Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners

Registration by Examination Application

Registration by Examination

• Request transmittal of your NCARB Completed Record to the Board which includes official documentary evidence of the following:
  • A professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), or a professional degree in architecture certified by the CACB from a Canadian University
  • Completion of the Architectural Experience Program (AXP)
  • Passing the Architect Registration Exam (ARE)
• Submit a complete Registration by Examination Application
• Pay the Application and Certificate of Registration fees via check or Online Payments
• Pass the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (JE) – information regarding this exam will be provided upon completion of the application and payment of the application fee 

Architect Emeritus

• The title of "Architect Emeritus" may be granted, at the discretion of the Board, upon submission of an application from an Oregon registered architect who is currently in good standing with the Board.
• To be eligible for consideration, the architect must:
  • Be 60 years of age or older;
  • Have practiced architecture in a recognized jurisdiction for a minimum of 20 years; and
  • Have been an Oregon resident during the architect's active architectural practice and held an
• Oregon certificate of registration as an individual architect for a minimum of 10 consecutive years.
•  There are no fees for Architect Emeritus status.
•  Architect Emeritus is an inactive status. The individual is not eligible to practice architecture in Oregon and may not use the architect title.
• In order to be eligible to practice architecture in Oregon, the Architect Emeritus must comply with the reinstatement requirements found in OAR 806-010-0060.
• The Board will issue a certificate to those receiving Architect Emeritus status according to OAR 806- 0

Email architectboard@osbae.oregon.gov

$75-$150 application fee + $75 exam fee

An architect that provides architectural services under any name other than their individual name registered with the Board followed by the title "Architect" must also register as a firm with OSBAE and the Oregon Secretary of State. 

Registration by Reciprocity Application

• Possess an active architectural certificate of registration or license from another Board recognized jurisdiction
• Transmit an active Certificate issued by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) OR Submit official (i.e., provided to the Board by the granting authority) documentary evidence of all the following:
  • A professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), or a professional degree in architecture certified by the CACB from a Canadian University
  • Passing the ARE or the examination equivalents to the ARE as listed in the June 2020 NCARB. Certification Guidelines, available at www.ncarb.org
  • Completion of the NCARB AXP program, or two years of practice in architecture in a Board recognized jurisdiction after initial registration or licensure
• Submit a complete Registration by Reciprocity Application
• Pay the Application and Certificate of Registration fees via check or Online Payments
• Pass the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (JE) – information regarding this exam will be provided upon completion of the application and payment of the application fee

• Payment : mail or online
• Send the notarized application and attachments to architectboard@osbae.oregon.gov or to the street address listed above. Keep a copy of the application for your records. Applications are valid for 12 months from the date received by the Board.

$100 reciprical fee + $200 registration fee

• If you answer Yes to question 3, 4, 5, or 6 regarding discipline or previous criminal charges, you must provide additional information.
  o Architectural firms must also be registered with the Board. The Architectural Firm Application can be found at www.osbae.com under Applications and Forms.
  o Statutes and Administrative Rules governing the practice of architecture in Oregon can be viewed at www.osbae.com under Statutes.
  o Once we receive your application and fee, you will be emailed a link that will give you access to the Board’s online Jurisprudence Exam (JE). To prepare for the exam, review Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules on the Board’s website. Once you begin, you will have 90 minutes to complete the JE. The minimum passing score is 84%. There is a 7-day waiting period to retake the JE, if failed.
  o The email address you enter on this application will be used for all communication from OSBAE.
  o Once registered, you will practice as an individual under your legal name as it appears on your registration certificate. Please enter the correct name on the application.

• NCARB record must be transmitted to this office.
• If No, submit official documentary evidence of the following (Note: OSBAE will only accept official documents sent directly from the licensing agency):
  (A) A professional degree in architecture meeting the education standard under OAR
  806-010-0010(1) [Note: if you do not meet this requirement you must hold an active
  NCARB certificate and have your certified record transmitted to this office];
  (B) Successful completion of the ARE or the examination equivalent to the ARE as listed in the current NCARB Certification Guidelines; and
  (C) Completion of the NCARB AXP program, or two years of practice in architecture in a Board recognized jurisdiction after initial registration or licensure.

Online

$200

Biennially by December 31. Registrations ending with an even number renew every even-numbered year and registrations ending with an odd number renew every odd-numbered year.

Architectural Firm Application

Mail or email to architectboard@osbae.oregon.gov

$100 application fee + $200 registration fee

2-3 weeks

Name Requirements

• The firm may use the plural form of architect in its name only if the firm has more than one individual architect actively registered in any Board recognized jurisdiction
• The name may only include the surname of any person presently or previously associated in the practice of architecture or engineering in any jurisdiction recognized by the Board with the named entity or its members or predecessors
• When wording is used to suggest the existence of additional principals, directors, partners or associates, such as "Associated," "Group," "& Associates," or "Partners," the reference must be to existing persons currently or previously within the firm
• The firm name may contain numbers as long as it is not misleading to the public, i.e., “Three Oregon Architects” must have three architects registered in Oregon

Domestic Applicants:

• Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
• Identify an Oregon licensed architect to act as the firm representative in charge of the firm's professional activities in Oregon.

Foreign Applicants:

• Ensure that your Oregon entity will meet ownership requirements.
• Identify an Oregon licensed architect to act as the firm representative in charge of the firm's professional activities in Oregon.
• Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Oregon Secretary of State - Corporations Division.
2. Obtain a certificate of existence from the Secretary of State to file with your license application.
3. File a Architectural Firm Application with the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the Oregon Secretary of State - Corporations Division.
2. Obtain a certificate of existence from the Secretary of State to file with your license application.
3. File a Architectural Firm Application with the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners.

• A copy of your firm’s Certificate of Existence issued by the Oregon Secretary of State
• List of directors, members, or partners including addresses, license numbers, and jurisdiction in which they are licensed

Online

$200

Annually by January 31. Firms that initially apply for a license after October 1 of a given year are not required to also renew by January 31 of the upcoming year.

Registered firms will receive a renewal notice, through e-mail, in December.

• List of directors, members, or partners of the firm including addresses and license numbers
• Disclosure of disciplinary actions taken against individuals with an interest in the firm (if applicable)

Contact Information Change Form

Within 60 days of the effective date of the change.

A change of firm name requires that you reapply.