Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) on Disabled Access Requirements

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill (SB) 1608 (Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008) on September 29, 2008, requiring all California architects to complete mandatory continuing education courses on disabled access requirements as a condition of license renewal. The bill also requires licensees to provide documentation from the course provider to the California Architects Board (Board). The bill was sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, trial lawyers association, and most disabled access groups. Click here to read more FAQs on the law. Below are details on how the requirement will be implemented.

What are the basic requirements?

SB 1608 requires that architects, as part of the license renewal requirements:

1. Certify on the license renewal application that s/he has completed the required coursework.
2. Provide the Board with documentation from the course provider indicating the course title, subjects covered, name of provider and trainer or educator, date of completion, number of hours completed, and a statement about the trainer or educator's knowledge and experience background. Click here to download a sample form.

Upon completion of an AIA San Diego continuing education program, you will receive required paperwork to submit with your renewal application to ease reporting. If not attending an AIA San Diego program, submit the completed Coursework Provider Documentation Form with your renewal application. Other documentation containing the required information will also be accepted in lieu of the reporting form.

Licensees are encouraged to complete these requirements timely in order to avoid a delay in processing their license renewal. Licensees who fail to complete the required coursework cannot renew their license and cannot practice architecture until they have fulfilled these requirements. Click here to read sample rejection letters of deliquent or incomplete applications and the ramifications.

How many hours of coursework are required?

The amount of coursework hours required to renew a license will be phased in, eventually requiring five hours every renewal cycle (two years) for all licensees. Three factors are used to determine how much coursework is required:

1. License expiration date
2. Submittal date of completed renewal application and payment to the Board
3. Actual effective date of the license renewal

Below is a breakdown of the coursework hour(s) required applying the applicable factors (NOTE: If you’ve been delinquent with your license renewal before, your expiration date may have changed -- so contact the CAB for more information.):

Don’t waste your time and money taking more than you need… because you cannot carry hours over to your next license cycle. Once your license renews you have no “roll over” hours... this is CAB not AT&T—there are no rollover hours!!! The course only counts if you take it during your license period. Click here for info on upcoming AIA San Diego seminars…