Licensing: Title Registration

Statement. The American Institute of Architects recognizes that it may be in the public interest to reserve the use of specific titles for specialized design disciplines in the building industry through title registration. The discipline must be clearly defined and not in conflict with the discipline of architecture, and standards of professional conduct must be established. Qualifications for title registration should be based on an appropriate combination of education, experience, and examination. Title registration must not preclude the prerogative of architects to use the titles, where fitting, in providing architectural services. In addition, the AlA opposes granting titles to individuals through grandfather clauses. When grandfathering is required by law, strict and equivalent education, training, and testing criteria should be applied. The AlA also believes that use of a seal should not be granted to disciplines under title registration.

Explanation. Protection of titles is intended to assure the public that the person using the title has specialized education and precise, practical training combined with an examination specific to the discipline as follows:

• A four-year minimum professional degree or its equivalent;

• A structured internship with qualitative as well as quantitative criteria; and

• An examination that is task-related, focused on public safety, and validated by recognized testing agencies.

Systems of education, experience, and examination, to ensure minimum level of competency, must be established in advance for any specialized disciplines seeking title registration.

To ensure minimum levels of competency and to provide for continued protection of public health, safety, and welfare, systems of education, experience, and examination, must be established in advance for any specialized disciplines seeking title registration.

In providing architectural services, architects use titles that may be reserved for specialized disciplines. This registration legislation must not limit architects’ use of those titles.

This policy is one of an integrated group of policies on licensing issues.

Board Approval - March 1989

September 2000 Committee Recommendation: Revise