REGISTRATION BOARD LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

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TENNESSEE

Tennessee Board of Architectural & Engineering Examiners
John Cothron

500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1142
615/741-3221
615/532-9410
ce.aeboard@state.tn.us

Each jurisdiction sets its own requirements for initial registration, examination, and corporate practice. The information presented here was submitted to NCARB by each registration board in response to NCARB's 2010 Member Board Requirements survey. Because each jurisdiction may change its rules, statutes, and regulations at any time, it is always advisable to check with the individual board to verify registration and practice requirements.

NCARB does not set national requirements. However, you may view the NCARB position on each requirement, based on requirements specified in the Education Guidelines, Rules of Conduct, and Legislative Guidelines and Model Law/Model Regulations.

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Initial Registration

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1	Is there a residency requirement?	Yes
1a	If yes, please supply the applicable statutory/regulatory provisions.	Yes, for exam. See rule 0120-01-.03 (Residency Requirements).
2	Is a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program required to satisfy your board's education requirement?	No
3	Does your board accept a professional degree in architecture from a CACB-accredited program or a professional degree in architecture certified by the CACB, from a Canadian university as an alternative means of satisfying your education requirement?	Yes
4	Does your board accept an EESA-NCARB Education Evaluation of foreign education (as described in the NCARB Education Standard) as an alternative means of satisfying your education requirement?	Yes
5	Does your board accept experience as alternative means of satisfying your education requirement?
5a	With a four-year pre-professional degree?	Yes
5b	With a high school diploma?	No
6	If you answered yes to Question 5a, how many years of acceptable experience are required with a four-year, pre-professional degree in architecture?	Five years
7	If you answered yes to Question 5b, how many years of acceptable experience are required with a high school education only?
8	Will completion of the IDP alone satisfy your Board's training requirement?	No
8a	If the IDP alone will not satisfy your Board's training requirement, please list the other requirements.	Must complete a minimum of three years of architectural experience satisfactory to the Board.
9	Does your Board require verification of a minimum of three years of acceptable employment duration?	Yes
9a	If yes, when does the duration begin?	No more than one year of experience and school may be concurrent.
10	Does your board allow early eligibility for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)?	Yes
11	If you answered yes, when can an intern qualify for Early Eligibility?	b. after review by the Board that the intern has met the requirements for Early Eligibility
12	If you answered yes to question 11, please indicate how much experience (or training hours) is required?
13	How are early eligibility requests processed?	Requests are reviewed and approved/rejected by the Board.
13a	If your board reviews the requests, please provide the link to where instructions can be found on your web site.	http://www.tn.gov/commerce/boards/ae/index.shtml
14	Does your board charge a fee for processing exam applications?	Yes
14a	If yes, what is the fee?	$30, inclusive of initial registration
15	If you answered yes to Question 14, is this a one-time fee or are additional fees required?	One-time fee
15a	If additional fees are required, what are they?
16	Does your jurisdiction allow appeal of exam scores?	No
17	Does your jurisdiction allow review of exam divisions?	No
18	In addition to NCARB’s rolling clock requirement, does your jurisdiction have any additional rules regarding timeframes within which a candidate must pass the ARE?	Yes
18a	If yes, please explain.	Applications are held in a pending status for five years from the date of application, after which candidates must reapply. Candidates retain credit for any parts of the exam passed.
19	In addition to the ARE, is there a jurisdiction-specific exam(s)?	No
19a	If yes, what is the subject, format, location?
20	Is an interview required for registration?	No
20a	If yes, what is the format and location?
21	What is the application fee for initial registration?
22	Where can the intern obtain the application? (Provide a web link if possible)
23	Does your board charge a processing fee to verify an official Registration and Examination History Report?	No
23a	If yes, how much is the processing fee and how does the architect submit the form for verification?

