Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ categories

Future registered architects
Consumers
Miscellaneous
Registered Architects
Registered architectural firms

Future registered architects

See Applicants - Individual Initial Registration if you are not registered in another jurisdiction or Individual Reciprocal Registration if you are registered in another jurisdiction.

An architectural firm may need to register an Assumed Business Name (ABN), also referred to as “doing business as" or DBA, with the Oregon Secretary of State and the Board when their existing business or firm name does not meet the requirements of Oregon Administrative Rule 806-010-0080. Commonly, an existing firm licensed in a different jurisdiction with a name that does not meet the Oregon name requirements may register a DBA that complies with Oregon rules.

Pursuant to ORS 671.020(1), no person may use the title of Architect or any other title tending to indicate that the person is practicing architecture in Oregon without first registering as an architect with OSBAE.

Consumers

The status of a Registration can be verified via the Architect/Firm Search.

You may obtain a registration list by clicking on the link titled Architect/Firm Search. Once you have searched for the records, you may then click on the Send to Excel option for a complete listing of information that is a matter of public record. There is no fee for this service and it is available online anytime. To obtain mailing addresses please submit a Public Records Request.

Information about how to file a complaint is available under Resources - File a Complaint.

Miscellaneous

The Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are the codified body of statutory law governing the state of Oregon. Each ORS is enacted either by the legislative assembly or a citizen initiative. ORS Chapter 671 governs the practice of architecture in Oregon.

The Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) are the agency directives, standards, regulations, and statements of general applicability that implement, interpret, and prescribe law and policy, and describe the procedural or practice requirements of an agency (see ORS 183.310(9)). The OARs have the full force of law in the state of Oregon. OAR Chapter 806 is assigned to the State Board of Architect Examiners.

See Registrants - Update Contact Information. Individuals may update their contact information online or via the Contact Information Change Form. Architectural firms must submit changes via the Contact Information Change Form.

You may apply to re-activate your registration by submitting an Individual Reinstatement Application or an Architectural Firm Reinstatement Application. See Applicants - Reinstatement.

An architectural firm is any business that provides architectural services in Oregon other than a sole proprietor using their first and last name followed by the word “Architect". Corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and individuals/sole proprietors providing architectural services under any name other than their first and last name followed by the word “Architect" are considered architectural firms.

Prior to providing architectural services as a firm in this state, an architectural firm must apply for and obtain registration with the Board in addition to the Oregon Secretary of State's office. A certificate of existence from the Oregon Secretary of State that meets the name requirements is required for application with OSBAE. OAR 806-010-0080 contains the Board's requirements for firm names, which include restrictions on names or designations that may be considered misleading to the public, such as use of the plural “architects" if the firm has only one registered architect.

Registered architects

See Applicants - Individual Initial Registration if you are not registered in another jurisdiction or Individual Reciprocal Registration if you are registered in another jurisdiction.

See Registrants - Proof of Registration for the Certified Verification of Registration Request. Please include your registration number and the form the other jurisdiction provided to you, if applicable.

No. When you apply for your first renewal after initially becoming registered, you will be asked whether you meet the continuing education requirements as outlined in the current rules. When you apply for your second renewal, 24 hours of CE will need to be obtained within the 2 years prior to your renewal, and you will again be asked whether you meet the continuing education requirements as outlined in the current rules.

You must obtain a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education (CE) in architectural health, safety, and welfare (HSW) prior to renewal. Be sure to review the specific continuing education requirements which may be found in the Oregon Administrative Rules under OAR 806-0100145. The Board automatically approves HSW courses that pertain to the practice of Architecture that have been approved by AIA, NCARB, or NAAB.

No, certificates of completion, or transcripts, are only required to be submitted if a registrant has been randomly selected for a continuing education audit, or to reinstate an expired registration. It is the registrant's responsibility to maintain documentary evidence of compliance with the continuing education requirement.

See Registrants - Professional Stamp. Every registered architect shall have a stamp or seal bearing the name of the registrant only, together with the city and state in which the architect's principal office is located. The stamp may include the architect's registration number issued by the Oregon Board. The stamp may be a crimp or rubber style hand stamp or a computer-generated (digital) stamp.

Specific stamping requirements may be found in the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners Statutes and Administrative Rules.

