active service; or

      4. (d) for extensions based upon an applicant's demonstration of extreme hardship or other circumstances, a time period to be determined by the department.

         (c) Admission to examination.

         To meet the professional education and experience requirements for admission to the licensing examination, an applicant shall submit evidence of completion of either:

4. (1) the third year of a professional bachelor or master of architecture program, if the only degree received, or the first year of a professional master of architecture or higher program following receipt of an undergraduate degree registered by the department, accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency as defined in section 69.1 of this Part, or determined by the department to be the equivalent of a registered or accredited program; or
5. (2) completion of experience in architectural work acceptable to the State Board for Architecture or a combination of education and experience totaling seven years which is determined by the department to be the equivalent of the education and experience credit described in section 69.1(b)(1) of this Part.

(a) Content.

The examination may include, but need not be limited to, architectural history, theory, construction, professional practice, building design and site planning. The department may accept satisfactory scores, reported on a pass/fail basis, on all or part of the written examination produced by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

(b) Retention of credit.