Continuing Education Requirements

(1) General Requirement. Every registered architect shall complete a minimum of 12 continuing education hours each calendar year in continuing education courses, programs or activities which meet the applicable requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(3) through (6) as a condition for renewal of their registration. (2) Exemption from Requirement. A registered architect may be exempted from the continuing education requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(1) if: (a) The registrant submits written proof satisfactory to the Board that the registrant was unable to complete the continuing education required by 231 CMR 3.06(1) because the registrant was called to active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a substantial period of time; (b) The registrant submits written proof satisfactory to the Board that the registrant was ill or disabled for a substantial period of time and that the functional limitations imposed by that illness or disability prevented the registrant from practicing and thus could not complete the continuing education required by 231 CMR 3.06(1); (c) The registrant submits written proof satisfactory to the Board that the registrant was unable to complete the continuing education required by 231 CMR 3.06(1) because of an unforeseen emergency, extreme hardship or other similar circumstances deemed sufficient by the Board; (d) The registrant has been issued a certificate of registration by the Board as an Architect Emeritus and meets the requirements of M.G.L. c. 112, § 60N; or (e) The registrant submits written proof satisfactory to the Board that: 1. The registrant is duly registered as an architect by a duly constituted architectural registration board in another state, province or territory of the United States or Canada in which continuing education is required for renewal of their registration; and 2. The registrant has completed the continuing education required for the most recent period of renewal of their registration by the laws or regulations of the architectural registration board in that state, province or territory. (3) Program Content Requirements. (a) Continuing Education Hours. Twelve continuing education hours must be completed in Health, Safety, and Welfare Subjects acquired in structured educational activities. Continuing education hours may be acquired at any location. Excess continuing education hours may not be credited to a future calendar year. For purposes of 231 CMR 3.06(3), the following minimum requirements must be met: 1. Structured Educational Activities. An educational activity shall be considered a structured educational activity only if at least 75% of an activity's content and instructional time is devoted to Health, Safety, and Welfare Subjects related to the practice of architecture, including courses of study or other activities under the areas identified as Health, Safety and Welfare Subjects and provided by qualified individuals or organizations, whether delivered by direct contact or distance learning methods. 2. Health, Safety, and Welfare Subjects are technical and professional subjects that the Board deems appropriate to safeguard the public and that are within the following enumerated areas necessary for the proper evaluation, design, construction, and utilization of buildings and the built environment. These areas shall include, but not be limited to, the following: a. Building Systems. Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Communications, Security, Fire Protection; b. Construction Contract Administration. Contracts, Bidding, Contract Negotiations; c. Construction Documents. Drawings, Specifications, Delivery Methods; d. Design. Urban Planning, Master Planning, Building Design, Site Design, Interiors, Safety and Security Measures; e. Environmental. Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, Natural Resources, Natural Hazards, Hazardous Materials, Weatherproofing, Insulation; f. Legal. Laws, Codes, Zoning, Regulations, Standards, Life Safety, Accessibility, Ethics, Insurance to protect Owners and Public; g. Materials and Methods. Construction Systems, Products, Finishes, Furnishings, Equipment; h. Occupant Comfort. Air Quality, Lighting, Acoustics, Ergonomic; i. Pre-design. Land Use Analysis, Programming, Site Selection, Site and Soils Analysis, Surveying; j. Preservation. Historic, Reuse, Adaptation. (b) A continuing education course, program or activity may be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(1) only if it increases an architect's knowledge or understanding of technical or professional subjects and contributes directly to improving the registrant’s professional knowledge and competence in the practice of architecture. (4) Methods of Earning Continuing Education Credit. A registered architect may earn continuing education contact hours for any of the following types of continuing education activities: (a) Attending a graduate or undergraduate level course or seminar at an educational institution for which academic credit is granted by that institution, as long as: 1. The course or seminar in question meets the program content requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(3); and 2. The educational institution in question is accredited by the United States Department of Education, accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education, or is otherwise approved by the Board; (b) Attending a course, program, seminar, conference, workshop or similar educational event for which academic credit is not granted, as long as: 1. The educational event in question meets the program content requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(3); 2. The educational event in question is presented, sponsored or approved by an educational institution which meets the requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(4), or by a professional organization recognized by the Board. (c) Completing a monograph approved by the Board (such as a monograph from the NCARB monograph series) and achieving a passing score on a written instrument which tests the registered architect’s comprehension and understanding of the content of that monograph; (5) Amount of Credit Earned. The amount of continuing education contact hours to be granted shall be determined as follows: (a) A registered architect who attends a graduate or undergraduate level course or seminar at an educational institution which meets the requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(4) shall earn 12 continuing education hours for each hour of academic credit received; (b) A registered architect who attends a course, seminar, program, conference, workshop or similar continuing education event which meets the requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(4) shall earn a number of continuing education contact hours equal to the actual number of hours of instruction actually provided; and (c) A registered architect who completes a monograph approved by the Board which meets the requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(4) shall earn the number of continuing education contact hours specified in that monograph. (6) Completion of Continuing Education through Distance Learning. A registered architect may complete continuing education required for renewal of their registration through the use of a continuing education course or program, as long as it is approved by the Board and: (a) The continuing education course or program in question meets all applicable requirements of 231 CMR 3.06(4); (b) The audio tape or videotape version of the continuing education course or program in question is accompanied by a written instrument which tests the registered architect on their comprehension and understanding of the content of that course or program; and (c) The registered architect receives a certificate or other written evidence of their completion of that course or program only if they demonstrate satisfactory comprehension or understanding of the content of that course or program to the provider or sponsor of that course or program. (7) Documentation of reported continuing education hours shall be maintained by the architect for six years from the date of award. (8) Each registered architect, as part of their application for renewal of their registration, shall attest under the pains and penalties of perjury that the registant has completed the number of continuing education hours required by 231 CMR 3.06(1), or that the registrant is exempt from the continuing education requirement pursuant to 231 CMR 3.06(2). Such attestation shall be made on a form prescribed and provided by the Board. (9) Upon written request by the Board, a registered architect shall furnish to the Board such information as the Board may reasonably require about any or all continuing education courses, programs or activities completed by said architect. Failure or refusal to provide timely proof of completion of the number of continuing education hours required by 231 CMR 3.06 upon the request of the Board shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Board, including but not limited to refusal to renew the registration of said architect. (10) If the Board disallows any continuing education hours, the architect shall have 60 days from notice of such disallowance to either provide further evidence of having completed the continuing education hours disallowed or to remedy the disallowance by completing the required number of continuing education hours (such continuing education hours shall not be used for any other calendar year). (11) Falsification of reports of continuing education courses, seminars, workshops and completed hours, or misrepresentation of any material fact concerning the completion of such continuing education hours, by any registered architect shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Board.