50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Alaska Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Alaska.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Alaska for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Alaska Architecture Company Licenses

Alaska Certificate of Authorization for Corporate, LLC, or LLP Practice

Agency:Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
Law:

AS § 08.48.241

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint an Alaska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Professional Corporations:

  • All of the incorporators, directors, and shareholders must have an Alaska-issued license in the profession practiced by the corporation.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint an Alaska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Each member of a partnership must be an Alaska licensed design professional.

Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the LLP must appoint an Alaska licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Initial Registration

Form:

Certificate of Authorization for Corporate LLC, or LLP Practice

Filing Method:

Mail or fax.

Agency Fee:

$200 application fee + $300 registration fee

Turnaround:

An email confirmation will be sent within 5 business days; final approval by the board is sent within 60 days. The typical turnaround time is 10-15 business days.

Before you Apply:

Domestic and Foreign Applicants:

  1. A certified notarized copy of amendment showing compliance with AS 08.48.241(b)(1)
  2. A certified notarized copy of resolution by the corporation’s board of directors, the LLC’s managing members or manager, or the LLP’s general partners designating the Alaska-registered person(s) in responsible charge for each field or branch of service offered.
  3. A certified sealed statement (found in application packet) from the Alaska-registered person(s) designated in responsible charge.
  4. Documentation of corporation, LLC, or LLP’s experience i.e., a company brochure or statement of experience. If the company is new, provide a resume of each person in responsible charge.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Register your business with the Corporations, Business, & Professional Licensing - Corporations Section.
  2. File a Certificate of Authorization application with the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Foreign qualify your business (unless exempt) with the Corporations, Business, & Professional Licensing - Corporations Section.

  2. File a Certificate of Authorization application with the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.
Required Attachments:
  • Entity number/Certificate of registration from the State of Alaska’s Division of Corporations, or, if you are an out-of-state company, a letter from an officer explaining how the company meets a corporate exemption.
  • Authorization for Release of Records
  • Certified notarized copy of amendment showing compliance with AS 08.48.241(b)(1)
  • Certified notarized copy of resolution by the corporation’s board of directors, the LLC’s managing members or manager, or the LLP’s general partners designating the Alaska-registered person(s) in responsible charge for each field or branch of service offered
  • Certified sealed statement from the Alaska-registered person(s) designated in responsible charge.
  • Documentation of corporation, LLC, or LLP’s experience i.e., a company brochure or statement of experience. If the company is new, please provide a resume of each person in responsible charge.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Biennial Certificate of Authorization Renewal for Corporate LLC or LLP Practice

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$300. Firms that obtained a license in the second half of the renewal period and are renewing for the first time pay a prorated fee of $150.

Turnaround:

4-6 weeks

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Penalties:

$50

Required Attachments:
  • List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
  • Disclosure of disciplinary actions taken against individuals in leadership roles or acting as qualifying individuals (if applicable)

Amendment

Form:

Application for Amendment for Certificate of Authorization for Corporate, LLC, or LLP Practice

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Notes:

The amendment form is used to report changes to:

  • Your corporate name
  • The person(s) designated in responsible charge
  • Added endorsements for field(s) of practice
  • Altered ownership of the corporation/ the membership of the limited liability company/ or the partners of the limited liability partnership.
Required Attachments:

Attachments needed if you have a change in corporate, LLP, or LLP name:

  • Photocopy of certificate from the Corporations section of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing showing the new corporate, LLC, or LLP name.
  • Certified notarized copy of the corporate board of directors, the managing members or manager of the LLC, or the general partners of the LLP’s resolution to change the name.

 

Attachments needed if you have a change in person(s) designated in Responsible Charge:

  • Certified notarized copy of the corporate board of directors, the managing members or manager of the LLC, or the general partners of the LLP’s resolution designating the current Alaska-registered professional in responsible charge for each branch of practice.
  • Certified statement from person(s) designated as being in responsible charge.

 

Attachments needed if you have a change in field(s) of practice:

  • Certified notarized copy of the amendment to corporate, LLC or LLP bylaws indicating each field in which the corporation, LLC, or LLP wishes to practice.
  • Certified notarized copy of the corporate board of directors’ resolution, the managing members or manager of the LLC, or the general partners of the LLP’s resolution designating the current Alaska-registered professional in charge for each branch of practice.

Reinstatement

Agency Fee:

$300 for licenses expired for less than 5 years and $500 for licenses expired for 5 years or more.

Notes:

License expired under 5 years follow the standard renewal procedure. Licenses lapsed more than 5 years must submit a new license application.

Alaska Interior Design Firm License

Not required



Interior Design Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Alaska.

Alaska does not currently license or register interior design businesses.

Individual Licenses

Alaska Individual Architecture Licenses

Alaska Architect License

Agency:Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

This section applies to architects that are applying for a license in Alaska for the first time.

