NEWLY AMENDED RULE: RULE CHAPTER 13, ADMINISTRATIVE – PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
Category : Announcements, Newly Adopted Rules
Chapter 13 pertains to the administration of the licensing law by the board, and the amendments update the rules in such Chapter to align with current practices. The amendments:
- Remove the word “stamp” when referring to an architect’s seal, including in the requirements for its description and placement.
- Specify that certain alterations defined as Level 1 by the International Building Code, with a value exceeding $125,000, are exempt from the licensing law if the applicant documents to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshall that the work does not affect structural integrity or life safety.
- Establish a five-year requirement obligating architects to document and retain evidence of their responsible control over all work, including documents prepared outside their office.
- Remove the reference to “other similar honorific but inactive status” from the continuing education exemptions, clarifying that only architects with formally defined emeritus status (not architects who may have received “other similar honorific but inactive status”) are exempt.
- Update the board’s contact information by removing the fax number and changing the website from www.lastbdarchs.com to www.lsbae.com.
- Expand the types of courses and programs that qualify for continuing education credit.
- Increase the continuing education credit for authoring a published paper, article, or book from eight hours to twelve hours.
- Establish that continuing education credit cannot be earned for activities under one hour, while allowing fractional credit for activities exceeding one hour.
- Remove the program sponsor from disciplinary actions related to false continuing education reporting.
- Increase the record retention period from two years to six years for architects to maintain evidence of continuing evidence compliance.
- Remove the option for an in-state architect to contract with licensed engineers for work under the architect’s responsible control, requiring the architect to personally perform all necessary calculations and maintain full responsibility for the work under the architect’s responsible control, in order for an out-of-state architect to be deemed associated with the in-state architect on a project..
The amendments were published in the September 20, 2026 issue of the Louisiana Register and are effective as of the date of publication.