1. A. Unless exempted by § 54.1-401, 54.1-402, or 54.1-402.1, a person shall hold a valid license prior to engaging in the practice of architecture or engineering which includes design, consultation, evaluation, or analysis and involves proposed or existing improvements to real property.

   Unless exempted by § 54.1-401, 54.1-402, or 54.1-402.1, a person shall hold a valid license prior to engaging in the practice of land surveying.

2. B. Unless exempted by § 54.1-402, any person or business entity offering to practice architecture, engineering, or land surveying without being registered or licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions of § 54.1-111.
3. C. Any person or business entity which is not licensed or registered to practice in accordance with this chapter and which advertises or promotes through the use of the words "architecture," "engineering," or "land surveying" or any modification or derivative thereof in its name or description of its business activity in a manner that indicates or implies that it practices or offers to practice architecture, engineering, or land surveying shall be subject to the provisions of § 54.1-111.
4. D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a contractor who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) shall not be required to be licensed or registered to practice in accordance with this chapter when bidding upon or negotiating design-build contracts or performing services other than architectural, engineering, or land surveying services under a design-build contract. The architectural, engineering, or land surveying services offered or rendered in connection with such contracts shall only be rendered by an architect, professional engineer, or land surveyor licensed in accordance with this chapter.

1979, c. 408, § 54-26.1; 1982, c. 590; 1984, c. 470; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 780, 783; 1994, c. 784; 1996, c. 329; 2004, c. 191; 2005, cc. 359, 440; 2010, c. 91; 2026, c. 460.