Section 7308. Mandatory continuing education for architects

1. (a) Each
  licensed architect required under this article to  register  triennially
  with  the  department  to  practice  in  the  state  shall  comply  with
  provisions of the mandatory continuing education requirements prescribed
  in subdivision two of this section except as set forth in paragraphs (b)
  and (c) of this subdivision. Architects who do not satisfy the mandatory
  continuing education requirements shall not practice until they have met
  such requirements, and have  been  issued  a  registration  certificate,
  except   that   an  architect  may  practice  without  having  met  such
  requirements  if  he  or  she  is  issued  a  conditional   registration
  certificate pursuant to subdivision three of this section.
    (b) Architects shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing education
  requirement  for the triennial registration period during which they are
  first licensed. In accord with the intent of this section, adjustment to
  the mandatory continuing education requirement may  be  granted  by  the
  department for reasons of health certified by an appropriate health care
  professional,  for  extended  active  duty  with the armed forces of the
  United States, or for other good  cause  acceptable  to  the  department
  which may prevent compliance.
    (c)  A licensed architect not engaged in practice as determined by the
  department, shall be exempt  from  the  mandatory  continuing  education
  requirement upon the filing of a statement with the department declaring
  such  status.  Any  licensee who returns to the practice of architecture
  during the triennial registration period  shall  notify  the  department
  prior  to  reentering  the  profession  and  shall  meet  such mandatory
  education requirements as shall be  prescribed  by  regulations  of  the
  commissioner.
    2.   During  each  triennial  registration  period  an  applicant  for
  registration shall complete a minimum of thirty-six hours of  acceptable
  continuing  education, as specified in subdivision four of this section,
  provided  that  a  minimum  of  twenty-four  hours  of  such  continuing
  education  shall  be  in  the areas of health, safety and welfare. Up to
  one-half of the total hours  of  continuing  education  may  consist  of
  non-course  activities.  Any  architect  whose  first  registration date
  following the effective date of this  section  occurs  less  than  three
  years  from  such  effective  date,  but  on or after January first, two
  thousand one, shall complete continuing education hours  on  a  prorated
  basis at the rate of one hour per month for the period beginning January
  first,  two  thousand  up  to  the first registration date thereafter. A
  licensee who  has  not  satisfied  the  mandatory  continuing  education
  requirements shall not be issued a triennial registration certificate by
  the  department  and  shall  not practice unless and until a conditional
  registration certificate is issued as provided for in subdivision  three
  of  this section. With the exception of continuing education hours taken
  during the registration period immediately preceding the effective  date
  of  this  section, continuing education hours taken during one triennium
  may not be transferred to a subsequent triennium.
    3.  The  department,  in  its  discretion,  may  issue  a  conditional
  registration  to  a  licensee who fails to meet the continuing education
  requirements established in subdivision two  of  this  section  but  who
  agrees to make up any deficiencies and complete any additional education
  which  the  department  may  require.  The  fee  for  such a conditional
  registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee  for  the
  triennial  registration.  The  duration of such conditional registration
  shall be determined by the department but shall not exceed one year. Any
  licensee who is notified of the denial of registration  for  failure  to
  submit  evidence, satisfactory to the department, of required continuing
  education and who practices architecture without such registration,  may

  be  subject  to  disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five
  hundred ten of this title.
    4.  As used in subdivision two of this section, "acceptable continuing
  education" shall mean courses of  learning  and  educational  activities
  which contribute to professional practice in architecture and which meet
  the  standards  prescribed  by  regulations  of  the  commissioner.  The
  department may, in its discretion and as needed  to  contribute  to  the
  health  and  welfare of the public, require the completion of continuing
  education courses in specific subjects.
    5. Architects shall maintain adequate documentation of  completion  of
  acceptable  continuing  education  and  educational activities and shall
  provide such documentation at the request of the department.
    6. The mandatory continuing education fee shall be forty-five dollars,
  shall  be  payable  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  each  triennial
  registration  period,  and  shall  be  paid in addition to the triennial
  registration fee required by section seventy-three hundred four of  this
  article.