In Vermont, regulation of architects is found in Chapter Three, Title Twenty-Six of Vermont Statutes.  Pursuant to 26 V.S.A. § 122, no person should:

• practice or attempt to practice architecture or hold himself or herself out as being able to do so without first having obtained a license, or
• use in connection with the person’s name any letters, words, title or insignia indicating or implying that the person is an architect, or
• practice or attempt to practice architecture during license revocation or suspension, or
• stamp or seal any documents with their architect’s seal if their license to practice architecture has expired or is revoked, or
• violate any of the provisions of chapter three.

As per 26 V.S.A. § 161, a board of architects is created whose official title is Vermont Board of Architects.  Board members are appointed by the governor. The board is created to adopt rules and to provide general information to applicants for licensure as architects.

Pursuant to 26 V.S.A. § 201, to qualify for licensure as an architect, an applicant should attain the age of majority and graduated from an approved four year high school course or should have equivalent training.  An applicant should pass written examinations under a syllabus selected or prepared by the Vermont board of architecture, in such technical and professional subjects as may be prescribed by the board.  Examinations may be taken before the applicant completes the experience requirements.

26 V.S.A. § 205a provides that licenses should be renewed every two years upon application and payment of the required fee.  Failure to renew license results in suspension of all privileges granted by the license beginning on the expiration date of the license.  Further, a license which has lapsed is reinstated upon payment of the biennial renewal fee and the late renewal penalty.

As per 26 V.S.A. § 206A, license should be displayed in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s principal place of business or employment.  Similarly, 26 V.S.A. § 208 provides that each licensee should obtain a seal of such design as the board authorize and direct.  Also, plans and specifications prepared by, or under the direct supervision of, a licensed architect should be stamped with the licensee’s seal.

Pursuant to 26 V.S.A. § 210, unprofessional conduct means the following conduct and the conduct set forth in professional regulation statute (3 V.S.A. § 129a):

• assisting the application for licensure of a person known by the licensee to be unqualified in respect to education, training or experience,
• accepting compensation for services from more than one party on a project unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties,
• failing to disclose fully in writing to a client or employer the nature of any business association or financial interest substantial enough to influence the licensee’s judgment in the performance of professional services,
• soliciting or accepting compensation from material or equipment suppliers in return for specifying or endorsing their products,
• rendering decisions favoring either party to a contract when acting as interpreter of building contract documents and judge of contract performance,
• failing to disclose compensation for making public statements on architectural questions,
• offering or making any payment or gift to an elected or appointed government official with the intent to influence the official’s judgment in connection with a prospective or existing project in which the licensee is interested,
• offering or making any gifts of other than nominal value, including reasonable entertainment and hospitality, with the intent to influence the judgment of an existing or prospective client in connection with a project in which the licensee is interested,
• practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope permitted by law,
• knowingly designing a project in violation of applicable state and local building laws and regulations,
• accepting and performing responsibilities which the licensee knows or has reason to know that s/he is not competent to perform or undertaking to perform professional services in specific technical areas in which the licensee is not qualified by education, training and experience,
• failing to practice with reasonable care and competence and to apply the technical knowledge and skill ordinarily applied by licensees practicing in the same locality,
• making any willful material misrepresentation with respect to the qualifications of or experience of an applicant or otherwise in the practice of the profession, whether by commission or omission,
• agreeing with any other person, or subscribing to any code of ethics or organizational bylaws, when the intent or primary effect of that agreement, code or bylaw is to restrict or limit the flow of information concerning alleged or suspected unprofessional conduct to the board,
• failing to report to the board knowledge of a violation of these rules by another licensee,
• failing to report to the public official charged with enforcement of applicable state or municipal building laws and regulations, any decision taken by the licensee’s employer or client, against the licensee’s advice, which violates applicable state or municipal building laws and regulations and which will, in the licensee’s judgment, materially affect adversely safety to the public or the finished project
• acting, while serving as a board member, in any way to contravene willfully the provisions of chapter three and thereby artificially restricting the entry of qualified persons into the profession,
• using the licensee’s seal on drawings prepared by others not in the licensee’s direct employ, or using the seal of another,
• inaccurately representing to a prospective or existing client or employer the licensee’s qualifications and scope of responsibility for work for which the licensee claims credit,
• signing or sealing technical submissions unless they were prepared by or under the responsible control of the licensee,
• in each office maintained for preparation of drawings, specifications, reports or other professional work, failing to have a licensee with direct knowledge and supervisory control of such work resident and regularly employed in that office.