Form:

Application for Architect by Exam

Agency Fee:

$200 application fee + $100 registration fee

Notarization Required?:Required

Reciprocal Registration

This section applies to architects licensed in another state that are looking for reciprocal licensure in Alaska.

Form:

Application by comity

Instructions:
  • Applications and supporting documents, (work experience verifications, official transcripts and verification of registration and examination) and nonrefundable application fees must be received in the Juneau office 30 days before a scheduled board meeting.
  • Applicants will be notified via email of action taken by the Board as soon as possible, but not more than three weeks after the board meeting. All documents received prior to receipt of application will be held up to one year and matched with an application upon rece
  • Alaska does NOT offer reciprocity (written agreement) with any other state or country.
  • Comity MAY be granted to professional registrants from other states, territories, and foreign countries at the discretion of the Board and in compliance with statutes and regulations.
  • Applicants are required to have all examinations and required work experience verified by a third party using Alaska forms and mailed directly to the Alaska board office. NCARB Council Records may be accepted for verification of education, examinations, and current registration, however the corresponding section of the application must be filled in – do not put “see NCARB Record”.
  • Applicants must meet the qualifications for licensure in accordance with AS 08.48.201.
Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$100 registration fee + $200 non refundable application fee = $300 

Turnaround:
  • Applications are processed according to the date received. The Board meets four times a year, usually in February, May, August, and November. Board meeting dates are posted on the Board’s website
  • The average time to process a paper application is 2-4 weeks from the date it is received in this office, complete with all correct forms and supporting documents and appropriate fees paid
Notes:Reciprocal applicants must take an Arctic engineering course and complete a jurisprudence questionnaire.
Required Attachments:
  • Education, Exam,  Experience & Registration Verification 
    • NCARB Record OR
    • If you were initially licensed on or before July 13, 2011, you may submit the following in lieu of an NCARB Record.
      • Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the institution by email or mail. (12 AAC 36.061)
      • Verification of A.R.E. exams and current registration in at least one other state must be submitted directly from the state board(s) to our office; these can be accepted by email or mail.
    • And Either - 
      • Completed work experience verification form (08-TBP) showing at least 24 months R.C. per 12 AAC 36.103(b)(3). 
      • Two Letters of reference verifying the applicant’s experience as a registered architect for five years or more in a state, territory, or a possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country. Each letter must be signed and sealed by a professional architect in a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country. Letters can be accepted electronically and must address
        • Your professional experience since registration as a licensed architect
        • Your ability and character;
        • The reference’s professional association to you, demonstrating direct knowledge of your work experience as a registered architect;
        • How long the reference has been an associate of yours (minimum five years) during your tenure as a registered architect;
  • All architect applicants must successfully complete a Board-approved arctic course (listed on the Board’s website). You may submit your application prior to completion of the course to expedite the application process. (12 AAC 36.110(a)) 
  • Jurisprudence  Questionnaire 

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architects that are already licensed in Alaska and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100 for active registrations and $50 for licenses issued in the second half of the biennial renewal period during their first renewal.

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Alaska Interior Designer License

Not required



Interior Designer licensure is not required on the State level in Alaska.

Alaska Landscape Architect Registration

Agency:Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Architect by Exam

Agency Fee:

$200 application fee + $100 registration fee

Notarization Required?:Required

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100 for active registrations and $50 for licenses issued in the second half of the biennial renewal period during their first renewal.

Due:

By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Learn about architecture licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ARE (Architect Registration Examination) - Assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required to be a practicing architect.

AXP (Architectural Experience Program) - NCARB program for architectural internship, a requirement for licensure that occurs after filling the educational requirements.

BEFA (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect) - An alternative NCARB certification that allows foreign architects to independently practice architecture.

COA (Certificate of Authorization) - The most common name of the registration required for firms to practice architecture in a given state.

Design Firm - Architectural firm registration is sometimes grouped with engineering and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

NCARB Certification - Licensed architects have the option to become Certificate holders to signify that they have met national standards established by U.S. licensing boards for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Certification also facilitates reciprocal registration in all 54 jurisdictions, 11 Canadian jurisdictions, and can be used to support an application for licensure in other countries.

Reciprocity - This is when a licensed architect in one state can provide documentation (often a NCARB certificate) to more easily apply for licensure in another jurisdiction.

State Board - Often referred to as the State Architects Licensure Board or Board of Architects, an individual state’s board serves as the regulatory authority for architects. The board qualifies and licenses individuals seeking architectural licensure. The board is responsible for preserving the public health, safety, and welfare of individuals who occupy built environments.

National Architecture Accrediting Board
NAAB establishes criteria for and accredits professional architecture degree programs in the United States.

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
AIAS is an independent, student-run group that promotes excellence in architecture education, training, and practice.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA is a voluntary professional organization for architects providing advocacy, information, and community.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
ACSA represents architectural education programs across the globe.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
NCARB is the national organization representing the state registration boards.

Revised March 15, 2023. Complete data last reviewed February 15, 2023.
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