50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Florida Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Florida.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Florida 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

Florida Architecture Company Licenses

Florida Architectural Business Registration

Agency:Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design
Law:

F.S. § 481.219

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least one of the principal officers must be an architect licensed in Florida.

Professional Corporations:

  • Shareholders of Florida PCs must be either licensed individuals, a professional corporation, or a professional limited liability company.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least one of the principal members must be an architect licensed in Florida.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • Shareholders of Florida PLLCs must be either licensed individuals, a professional corporation, or a professional limited liability company.

Partnerships:

  • At least one of the partners must be an architect licensed in Florida.
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Businesses must have a qualifying agent that is a registered architect. 
  • The board will allow a licensee or an applicant to qualify one or more businesses to offer arhitectural services, or to use a fictious name to offer such services, if one or more of the principal officers of the corporation, limited liability company, or partnership who act in its behalf in this state as architects, are registered as defined in F.S. § 481.219

Initial Registration

Form:

Form AR 5: Qualify an Architectural Business Organization

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

  • BUSINESS OFFICER: You must report one of the following:

    • Florida-licensed architect must be a principal officer of the company to qualify the business.

    • A principal officer as defined and registered with the Department of State, Division of Corporations www.sunbiz.org; or

    • Any other officer who has management responsibilities in the business entity, as documented by the charter or by-laws.

  • SUPERVISORY CONTROL:

    • Florida-licensed architect must be in responsible supervisory control of all business offices including branch offices.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Florida licensed individual to act as the qualifying architect and a Florida licensed individual to act as the responsible supervisor for each Florida branch office location.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Florida licensed individual to act as the qualifying architect and a Florida licensed individual to act as the responsible supervisor for each Florida branch office location.
  • Ensure that your Florida entity meets ownership requirements.
  • 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 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File formation documents to form a Florida business entity with the Department of State.
  2. Submit an Application to Qualify an Architectural Business Organization with the Board of Architecture and Interior Design.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File a foreign entity qualification application to foreign qualify your entity with the Department of State.
  2. Submit an Application to Qualify an Architectural Business Organization with the Board of Architecture and Interior Design.
Required Attachments:
  • Proof of the Certificate of Status as registered with the Department of State, Division of Corporations
  • List of principal officers, partners, and other licensed architects employed by the business organization in Florida including title, contact information, and license number
  • List of all branch offices located in Florida including address and information for the responsible supervisor architect
  • List of all marketing officers located in Florida

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Architectural Business Registrations do not expire, but qualifying architects must maintain their individual licenses in order for the firm to remain in good standing.

Amendment

Form:

Form AR 7: Architect Business – Request for Address Change, License Renewal, Qualifier Change, Branch Office Responsible Supervisor in Control, or Business Closure

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of a change to information reported on the initial registration application.

Florida Interior Design Firm License

Not required



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

Florida no longer requires interior design firms to obtain a license.

More information: Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design

Florida Landscape Architecture Business Registration

Agency:Florida Board of Landscape Architecture
Qualifying Individual Requirements:

A qualifier must be a Florida Registered Landscape Architect who is an officer, director or partner in the business to be qualified.

Initial Registration

Form:

Form LA 8: Qualify a Business

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Notarization Required?:Not required

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Landscape architectural business registrations do not expire, but qualifying landscape architects must maintain their individual licenses in order for the firm to remain in good standing.

Individual Licenses

Florida Individual Architecture Licenses

Florida Architect License

Agency:Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

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

Form:

Architect – Initial Licensure by Examination / NCARB Direct Registration (AR 1)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$20

Reciprocal Registration

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

Form:

Architect – NCARB Certified Endorsement Applicant (AR 6)

  • This application is used by individuals that have the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification, have passed the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) or predecessor exam, and have a valid license to practice architecture in another state or jurisdiction of the United States. Pursuant to Section 481.213, Florida Statutes, all endorsement applicants must complete two (2) hours of board approved education on wind mitigation techniques.

Architect – State Endorsement Applicant (AR 8)

  • This application is used by individuals that are not licensed in any state or jurisdiction but have passed the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE), completed National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) internship or equivalent, and have a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) degree. This application can be used by individuals that were previously licensed in Florida but the license is null and void. Pursuant to Section 481.213, Florida Statutes, all endorsement applicants must complete two (2) hours of board approved education on wind mitigation techniques.

Architect – Direct Endorsement Applicant (AR 8)

  • This application is used by individuals that are not licensed in any state or jurisdiction but have passed the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE), completed National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) internship or equivalent, and have a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) degree. This application can be used by individuals that were previously licensed in Florida but the license is null and void. Pursuant to Section 481.213, Florida Statutes, all endorsement applicants must complete two (2) hours of board approved education on wind mitigation techniques.

Architect – Professional Licensure for Military Personnel/Veterans/Military Spouses (MVL 003)

  • This application is for any individual that is currently serving, or has formerly served and received an honorable discharge, as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a spouse or surviving spouse of such member; and currently holds a valid license for the corresponding profession in another state, the District of Columbia, any United States territory or possession, or a foreign jurisdiction. Applicants meeting these requirements will not be required to pass a Florida examination.

Architect – Professional Licensure under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA 1)

  • This application is for any individual that has relocated to Florida due to military orders, and holds a valid license or certification for the corresponding profession in another state, District of Columbia, any possession or territory of the United States, or any foreign jurisdiction; and is currently serving, as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or is a spouse of such member who wishes to qualify for Professional License Portability in Florida under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 4025(a).
Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on how you apply:

  • $20 if applying by NCARB Direct Registration
  • $35 if applying by NCARB Certified Endorsement
  • $90 if applying by State Endorsement or Direct Endorsement

Registration Renewal

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

By February 28 of odd-numbered years.

Florida Interior Designer Registration

Agency:Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Interior Designer – Initial by Registration (ID 1)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$30

Initial Registration

Form:

Interior Designer - Architect seeking Registration as an Interior Designer (AR 4)

Filing Method:

Mail or online

Agency Fee:

$30

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Interior Designer – Registration by Endorsement (ID 4)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$30

Notes:

Reciprocal registration for interior designers licensed in other jurisdictions.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By February 28 of odd-numbered years.

Florida Landscape Architect Registration

Agency:Florida Board of Landscape Architecture

Initial Registration

Form:

Landscape Architect – Examination (LA 1)

Agency Fee:

$100 application fee + $267 exam fee + $112.50 license fee + $5 unlicensed activity fee (If you graduated from an LAAB Accredited program within the last 2 years the $100 application fee is waived.)

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Landscape Architect – Endorsement (LA 3)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$534.50

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$225

Due:

By November 30 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 14, 2023.
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