§ 7308. Mandatory continuing education for architects. 1. (a) Each
licensed architect required under this article to register triennially
with the department to practice in the state shall comply with
provisions of the mandatory continuing education requirements prescribed
in subdivision two of this section except as set forth in paragraphs (b)
and (c) of this subdivision. Architects who do not satisfy the mandatory
continuing education requirements shall not practice until they have met
such requirements, and have been issued a registration certificate,
except that an architect may practice without having met such
requirements if he or she is issued a conditional registration
certificate pursuant to subdivision three of this section.

(b) In accord with the intent of this section, an adjustment and/or
exemption to the mandatory continuing education requirement may be
granted by the department for reasons of health certified by an
appropriate health care professional, for extended active duty with the
armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to
the department which may prevent compliance.

(c) A licensed architect not engaged in practice as determined by the
department, shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing education
requirement upon the filing of a statement with the department declaring
such status. Any licensee who returns to the practice of architecture
during the triennial registration period shall notify the department
prior to reentering the profession and shall meet such mandatory
education requirements as shall be prescribed by regulations of the
commissioner.

2. During each triennial registration period an applicant for
registration shall complete a minimum of thirty-six hours of acceptable
continuing education, as specified in subdivision four of this section,
provided that a minimum of twenty-four hours of such continuing
education shall be in the areas of health, safety and welfare. Any
architect whose first registration date following the effective date of
this section occurs less than three years from such effective date, but
on or after January first, two thousand one, shall complete continuing
education hours on a prorated basis at the rate of one hour per month
for the period beginning January first, two thousand up to the first
registration date thereafter. A licensee who has not satisfied the
mandatory continuing education requirements shall not be issued a
triennial registration certificate by the department and shall not
practice unless and until a conditional registration certificate is
issued as provided for in subdivision three of this section. With the
exception of continuing education hours taken during the registration
period immediately preceding the effective date of this section, no more
than six continuing education hours taken during one triennium may be
transferred to a subsequent triennium.

3. The department, in its discretion, may issue a conditional
registration to a licensee who fails to meet the continuing education
requirements established in subdivision two of this section but who
agrees to make up any deficiencies and complete any additional education
which the department may require. The fee for such a conditional
registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee for the
triennial registration. The duration of such conditional registration
shall be determined by the department but shall not exceed one year. Any
licensee who is notified of the denial of registration for failure to
submit evidence, satisfactory to the department, of required continuing
education and who practices architecture without such registration, may
be subject to disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five
hundred ten of this title.

4. As used in subdivision two of this section, "acceptable continuing
education" shall mean courses of learning and educational activities in
architecture, engineering, interior design, land surveying, landscape
architecture and geology that may contribute to professional practice in
architecture and which meet the standards prescribed by regulations of
the commissioner. Completing courses of learning and educational
activities that fall within the scope of practice of another licensed
profession does not authorize the licensed architect to lawfully
practice a profession that they are not authorized to practice as
defined in section seventy-three hundred one of this article. The
department may, in its discretion and as needed to contribute to the
health and welfare of the public, require the completion of continuing
education courses in specific subjects.

5. Architects shall maintain adequate documentation of completion of
acceptable continuing education and educational activities and shall
provide such documentation at the request of the department.

6. The mandatory continuing education fee shall be forty-five dollars,
shall be payable on or before the first day of each triennial
registration period, and shall be paid in addition to the triennial
registration fee required by section seventy-three hundred four of this
article.