Reciprocal Registration

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24	What is your jurisdiction/state's application fee for reciprocal registration?	$55
25	Is an NCARB certificate required for reciprocal registration?	Yes
26	Other than the state application/fee, are there any additional requirements for reciprocal registration for applicants with the NCARB Certificate?	Yes
26a	If yes, please list requirements.	All NCARB Certificate holders must meet Tennessee's minimum education and experience requirements (NAAB-accredited degree (or a substantially equivalent degree) with three years of experience; OR non-accredited four-year architectural degree deemed substantially equivalent to a NAAB-accredited degree or which is part of a five-year NAAB-accredited program with five years of experience; OR ABET-accredited architectural engineering or architectural engineering technology degree with seven years of experience).
27	Will your board accept a non-certified (Buff Cover) NCARB Record as documentation of an architect’s qualifications for reciprocal registration?	Yes
27a	Comments
28	Does reciprocal registration based on an NCARB Certificate require a vote of your board?	Yes
28a	If yes, how often does your board meet to consider reciprocal registration applications?
29	Does your board require retroactive documentation of experience for reciprocal licensure if the architect has not completed the Intern Development Program (IDP) for initial licensure?	No
29a	Comments
30	Does your jurisdiction accept Canadian architects holding an NCARB Certificate earned through the requirements in Chapter 2 of the Handbook for Interns and Architects?	Yes
30a	Comments	Yes, if applicant meets Tennessee's minimum education and experience requirements (see response to question 26a).
31	Does your board accept an NCARB Certificate that was granted upon satisfaction of the requirements of the Broadly Experienced Architect (BEA) program?	Yes
31a	Comments	Yes, if applicant meets Tennessee's minimum education and experience requirements (see response to question 26a).
32	Does your board accept for reciprocal registration an NCARB Certificate that was granted to a foreign architect who satisfied the requirements of the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect (BEFA) program?	Yes
32a	Comments	Yes, if applicant meets Tennessee's minimum education and experience requirements (see response to question 26a).

Registration Renewal

view registration renewal requirements

33	What is the renewal fee for registration?	$140
34	What is the frequency of renewal?	Every two years.
35	Does your board require completion of continuing education/professional development as a condition for registration renewal?	Yes
36	If yes, what is your board's requirement in total number of units/hours:
36a	Overall units/hours required	24 PDHs every two years (12 PDHs required for first renewal)
36b	HSW units/hours required	13 PDHs (7 PDHs for first renewal)
36c	SD units/hours required	0
36d	ADA units/hours required	0
36e	Other (please describe)
37	Do you accept, without exception, another jurisdictions continuing education if their requirements are equal to or more stringent than yours?	Yes
37a	Comments	Yes, if board has established continuing education reciprocity with the jurisdiction in question.

Practice Requirements

view practice requirements requirements

38	Does your jurisdiction require firm registration as a condition for firm practice?	No
39	Is an NCARB Certificate holder not registered in your jurisdiction allowed to offer services in your jurisdiction without first being registered?	No
39a	If yes, what are the formal steps required?	However, a person who is properly registered as an architect in another jurisdiction may participate in a design competition or submit RFPs or RFQs in Tennessee so long as prior to participating in the design competition or submitting RFPs or RFQs, the person files an application for registration (without the application fee and supporting documentation) with the board and certifies therein his or her intent to complete the application process and obtain registration in Tennessee prior to executing any contract that may result from the design competition, RFP or RFQ. In no event may a person who is not registered by the board enter into a contract to provide architectural services in Tennessee.
40	Is an NCARB Certificate holder not registered in your jurisdiction allowed to compete in a design competition in your jurisdiction without first being registered?	Yes
40a	If yes, what are the formal steps required?	See response to question 39a.
41	May an architect not registered in your jurisdiction (but registered in another U.S. jurisdiction) associate with an architect registered in your jurisdiction to assist in performing services on a project in your jurisdiction when the local registered architect assumes responsible control overall aspects of the project?	Yes
41a	If yes, what are the formal steps required?	None.
42	May a foreign architect not registered in your jurisdiction (but registered in another country) associate with an architect registered in your jurisdiction to assist in performing services on a project in your jurisdiction when the local registered architect assumes responsible control overall aspects of the project?	Yes
42a	If yes, what are the formal steps required?	None.

Registration Requirements Comparison Charts

Initial Registration Requirements | Reciprocal Registration Requirements | Registration Renewal Requirements | Practice Requirements

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