An architect that applies their stamp to a technical submission needs to be able to reasonably demonstrate how the stamping architect was in direct control of the production of the drawings whether the work was prepared in-house or out. The stamping architect needs to have an active role in the project and provide some reasonably documentable oversight and control. Some examples of demonstrable records include tracking time, being able to reference the use of firm protocols and Quality-Control procedures, in-office meetings, client meeting notes, project correspondence, briefings, periodic reviews, technology, and training.

Modifications which become part of change orders and/or addenda to alter technical submissions must bear the stamp and signature of the registered architect responsible for the modifications.

What about responses to requests from contractors for information (RFI) about construction documents? Do RFI responses need to be stamped and signed?

Responses to RFI do not change construction documents. Responses to RFI clarify construction documents or point to information already in construction documents. If a response to an RFI changes construction documents, then the response should be issued in a change order, addendum, construction change directive, or architect's order for a minor change (architect's supplemental instruction) that is stamped and signed by an architect.

An architect that provides architectural services under any name other than their individual name registered with the Board followed by the title "Architect" must also register as a firm with OSBAE and the Oregon Secretary of State. For example, sole proprietors that operate as an LLC must also be registered as a firm with OSBAE.

Yes. Architects are required to observe all non-exempt Oregon projects that they stamp. According to Oregon law, observation of a non-exempt project constitutes the practice of architecture and must be provided by an Oregon registered architect or engineer.

OAR 806-010-0050 states that at a minimum observation needs to include clarification and modification of technical submissions during the construction phase; and observing the construction site through substantial completion to determine that the work is proceeding generally in accordance with the technical submission.

If the architect of record will not be providing the required observation for any reason, the architect must notify the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners, the project owner, and all involved permit issuing agencies. Complete the Observation Change Notification form and email or mail it to the Board office.

A person that is not an Oregon registered architect may execute documents on behalf of an architect or an architectural firm if: 1) The person is authorized in writing by the architect or the architectural firm to execute such documents on behalf of the architect or architectural firm; 2) The documents are not technical submissions subject to OAR 806-010-0045(5); and 3) The person's signature, if applied, would not suggest that the individual, rather than the architect or the architectural firm, is responsible for activities related to the Practice of Architecture described in OAR 806-010-0075(2).

The short answer is yes. Once you become an Oregon registered architect, you must abide by all statutes and rules that apply to Oregon architects regardless of the type of project. Whether a project is residential or otherwise exempt does not change this obligation, as the primary purpose of ORS 671.030 (activities not considered as “practice of architecture") is to identify those specific projects and activities that non-architects may engage in.

A longer answer would begin with the definitions in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) used by the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners.

"Architect" means a registered architect or a foreign architect.
"Building" means a structure that has the purpose of supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
"Practice of architecture" means engaging in the art and science of designing, in whole or in part, buildings and the space within and appurtenant to buildings and providing related services that include, but are not limited to, planning, developing design concepts, preparing technical submissions and other documents that define a building’s form and function, coordinating construction work and the work of other consultants and providing construction phase services.
Exempt works are activities not considered the practice of architecture which can be found in ORS 671.030. This includes, but is not limited to the following: “. . . . a building, or an appurtenance to a building, if the building or the appurtenance has a ground area of 4,000 square feet or less and is not more than 20 feet in height . . .".

So is a registered architect who creates exempt works practicing architecture by definition? Technically no, that architect is not; however, that does not mean the registered architect is exempt from the rules and laws that apply to registered architects. It simply means that other individuals are not practicing architecture while working on exempt projects. It does not mean architects get to remove their architect hat while working on exempt projects. When applying the statutes and rules, it helps to clarify which group of individuals you are defining: architects or non-architects.

For example, Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 806-010-0045, states that every registered architect shall have a stamp and all technical submissions which are required by public authorities for building permits or regulatory approvals, or are intended for construction purposes, including all addenda and other changes to such submissions, shall be stamped and signed by the architect. The stamp with the registrant's manual or digital signature must appear on the title page of specifications and on every sheet of the drawings intended for permit or construction, whether or not the project is exempt under ORS 671.030, and must be the stamp of an Oregon registered architect with control and supervision of the project. Hence, residential plans drawn by an Oregon registered architect must be stamped by that architect.

Does this mean registered architects must provide observation for exempt projects if they must stamp and seal exempt work? No. OAR 806-010-0050 Observation states that architects must observe all projects they stamp, with the exception of exempt projects.

What about the written contract rules; should an architect use a written contract when providing professional services for a residential or other exempt project? In this case the answer is yes, unless it meets the exceptions noted in OAR 806-020-0020(2).

