May 8, 2023 | AIA New York State and the State Education Department (SED)
Over the past several years, AIA New York State has collaborated with the State Education Department (SED) to craft meaningful reforms to the continuing education statutory and regulatory framework in New York. These reforms reflect a shift toward more modern models of learning and provide flexibility regarding hardship exemptions. Further, the modernization of architectural continuing education will bring the profession in-line with the other licensed design professions, which made these changes previously.
New York State Board of Regents Approved Regulatory Amendments Affecting Continuing Education (CE) Requirements for Architects Regulatory Amendments Effective May 3, 2023 Chapter 578 of the Laws of 2021 made significant changes to the mandatory continuing education requirements for architects. To implement these changes the New York State Board of Regents approved regulatory amendments in architecture that are effective May 3, 2023, the same effective date as Chapter 578 of the Laws of 2021. These regulatory amendments move New York State into closer alignment with the national standards for continuing education (CE) for architects. For a detailed view of the regulatory amendments, see the Regents’ website at: https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/423brca10revised.pdf. Below is a summary of the regulatory changes:
First-time licensees in New York are no longer exempt from CE requirements. This applies to those architects whose first license is issued in New York and to those architects who are applying for their second or higher license in New York.
The New York State Education Department (“the Department”) may now grant exemptions to the CE requirement for reasons of health certified by an appropriate health care professional, for extended active duty with the armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to the Department which may prevent compliance.
The requirement that no more than one-half of the required CE hours consist of non-course activities is removed. Architects are now permitted to complete their required CE using any combination of courses or other educational activities they desire.
A maximum of 6 CE hours completed during one registration period are now permitted to “carryover” to the next registration period.
The list of acceptable CE subject matter has been broadened and is now in closer alignment with national standards. However, certain topics such as limiting the design professional’s liability, maximizing fees, project photography, and non-architectural software remain unacceptable subject matter for purposes of completing CE requirements for architects.
Subject areas in the other design professions such as engineering, interior design, land surveying, landscape architecture and geology which may contribute to professional practice in architecture are now permitted to be used for purposes of completing the CE requirement for architects. This allowance does not authorize an architect to practice a profession for which they are not licensed in New York.
Service on a committee or task force that addresses technical or regulatory issues pertaining to architecture that has been established by a governmental entity or other entity determined by the Department to be acceptable, may now count as an educational activity and be used for purposes of completing CE requirements for architects. (AIA Rochester note: Serving on a local board such as a zoning board or historical preservation board does not qualify.)
To reactivate a registration following a lapse in practice, an architect must, in addition to completing any applicable CE requirement from their last registration period, complete one additional hour of CE for each month of lapsed registration (up to a maximum of 12 hours of CE) within the 12 months before the beginning of the new registration period.
Courses that are less than one hour in length will now be prorated and are now permitted to count towards the CE requirement. So called nano-courses’ will be prorated according to time, e.g., 30 minutes = .5 hr.; 45 minutes = .75 hr.
CE sponsors approved by a licensing authority or agency of another jurisdiction using standards substantially equivalent to those of the Department may now be recognized by NY.
For additional information regarding commonly asked questions pertaining to the CE requirement in New York, please see our website at: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/architecture/continuing-education or you may contact the State Education Department's Office of the Professions at Archbd@nysed.gov or 518.474.3817 x110. AIA New York State