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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ categories

  • Future registered architects
  • Consumers
  • Miscellaneous
  • Registered Architects
  • Registered architectural firms

Future registered architects

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.​​​

OAR 806-010-0037 describes provisions for the use of the "Architect" title:

(1) Except as provided in ORS 671.010, ORS 671.020(2), and ORS 671.065(2), and consistent with Oregon and federal constitutional free speech provisions, an individual or entity who is not registered in Oregon to practice architecture may not:

(a) Use the title "Architect" or any modification or derivative such as "architectural" or "architecture" in its name or description of its business activity in a manner that indicates or implies that the individual or firm engages in the practice of architecture, or offers to engage in the practice of architecture in Oregon;

(b) Advertise they are authorized to practice architecture in Oregon; or

(c) Use the title "Architect Emeritus", "Architect Emerita", or Architect Emerit" unless granted the authority by the Board to do so.

(2) OAR 806-010-0037(1)​ prohibits the use of the title "Architect" or any modification or derivative such as "architectural" or "architecture" when such use misleads or deceives a consumer seeking services related to designing, in whole or in part, buildings and the space within and appurtenant to buildings in Oregon.​​

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

Consumers

The status of a Registration may 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' button 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 or review disclosures and exemptions, please visit the Public Records Request page​.​​​​

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 C​hange Form​​​.​

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

ORS 671.010 defines an architectural firm as any business entity that, for compensation, provides the services of an architect or engages in the practice of architecture. Business entity means a partnership, limited partnership, corporation, professional corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint venture or other form of business organization the constituent parts of which share a common economic interest. Sole proprietors who have incorporated their business or are practicing under their name as an LLC, are required to register their firm with OSBAE.

Prior to providing the services of an architect or engaging in the practice of architecture as a firm in this state, a business entity 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

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.​​​

OAR 806-010-0037 describes provisions for the use of the "Architect" title:

(1) Except as provided in ORS 671.010, ORS 671.020(2), and ORS 671.065(2), and consistent with Oregon and federal constitutional free speech provisions, an individual or entity who is not registered in Oregon to practice architecture may not:

(a) Use the title "Architect" or any modification or derivative such as "architectural" or "architecture" in its name or description of its business activity in a manner that indicates or implies that the individual or firm engages in the practice of architecture, or offers to engage in the practice of architecture in Oregon;

(b) Advertise they are authorized to practice architecture in Oregon; or

(c) Use the title "Architect Emeritus", "Architect Emerita", or Architect Emerit" unless granted the authority by the Board to do so.

(2) OAR 806-010-0037(1)​ prohibits the use of the title "Architect" or any modification or derivative such as "architectural" or "architecture" when such use misleads or deceives a consumer seeking services related to designing, in whole or in part, buildings and the space within and appurtenant to buildings in Oregon.​​

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 subsequent renewals, 24 hours of qualified architectural health, safety, and welfare (HSW) CE will need to be completed within the two-year registration period prior to the renewal deadline. For each renewal application, you will be asked whether you meet the continuing education requirements as outlined in OAR 806-010-0145​.

You must obtain a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education (CE) in architectural health, safety, and welfare (HSW) subject matter courses during every two-year registration period. Be sure to review the specific continuing education requirements which may be found in the Oregon Administrative Rules under OAR 806-010-0145​.

No. Certificates of completion, or transcripts, are only required to be submitted if a registrant has been 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 requirements for a minimum of 2 years.​ Additional details may be found in OAR 806-010-0145​.
​

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 under ORS 671.025 and OAR 806-010-0045​.

An architect that applies their stamp and signature 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.​
Specific stamping requirements may be found in the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners Statutes and Administrative Rules under ORS 671.025 and OAR 806-010-0045​.

OAR 806-010-0115​ states that 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. Additional information about firm registration requirements may be found in OAR 806-010-0080​.​​​

Yes. Construction phase services must be performed by an architect, or under an architect's responsible control, for all non-exempt Oregon projects.

The rule states that, at a minimum, construction phase services need 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 construction phase services for any reason, the architect must notify the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners and the governmental authority that issued the permit for construction within 10 days of when the architect becomes aware that they will not provide the construction phase services. Notification may be provided by completing an Observation Chan​ge Notification​ Form​ and emailing or mailing it to the Board office and jurisdiction.​​

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, exempt or non-exempt. 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.

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

Registered architectural firms

No. The name registered with this Board, the corporate name or the assumed business name, is the only name that may be used on any advertisements, listings, title blocks, contracts, letterhead, business cards, etc., for projects located in Oregon.​ Additional information about firm registration requirements may be found in OAR 806-010-0080​.

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​.​