OAR 806-020-0020: Responsibility to the Public

(3) 806-020-0020(2) shall not apply to any of the following:

(a) Professional services rendered by an architect or architectural firm for which the client will not pay compensation.

(b) If the client knowingly states in writing, after full disclosure of the requirements of this section, that a contract that complies with these requirements is not necessary.

(c) Professional services rendered by an architect or architectural firm to a professional engineer registered to practice engineering.

To summarize, if you are an Oregon registered architect working on a residential or other project listed in ORS 671.030, you are not exempt from the body of Oregon rules and laws regarding the practice of architecture.

Registered architectural firms

The term "written legal authority" is not defined statutorily under ORS 671 or in rule under OAR 806. However, using applicable legal authority, OSBAE interprets "written legal authority" for purposes of OAR 806-010-0045(5) to mean: a written document expressly granting legal authority to the named individual(s) or agent(s) to accept responsibility for the relevant specifications and/or drawings on behalf of the firm. There is not a designated form, but the document should be signed by the person making the delegation, which may be in the form of a letter, email, or other written record.

No. The name registered with this Board, the corporate name or the assumed business name, is the only name that can be used on any advertisements, listings, title blocks, contracts, letterhead, business cards, etc., for projects located in Oregon.

An architectural firm may use a designator such as initials or a logo only if: (a) the designator that is being used is registered with the Oregon Secretary of State and (b) the designator is only used when the firm's registered name is conspicuously displayed in conjunction with the designator, in accordance with ORS 648.007.

The business name as registered with OSBAE must be identified on all technical submissions, contracts, etc. prepared by owners or employees of the registered firm to comply with a requirement under the laws of this state, or an ordinance or other law of a jurisdiction in this state. OSBAE recommends including the business name on all design documents as it could be misleading to the public for a registered architectural firm to display its name on some documents and not others.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ categories

Future registered architects

I want to obtain an Oregon registration. What do I need to do?

When is a business or corporation required to register a “doing business as (DBA)" name when registering an architectural firm in Oregon?

When may an employee of a firm that provides architectural services in Oregon use the title “Architect," or a title that includes a derivative of the word “architect," if the employee is not an architect registered with OSBAE?

Consumers

How do I find out if a registration has been issued/is current?

May I obtain a list of registrants? Is there a fee for this service?

I want to submit a complaint. What do I need to do?

Miscellaneous

What is an ORS?

What is an OAR?

I have moved and need to update my contact information. How do I do this?

My individual or firm architect registration has expired, what must I do to re-activate it?

What is considered an architectural firm in Oregon?

Registered architects

I want to obtain an Oregon registration. What do I need to do?

When is a business or corporation required to register a “doing business as (DBA)" name when registering an architectural firm in Oregon?

When may an employee of a firm that provides architectural services in Oregon use the title “Architect," or a title that includes a derivative of the word “architect," if the employee is not an architect registered with OSBAE?

I am applying for registration in another jurisdiction and it requires verification of my Oregon architect registration. What do I need to do?

Is there a continuing education (CE) requirement for an architect's initial renewal period?

How many hours of continuing education must I obtain, and what courses are approved?

Do I submit the certificates of completion or transcripts for my completed continuing education to the Board during my renewal cycle?

What are the stamp design requirements once I become registered?

In what ways can an architect demonstrate they had control over, and professional knowledge of, technical submissions the architect signed or sealed but did not personally prepare?

What constitutes a modification to a Construction Document that must bear the stamp and signature of the architect responsible for the modification?

At what point does an individual architect practicing as a sole proprietor become a business that has to register as a firm with the Board?

Are Oregon registered architects required to provide observation services for all nonexempt projects?

Is an Oregon registered architect required to execute all documents issued by an individual practitioner or an architectural firm, including without limitation, correspondence, offers to provide services, contracts, and contract administration documents?

I'm an Oregon registered architect that works on both commercial and residential projects. Do all OSBAE statutes and rules apply to me even when I'm working on residential or other exempt projects?

Registered architectural firms

What qualifies as "written legal authority" for purposes of OAR 806-010-0045(5), Stamps and Signatures?

Can an architectural firm provide architectural services or advertise under a name different than the one registered with the Board?

Can a firm use a designator such as initials or a logo?

If a firm is registered with OSBAE and holds contracts for exempt and non-exempt projects, is the registered firm name rquired on all design documents even if the project is considered exempt?