50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Nevada Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Nevada.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Nevada 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

Nevada Architecture Company Licenses

Nevada Firm Registration

Agency:Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design
Law:

NRS § 623.349

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

All Entities:

  • Nevada architects, registered interior designers, and residential designers may form business organizations with persons who are not design professionals, as well as with persons not registered in the state. These businesses can be formed if at least two-thirds of the ownership is held by Nevada registrants licensed pursuant to NRS 623, NRS 623a (landscape architects) or NRS 625 (professional engineers). NRS 623.349
Notes:
  • Businesses engaging in the practice of architecture, registered interior design, or residential design, that are not wholly owned by Nevada registrants, must register with the board.
  • All business entities using corporate or fictitious names, and providing architectural, registered interior design, or residential design services in Nevada, must have their firm names approved by NSBAIDRD. Businesses requesting firm registration are automatically requesting firm name approval and do not need to submit any additional paperwork.
  • Businesses not owned by persons registered under NRS 623 are not required to register their firms with NSBAIDRD.

Initial Registration

This section applies to architectural firms that are applying for a license in Nevada for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Form:

Firm Registration Application or Firm Name Approval Application

Filing Method:

Email to board@boe.state.nv.us

Agency Fee:

$300 if filing firm name approval or $300 application fee + $125 certificate of registration fee if applying for name registration.

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:
  • The firm must employ a Nevada licensed professional before submitting a Firm Registration form
  • If firm has 'Architect' in the name, submit wallet card for qualified individuals with SOS registration
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Nevada licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural or design activities. If the firm maintains multiple office locations in Nevada, a separate responsible individual must be appointed for each office location.
  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • The firm must obtain a Nevada State Business License and Business Name Authorization.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Nevada licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural or design activities. If the firm maintains multiple office locations in Nevada, a separate responsible individual must be appointed for each office location.
  • Ensure that your Nevada entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • If a corporation, obtain certified copies of your articles of incorporation, and certified copies of all amendments to file during the foreign qualification process. These documents must be dated within 90 days of the time of submitting your foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If a PC or PLLC, obtain a certificate from the regulating board of the profession to be practiced showing that each of the directors, and each of the stockholders who is a natural person, is licensed to practice the profession.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Nevada Secretary of State.
  3. Obtain a Nevada certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State (to be filed with firm registration).
  4. File a Firm Registration Application or Firm Name Approval Application with the State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. If a PC, obtain a certificate from the regulating board of the profession to be practiced showing that each of the directors, and each of the stockholders who is a natural person, is licensed to practice the profession.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Nevada Secretary of State.
  3. Obtain a Nevada certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State (to be filed with firm registration).
  4. File a Firm Registration Application or Firm Name Approval Application with the State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design.
Required Attachments:
  • Applicants required to file with the Nevada Secretary of State must include a Certificate of Existence of Good Standing from the Secretary of State with their application
  • A file-stamped copy of the entity's registration documents filed with the Nevada Secretary of State
  • List of Nevada licensed professionals including license number and percent ownership
  • Chain of command that will be followed with the organization, including the role of each individual and their responsibilities
  • List of officers, directors, partners, members or principles of the business, and the person(s) having "control" over the organization
  • List of persons who own an interest in the business including their address, telephone number, Nevada registration number, position with the company, percentage of ownership interest, how the ownership interest is held (i.e. individually, shares, stock, etc.), and the services the person is to provide to the business.
  • If an owner is not registered in Nevada, include a list of the other states in which each owner is registered, as well as his/her NCARB or NCIDQ certificate number.
  • Attestation for each ownership interest holder

Renewal Not Required

This section applies to architectural firms that are already licensed in Nevada and need to renew their license.

Not required



Firm registrations do not need to be renewed, however, changes to firm information should be reported to the board.

Amendment
Change of Address

Form:

Change of Address Form

Agency Fee:

$0

Amendment
Change of Name, Ownership, or Entity Structure

Form:

Firm Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Changes to a firm's name, ownership, or entity structure must be reported on a new license application within 30 days of the effective date of the change.

Nevada Landscape Architecture Firm License

Not required



Landscape Architecture Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Nevada.

More information: Nevada State Board of Landscape Architecture

Individual Licenses

Nevada Individual Architecture Licenses

Nevada Architect License

Agency:Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

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

Form:

Architectural Registration by Examination Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$150 registration + $125 one-time fee to process the wall certificate application fee + $50 exam fee

Required Attachments:
  •  Indicate if your business or home address will be your public address. If no indication is made, your business address will be public. Please note, your public address cannot be a P.O. Box
  • The photograph should be 2.5" x 2.5" and similar to a passport photo. It must be recent, taken in the past 12 months. Photographs can be digital
  • An application processing fee of $50 must accompany your application. If paying with a credit card please use the credit card authorization form, which can be found on the “Forms” page of the board website. 
  • The applicant will be required to take an open-book jurisprudence quiz. The quiz will be sent to you once your application has been processed and reviewed

Reciprocal Registration

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

Form:

Architectural Registration by Reciprocity Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$300

Notes:Reciprocal applicants must pass the open book jurisprudence examination on Nevada laws and regulations.
Required Attachments:
  • Indicate if your business or home address will be your public address. If no indication is made, your business address will be public. Please note, your public address cannot be a P.O. Box.
  • The photograph should be 2.5" x 2.5" and similar to a passport photo. It must be recent, taken in the past 12 months. Photographs can be digital.
  • An application processing fee of $300 must accompany your application. If paying with a credit card please use the credit card authorization form, which can be found on the “Forms” page of the board website.
  • The applicant will be required to take an open-book jurisprudence quiz

Registration Renewal

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

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Nevada Interior Designer Registration

Agency:Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Interior Design Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$100 examination fee + $125 certificate fee

Notarization Required?:Required

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Nevada Landscape Architect Registration

Agency:Nevada State Board of Landscape Architecture

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Professional Registration

Agency Fee:

$175 application fee + $75 Nevada exam fee

Notarization Required?:Required

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Form:

Application for Renewal of Registration

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Nevada Residential Designer Registration

Agency:Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Residential Designer Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$300 examination fee + $125 certificate fee

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by December 31.

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 16, 2023. Complete data last reviewed February 14, 2023.
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