TITLE 5
Businesses and Professions
CHAPTER 5-1
Architects
SECTION 5-1-15.1
§ 5-1-15.1 Certificate of authorization
for sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability partnerships,
corporations or limited liability companies.
(a) A sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership,
corporation or limited liability company shall be admitted to practice
architecture in this state if:
(1) Two-thirds ( 2/3) of the partners (if a partnership or
limited liability partnership) two-thirds ( 2/3) of the directors and officers
(or shareholders if there are no directors, if a corporation) or two-thirds (
2/3) of the managers (or members if there are no managers, if a limited
liability company) are registered under the laws of any state or any reciprocal
jurisdiction as defined by the National Council of Architectural Registration
Boards to practice architecture or engineering;
(2) One-third ( 1/3) of the partners (if a partnership or
limited liability partnership) or one-third ( 1/3) of the directors and
officers (or shareholders if there are no directors, if a corporation), or
one-third ( 1/3) of the managers (or members if there are no managers, if a
limited liability company) are registered under the laws of any state or
reciprocal jurisdiction as defined by the National Council of Architectural
Registration Boards to practice architecture; and
(3) The person having the practice of architecture in his or
her charge is himself or herself a partner (if a partnership or limited
liability partnership) a director or officer (or shareholders if there are no
directors, if a corporation) or a manager (or members if there are no managers,
if a limited liability company) and registered to practice architecture in
this state.
(b) The board is empowered to require any sole
proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability partnership, corporation or
limited liability company practicing architecture in this state to file
information concerning its partners, shareholders, officers, directors,
members, managers, and other aspects of its business organization, upon any
forms that the board prescribes.
(c) The practice or offer to practice architecture as defined
by this chapter by a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability
partnership, corporation, or limited liability company subsequently referred to
as the "firm", through one or more architects registered under the provisions
of this chapter, is permitted provided that the registered architect or
architects are in direct control of the practice or exercise responsible
control of all personnel who act in behalf of the firm in professional and
technical matters; and provided, that the firm has been issued a certificate of
authorization by this board.
(d) Every firm must obtain a certificate of authorization
from this board, and those individuals in direct control of the practice or who
exercise responsible control of all personnel who act in behalf of the firm in
professional and technical matters must be registered with the board. The
certificate of authorization shall be issued by the board upon satisfaction of
the provisions of this chapter and the payment of a fee as determined by the
board in accordance with § 5-1-11. This fee shall be waived if the firm
consists of only one person who is the registered architect. Every firm must
file an application for a certificate of authorization with the board on a form
provided by the board.
(e) Every certificate of authorization is valid for a period
of two (2) years and expires on the last day of December of each even numbered
year following its issuance. A separate form provided by the board shall be
filed with each renewal of the certificate of authorization. The firm shall
complete a renewal form within thirty (30) days of the time any information
previously filed with the board has changed, is no longer true or valid, or has
been revised for any reason. If, in the board's judgment, the information
contained on the application and/or renewal form is satisfactory and complete,
the board will issue a certificate of authorization for the firm to practice
architecture in this state. The board may require all applicants for renewal to
provide the board with information, including but not limited to, a brief
outline setting forth the professional activities of any applicant during a
period in which a certificate of authorization has lapsed and other evidence of
the continued competence and good character of the applicant, all as the board
deems necessary.
(f) In the event of ownership transition or change in the
responsible control of a firm, the board may permit a six (6) month grace
period to allow a Rhode Island registered architect to continue to practice
until a new certificate of authorization is issued.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 25, § 3; P.L. 1998, ch. 348, § 1; P.L. 1999,
ch. 319, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 56, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 63, § 1;
P.L. 2005, ch. 406, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 16, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 24,
§ 1.)
