Senate Bill No. 96

Senate Bill No. 96-Committee on Commerce and Labor

January 30, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

SUMMARY--Revises provisions governing examination of applicant for registration as architect. (BDR 54-719)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to the practice of architecture; revising the provisions governing the examination of an applicant for registration as an architect; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

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Section 1 NRS 623.160 is hereby amended to read as follows:
623.160 [All] Except as otherwise provided in NRS 623.190, all fees provided for by the provisions of this chapter must be paid to and receipted for by the secretary of the board, who shall deposit the fees in banks in the State of Nevada or institutions in this state whose business is the making of investments. Fees so deposited [shall] may be drawn against only for the purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 2 NRS 623.190 is hereby amended to read as follows:
623.190 1. Any person who is at least 21 years of age and of good moral character and who meets the requirements for education and practical training established by the board by regulation may apply to the board for registration [under] pursuant to this section as an architect.
2. Each year of study, up to and including 5 years of study, satisfactorily completed in an architectural program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, any program of architecture in the State of Nevada or any architectural program approved by the state board of architecture, interior design and residential design is considered equivalent to 1 year of experience in architectural work for the purpose of registration as an architect.
3. The board shall, by regulation, establish standards for examinations which must be consistent with standards employed by other states. The board may adopt the standards of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and the examination and grading procedure of that organization, as they exist on the date of adoption. Examinations [must] may include tests in [the] such technical and professional subjects as are prescribed by the board.
4. If the board adopts the examination of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, an applicant for registration as an architect who wishes to:
(a) Take the examination must pay to the entity which administers the examination the fee charged by that entity for taking the examination and pay to the board a processing fee of $50.
(b) Retake any part or parts of the examination which he previously failed must pay to the entity which administers the examination the fee charged by that entity for retaking such part or parts.
5. Any person who is at least 21 years of age and of good moral character and who has a total of 5 years of credit for education or practical training, or a combination thereof which is acceptable to the board, may apply to the board for registration as a residential designer. The board shall , by regulation , establish the amount of credit allowed for education, practical training or a combination thereof.
[5.] 6. The board shall, by regulation, establish the standards for the examination to qualify as a residential designer, which may be required as part of the examination to be an architect. The examination must consist of at least:
(a) A written examination covering:
(1) Structural technology;
(2) Materials and methods of construction;
(3) Systems for environmental control; and
(4) Graphic design; and
(b) An oral interview of the applicant by the board upon the successful completion of the written portion of the examination.
[6.] 7. Any application to the board may be denied for any violation of this chapter.
Sec. 3 NRS 623.200 is hereby amended to read as follows:
623.200 1. Upon complying with the requirements set forth in NRS 623.190 and before receiving a certificate or being registered as an architect, the applicant [shall] must pass an examination [in such technical and professional courses as may be established] adopted or otherwise prescribed by the board, unless the applicant has applied for the certificate and registration without examination as provided in this chapter.
2. Upon complying with the applicable requirements of this chapter and passing the examination, an applicant is entitled to be registered as a residential designer and receive a certificate of registration. A person may not be simultaneously registered as an architect and residential designer.
3. Upon complying with the requirements set forth in NRS 623.192 and before receiving a certificate or being registered as a registered interior designer, the applicant [shall] must pass an examination in such technical and professional courses as may be established by the board.
4. The board shall give or provide for examinations at least once each year, unless no applications for examinations are pending with the board.
Sec. 4 NRS 623.205 is hereby amended to read as follows:
623.205 If the applicant fails to pass a written examination, as provided in NRS 623.200, or any part thereof, he may retake the examination or the part or parts failed in a subsequent examination upon the payment of the appropriate fees, as provided in NRS 623.190 or 623.310.
Sec. 5 NRS 623.310 is hereby amended to read as follows:
623.310 The board shall, by regulation, adopt a fee schedule which , except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 of NRS 623.190, may not exceed the following:

For an examination for a certificate $800.00

For rewriting an examination or a part or parts failed 800.00

For a certificate of registration 125.00

For a temporary certificate of registration 500.00

For initial registration or renewal of registration 300.00

For the late renewal of an expired certificate within 1 year after its expiration 220.00

For the late renewal of a certificate which has been expired for more than 1 year but not more than 3 years 300.00

For the restoration of a revoked certificate 500.00

For change of address 5.00

For replacement of a certificate 30.00

For application forms 25.00

For photostatic copies, each sheet .25

Sec. 6 This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.