20250AB__075994CHP INTRODUCED 2025-02-18 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-04-10 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-04-23 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-07-17 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2025-09-08 PASSED_SENATE 2025-09-04 ENROLLED 2025-09-10 CHAPTERED 2025-10-06 APPROVED 2025-10-06 FILED 2025-10-06 2025 AB CHP CHP 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Valencia LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia

An act to add and repeal Sections 5500.2, 5587, and 5587.5 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations, and making an appropriation therefor. professions and vocations, and making an appropriation therefor Architects: architects-in-training. Existing law, the Architects Practice Act, establishes the California Architects Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for licensing and regulation of persons engaged in the practice of architecture, and defines the term “architect” for those purposes.

That act requires an applicant for licensure as an architect to, among other things, take an examination. The act imposes various fees on licensees and applicants for a license, which are deposited in the California Architects Board Fund, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would authorize a person to apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” after they have been identified as a candidate for licensure by the board and certain requirements are met, including that they successfully passed at least one division of the above-described examination.

The bill would require, before the board approves an authorization to an applicant to use that title, the licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the applicant while using the title to submit to the board a form agreeing to be responsible for the work to be performed by the applicant while using the title, as specified, and require a person using the title, if the licensed architect responsible for supervising the person while using the title changes, to notify the board of the change within days of the change, as specified.

The bill would authorize a person using the title, during any period in which the person is not under supervision of a licensed architect, to request the board to place their authorization to use the title on inactive status, as specified. The bill would prohibit the use of an abbreviation or derivative of that title, other than “AIT,” and would prohibit a person from using that title to independently offer or provide architectural services to the public. The bill would authorize the board to disclose a person’s authorization to use that title to a member of the public upon request.

The bill would provide that the use of that title in violation of these provisions may constitute unprofessional conduct and subject the user of the title to administrative action, including denial of a license. The bill would authorize the board to charge a reasonable fee to evaluate whether a person meets the requirements to use the title “architect-in-training.” By increasing moneys deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would authorize a person to use the title “architect-in-training” for no more than years after approval by the board.

The bill would authorize a person to apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” a 2nd time if the person has passed a division of the above-described exam in the years immediately preceding the person’s application. The bill would prohibit a person from applying to the board to use the title “architect-in training” on or after January 1, 2033. The act authorizes the board, upon its own motion, and requires the board, upon the verified complaint in writing of any person, to investigate the actions of any architect.

In this regard, the act authorizes the board to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke the license of any architect who is guilty of, or commits one or more of, certain acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action under the act, including the conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of an architect by the holder of a license.

This bill would authorize the board, upon its own initiative or upon the receipt of a complaint, to investigate the actions of any person using the title “architect-in-training” as described above, and to make findings for those purposes. In this regard, the bill would authorize the board to suspend or revoke an active authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” for certain reasons, including that the person using the title committed any act of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining the authorization to use that title.

The bill would specify that a licensed architect who is responsible for supervising a person using the title “architect-in-training” as described above is subject to disciplinary actions for any violations of the act committed by the person using that title within the course and scope of their employment. The bill would make its provisions operative on January 1, 2027, and would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2037. MAJORITY YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 5500.2 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 5500.2. (

a) A person may apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” once they have been identified as a candidate for licensure by the board and both of the following requirements are met:

(1) The applicant successfully passed at least one division of the examination described in

Section 5550.

(2) The applicant submits to the board the name and license number of the licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the applicant while using the title “architect-in-training”. (b)

(1) Before the board approves an authorization for an applicant to use the title “architect-in-training,” the licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the applicant while using the title shall submit to the board a form, as determined by the board, agreeing to be responsible for the work to be performed by the applicant while using the title. (2) (

A) If a licensed architect responsible for supervising a person while using the title “architect-in-training” changes, the person using the title shall, within days of the change, notify the board of the change and the name and license number of the subsequent licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the person while using the title. (B) (

i) Notwithstanding

Section 5587, a person using the title “architect-in-training” may, during any period in which the person is not under supervision of a licensed architect, request the board to place their authorization to use the title on inactive status. (ii) The board may reactivate an authorization made inactive pursuant to clause (

i) upon receipt of the name and license number of the subsequent licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the applicant while using the title. The board shall not require a person seeking reactivation to reapply or pay an additional fee for those purposes. (

c) An abbreviation or derivative of the title “architect-in-training,” other than “AIT,” shall not be used. (

d) A person shall not use the title “architect-in-training” to independently offer or provide architectural services to the public. (

e) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may disclose a person’s authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” to a member of the public upon request. (

f) The use of the title “architect-in-training” in violation of this

section may constitute unprofessional conduct and subject the user of the title to administrative action, including, but not limited to, citation, discipline, including any disciplinary action pursuant to

Section or any regulation adopted by the board related to this

section or

Section 5587, and denial of a license. (

g) The board may charge a fee, not to exceed the reasonable cost to the board, to evaluate whether a candidate meets the requirements to use the title “architect-in-training.” (h)

(1) A person may use the title “architect-in-training” for no more than four years after approval by the board.

(2) A person may apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” a second time if the person has passed a division of the exam described in

Section in the four years immediately preceding the person’s application. (

i) A person shall not apply to the board to obtain authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” on or after January 1, 2033. (

j) This

section shall become operative on January 1, 2027. (

k) This

section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2037, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

Section is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 5587. (

a) The board may, upon its own initiative or upon the receipt of a complaint, investigate the actions of any person using the title “architect-in-training” pursuant to

Section 5500.2, and make findings for those purposes. (

b) The board may suspend or revoke an active authorization to use the title “architect-in-training” approved pursuant to

Section 5500.2 for any of the following reasons:

(1) There is no longer a licensed architect responsible for supervising the person using the title “architect-in-training,” regardless of who ended the supervisory arrangement.

(2) The person using the title “architect-in-training” committed any act of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining the authorization to use that title.

(3) The person using the title “architect-in-training” violated any provision of this

chapter or any regulation adopted by the board related to this chapter, or aids or abets any person in the violation of this

chapter or those regulations. (

c) This

section shall become operative on January 1, 2027. (

d) This

section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2037, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC.

Section 5587.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 5587.5. (

a) A licensed architect who is responsible for supervising a person using the title “architect-in-training” pursuant to

Section 5500.2 shall be subject to disciplinary actions for any violations of this

chapter committed by the person using that title within the course and scope of their employment. (

b) This

section shall become operative on January 1, 2027. (

c) This

section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2037, and as of that date is repealed.