1Amending the act of December 14, 1982 (P.L.1227, No.281),
2entitled "An act regulating the practice of architecture in
3the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; providing for the
4examination and licensure of architects by a State Architects
5Licensure Board; and providing penalties," further providing
6for definitions, for powers of board and for issuance and
7renewal of certificates.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Section 3 of the act of December 14, 1982
11(P.L.1227, No. 281), known as the Architects Licensure Law, is
12amended by adding definitions to read:

13Section 3. Definitions.

14The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
16meanings given to them in this section:

17* * *

18"Continuing education." Educational activities which:

19(1) promote competency of licensees;

1(2) are given by providers that are approved by the 
2board; and

3(3) meet the criteria established by regulations
4promulgated by the board.

5* * *

6"Health, safety and welfare credits." Technical and 
7professional subjects that the board deems appropriate to 
8safeguard the public's health, safety and welfare. The subjects 
9shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

10(1) Building design.

11(2) Environmental or land use analysis.

12(3) Life safety systems.

13(4) Building programming.

14(5) Site and soils analysis.

15(6) Accessibility.

16(7)  Lateral forces and seismic design.

17(8)  Building codes.

18(9)  Evaluation and selection of building systems,
19products or materials.

20(10)  Construction methods.

21(11)  Contract documentation.

22(12)  Construction administration.

23(13)  Electrical system considerations.

24(14)  Mechanical system considerations.

25(15) Plumbing system considerations.

26(16) Structural system considerations.

27(17)  Standards of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

28* * *

29Section 2. Section 6 of the act is amended by adding a
30subsection to read:

1Section 6. Powers of board.

2* * *

3(b.1) The board shall establish, adopt, promulgate and 
4enforce rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of 
5this act setting forth a continuing education requirement to be 
6satisfied by all individuals holding a certificate to engage in 
7the practice of architecture as a condition of renewal of the 
8certificate.

9* * *

10Section 3. Section 10(a) of the act is amended to read:

11Section 10. Issuance and renewal of certificates.

12(a) Upon payment of the fees required by section 11, an
13individual who has complied with section 8 or 9 shall be
14entitled to a certificate indicating that [he] the individual is
15qualified to engage in the practice of architecture in this
16Commonwealth. Each certificate shall contain the name of the
17individual to whom it was issued and shall be valid for [a] the 
18applicable biennial period or the remainder of the applicable 
19biennial licensure period [of two years]. The following shall 
20apply to the continuing education requirement under section 
216(b.1):

22(1) As a condition for the biennial renewal of a
23license, a licensee must provide certification of successful
24completion of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education,
25in accordance with regulations established by the board. A
26minimum of 12 hours of the continuing education must be in
27the areas of health, safety and welfare credits of the
28general public as defined under section 3 and by the board's
29regulations.

30(2) A licensee of another jurisdiction in which the

1architect's primary practice is located shall be deemed to 
2have satisfied the continuing education requirement under 
<-3paragraph (1) if the licensee certifies on the biennial 
<-4paragraph (1) if the licensee:

5(i) has a continuing education requirement in the
6jurisdiction of primary practice; and

7(ii) certifies on the biennial renewal application 
8that the licensee has satisfied the continuing education 
9requirement of the jurisdiction of primary practice.

10(3) Certification of credit hours submitted by a
11licensee must be properly signed as being correct and true.

12(4) An individual applying for initial licensure shall
13be exempt from the continuing education requirement during
14the biennial licensure period in which the individual
15obtained the initial licensure.

16(5) The board may waive all or part of the continuing
17education requirement for a licensee who provides evidence
18satisfactory to the board that the licensee was unable to
19complete the requirement due to illness, emergency, hardship
20or active military service.

21* * *

22Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.