1. (a) Each Architect shall complete a minimum of 12 continuing education program hours (CEPH) in topics pertinent to the public welfare, contributing to environmental and economic sustainability, promoting public health and well-being, encouraging community building and stewardship, offering aesthetic and creative experiences and enabling people and communities to function more effectively. These topics may include the following health and safety categories:

   1. (1) legal: laws, codes, zoning, regulations, standards, life-safety, accessibility, ethics, insurance to protect owners and public.
   2. (2) technical: surveying, structural, mechanical, electrical, communications, fire protection, controls.
   3. (3) environmental: energy efficiency, sustainability, natural resources, natural hazards, hazardous materials, weatherproofing, insulation.
   4. (4) occupant comfort: air quality, lighting, acoustics, ergonomics.
   5. (5) materials and methods: building systems, products, finishes, furnishings, equipment.
   6. (6) preservations: historic, reuse, adaptation.
   7. (7) pre-design: land use analysis, programming, site selection, site and soils analysis.
   8. (8) design: urban planning, master planning, building design, site design, interiors, safety and security measures.
   9. (9) Construction Documents: drawings, specifications, delivery methods.
   10. (10) construction administration: contract, bidding, contract negotiations.
2. (b) Each Architect shall complete the minimum mandatory CEPH during the last full calendar year immediately preceding the date the Architect renews the Architect's certificate of registration. Of the 12 minimum mandatory CEPH, each Architect shall complete a minimum of one CEPH in barrier-free design and at least one CEPH in the study of Sustainable or Energy-Efficient design. One CEPH equals a minimum of 50 minutes of actual course time. No credit shall be awarded for introductory remarks, meals, breaks, or business/administration matters related to courses of study.
3. (c) Architects shall complete a minimum of eight CEPH in structured course study. No credit shall be awarded for the same structured course for which the Architect has claimed credit during the preceding three years except for the Texas Accessibility Academy or another similar course offered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
4. (d) Architects may complete a maximum of four CEPH in self-directed study. Self-directed study must utilize articles, monographs, or other study materials that the Architect has not previously utilized for self-directed study.

5. (e) The Board has final authority to determine whether to award or deny credit claimed by an Architect for continuing education activities. The following types of activities may qualify to fulfill continuing education program requirements:

   1. (1) Attendance at courses dealing with technical architectural subjects related to the Architect's profession, ethical business practices, or new technology;

   2. (2) Teaching architectural courses and time spent in preparation for such teaching:

      1. (A) a maximum of four CEPH may be claimed per class hour spent teaching architectural courses;
      2. (B) an Architect may not claim credit for teaching the same course more than once; and
      3. (C) College or university faculty may not claim credit for teaching.
   3. (3) Hours spent in professional service to the general public which draws upon the Architect's professional expertise, such as serving on planning commissions, building code advisory boards, urban renewal boards, or code study committees;
   4. (4) Hours spent in architectural research which is published or formally presented to the profession or public;
   5. (5) Hours spent in architectural self-directed study programs such as those organized, sponsored, or approved by the American Institute of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, or similar organizations acceptable to the Board;
   6. (6) College or university credit courses on architectural subjects or ethical business practices; each semester credit hour shall equal one CEPH; each quarter credit hour shall equal one CEPH;
   7. (7) One CEPH may be claimed for attendance at one full-day session of a meeting of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.

6. (f) An Architect may be exempt from continuing education requirements for any of the following reasons:

   1. (1) An Architect shall be exempt upon initial registration and upon reinstatement of registration through December 31st of the calendar year of his/her initial or reinstated registration;
   2. (2) An inactive or emeritus Architect shall be exempt for any registration period during which the Architect's registration is in inactive or emeritus status, but all continuing education credits for each period of inactive or emeritus registration shall be completed before the Architect's registration may be returned to active status;
   3. (3) An Architect who is not a full-time member of the Armed Forces shall be exempt for any registration period during which the Architect serves on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 90 consecutive days;
   4. (4) An Architect who has an active registration in another jurisdiction that has registration requirements which are substantially equivalent to Texas registration requirements and that has a mandatory continuing education program shall be exempt from mandatory continuing education program requirements in Texas for any registration period during which the Architect satisfies such other jurisdiction's continuing education program requirements, except with regard to the requirement in Texas that each Architect complete one CEPH related to Sustainable or Energy-Efficient design; or
   5. (5) An Architect who is, as of September 1, 1999, a full-time faculty member or other permanent employee of an institution of higher education, as defined in §61.003, Education Code, and who in such position is engaged in teaching architecture.

7. (g) When renewing his/her annual registration, each Architect shall attest to the Architect's fulfillment of the mandatory continuing education program requirements during the immediately preceding calendar year.

   1. (1) Each Architect shall maintain a detailed record of the Architect's continuing education activities. Each Architect shall retain proof of fulfillment of the mandatory continuing education program requirements and shall retain the annual record of continuing education activities required by this subsection for a period of five years after the end of the registration period for which credit is claimed.
   2. (2) Upon written request, the Board may require an Architect to produce documentation to prove that the Architect has complied with the mandatory continuing education program requirements. If acceptable documentation is not provided within 30 days of request, claimed credit may be disallowed. The Architect shall have 60 calendar days after notification of disallowance of credit to substantiate the original claim or earn other CEPH credit to fulfill the minimum requirements. Such credit shall not be counted again for another registration period.
   3. (3) If an Architect is registered to practice more than one of the professions regulated by the Board and the Architect completes a continuing education activity that is directly related to more than one of those professions, the Architect may submit that activity for credit for all of the professions to which it relates. The Architect must maintain a separate detailed record of continuing education activities for each profession.
   4. (4) An Architect may receive credit for up to 24 CEPH earned during any single registration period. A maximum of 12 CEPH that is not used to satisfy the continuing education requirements for a registration period may be carried forward to satisfy the continuing education requirements for the next registration period.
8. (h) Providing false information to the Board, failure to fulfill the annual continuing education program requirements, and failure to respond to, and comply with, audit and verification requests may result in disciplinary action by the Board.

Source Note:The provisions of this §1.69 adopted to be effective October 10, 2001, 26 TexReg 7840; amended to be effective April 3, 2008, 33 TexReg 2690; amended to be effective April 17, 2012, 37 TexReg 2628; amended to be effective November 23, 2014, 39 TexReg 9006.