Regulation of Architects is found in Title 25, chapter 464 of Hawaii Revised Statutes Annotated. Pursuant to HRS § 464-8, a person shall be eligible for licensure as a professional architect if:
- The person is the holder of an unexpired license;
- The person is the holder of a bachelor’s, master’s, or higher degree in architecture has had three years of full-time lawful experience in architecture work of a character satisfactory to the board, or part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and has successfully passed a professional written examination,
- The person is a graduate and has completed an architectural curriculum of four years or a pre-architecture or arts and science curriculum of four years or more; has had five years of full-time lawful experience in architecture work, or part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and has successfully passed a professional written examination, prescribed by the board and designed to test the person’s knowledge, skill, and competency in the profession of architecture;
- The person is a graduate of a community college or other technical training school approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, and has completed an architectural technology curriculum of two years or more; has had eight years of full-time lawful experience in architecture work, or part-time experience; and has successfully passed a professional written examination, prescribed by the board and designed to test the person’s knowledge, skill, and competency in the profession of architecture; or
- The person has had eleven years of full-time lawful experience in architecture work, or part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and has successfully passed a professional written examination, prescribed by the board and designed to test the person’s knowledge, skill, and competency in the profession of architecture;
Pursuant to HRS § 464-9, Application for licensure shall be made upon a form prescribed by the State board of professional engineers, architects, surveyors, and landscape architects (board) and shall be signed by the applicant. The applicant shall pay a nonrefundable application fee. The applicant shall also pay an examination fee. Upon qualifying for licensure, the applicant shall pay a license fee, and upon receipt, the board shall thereupon be licensed as a professional engineer, architect, land surveyor or landscape architect, and shall receive a certificate thereof from the board signed by the chairperson.
Every license expires on April 30 of each even-numbered year following its issuance and becomes invalid after that date unless renewed. At least one month in advance of the date of expiration of the license, a notice shall be mailed to every person licensed informing them of the date of expiration and the amount required for the renewal. Licenses that have expired for failure to pay renewal fees on or before the date may be restored within two years of the expiration date upon payment of a fee for each renewal. Any person who fails to restore the person’s license within two years of the date of its expiration shall reapply for licensure as a new applicant and meet the requirements in effect at that time. The board shall require continuing education to renew a license for architects effective as of the renewal date for a license expiring on April 30, 2008, and for every biennial renewal period thereafter.
Pursuant to HRS § 464-10 ,the board may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the license of any licensee for any cause authorized by law, including but not limited to fraud or deceit in obtaining the license or gross negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in the practice of the profession, or violating this chapter or the rules of the board. Any licensee who violates the chapter or the rules adopted pursuant thereto may also be fined not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 per violation.
Pursuant to HRS § 464-14, any person who uses the title “architect”, or any title, sign, card, or device to indicate that such person is practicing architecture, or architect, without having first acquired a license and without having a valid unexpired license; or who uses or attempts to use as the person’s own the seal, certificate or license of another, or who falsely impersonates any duly licensed practitioner hereunder, or who uses or attempts to use an expired, suspended, or revoked license shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.