§ 5-1-15.1. Certificate of authorization for sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited-liability
partnerships, corporations, or limited-liability companies.
(a) A sole proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or
limited-liability company shall be admitted to practice architecture in this state
if:
(1) Two-thirds (â…”) of the partners (if a partnership or limited-liability partnership),
two-thirds (â…”) of the directors and officers (or shareholders if there are no directors,
if a corporation), or two-thirds (â…”) of the managers (or members if there are no managers,
if a limited-liability company) are registered under the laws of any state or any
reciprocal jurisdiction as defined by the National Council of Architectural Registration
Boards to practice architecture or engineering;
(2) One-third (â…“) of the partners (if a partnership or limited-liability partnership),
or one-third (â…“) of the directors and officers (or shareholders if there are no directors,
if a corporation), or one-third (â…“) of the managers (or members if there are no managers,
if a limited-liability company) are registered under the laws of any state or reciprocal
jurisdiction as defined by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
to practice architecture; and
(3) The person having the practice of architecture in his or her charge is himself or
herself a partner (if a partnership or limited-liability partnership), a director
or officer (or shareholder if there are no directors, if a corporation), or a manager
(or member if there are no managers, if a limited-liability company) and registered
to practice architecture in this state.
(b) The board is empowered to require any sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited-liability
partnership, corporation, or limited-liability company practicing architecture in
this state to file information concerning its partners, shareholders, officers, directors,
members, managers, and other aspects of its business organization, upon any forms
that the board prescribes.
(c) The practice, or offer to practice, architecture as defined by this chapter by a sole
proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or limited-liability
company, subsequently referred to as the "firm,� through one or more architects registered
under the provisions of this chapter, is permitted provided that the registered architect
or architects are in direct control of the practice or exercise responsible control
of all personnel who act in behalf of the firm in professional and technical matters;
and provided that the firm has been issued a certificate of authorization by this
board.
(d) Every firm must obtain a certificate of authorization from this board, and those individuals
in direct control of the practice or who exercise responsible control of all personnel
who act in behalf of the firm in professional and technical matters must be registered
with the board. The certificate of authorization shall be issued by the board upon
satisfaction of the provisions of this chapter and the payment of a fee as determined
by the board in accordance with § 5-1-11. This fee shall be waived if the firm consists of only one person who is the registered
architect. Every firm must file an application for a certificate of authorization
with the board on a form provided by the board.
(e) Every certificate of authorization is valid for a period of two (2) years and expires
on the last day of December of each even-numbered year following its issuance. A separate
form provided by the board shall be filed with each renewal of the certificate of
authorization. The firm shall complete a renewal form within thirty (30) days of the
time any information previously filed with the board has changed, is no longer true
or valid, or has been revised for any reason. If, in the board's judgment, the information
contained on the application and/or renewal form is satisfactory and complete, the
board will issue a certificate of authorization for the firm to practice architecture
in this state. The board may require all applicants for renewal to provide the board
with information, including but not limited to, a brief outline setting forth the
professional activities of any applicant during a period in which a certificate of
authorization has lapsed and other evidence of the continued competence and good character
of the applicant, all as the board deems necessary.
(f) In the event of ownership transition or change in the responsible control of a firm,
the board may permit a six-month (6) grace period to allow a Rhode Island registered
architect to continue to practice until a new certificate of authorization is issued.