Architects: architects-in-training.

Valencia’s proposal would create a formal, time-limited pathway for individuals identified as candidates for licensure to use the title “architect-in-training” under the supervision of a licensed architect, integrating supervisory accountability into the state’s architecture governance. Authorization would become effective in 2027 and run for up to four years from approval, with a second authorization possible if the trainee has passed an additional division of the licensure exam within the four-year window; new applications to use the title would be prohibited after early 2033, and the authorization would sunset entirely in 2037.

To obtain authorization, a candidate must be identified by the board as a licensure candidate and must have passed at least one division of the licensure exam. The applicant must designate a licensed architect to supervise the trainee and provide that supervisor’s name and license number to the board. Before approval, the supervising architect must submit a form agreeing to supervise and be responsible for the trainee’s work. If supervision changes, the trainee must notify the board within 30 days with new supervisor details. The title may be used only as “architect-in-training” (no other abbreviations) and may not be used to independently provide architectural services. The board may disclose the trainee’s authorization to the public upon request, and misuse of the title can trigger disciplinary action, including denial of licensure. The board may charge an evaluation fee to determine eligibility, and the program is funded through an appropriation to the California Architects Board Fund.

Enforcement and oversight provisions authorize the board to investigate trainees and supervising architects, either on its own initiative or in response to a complaint, and to suspend or revoke an active authorization for specified grounds, such as the absence of a supervising architect, fraud in obtaining the authorization, or violations of the act or related regulations. A licensed architect who supervises a trainee is subject to disciplinary action for violations committed by the trainee within the course and scope of employment, establishing shared accountability for supervision.

The measure situates the new trainee pathway within the existing Architects Practice Act framework, adding a regulated, time-bound title and supervisory regime that emphasizes transparency through public disclosure and accountability through disciplinary mechanisms. It anticipates appropriations and new funding for the board, requires regulatory implementation (forms, procedures, and guidance), and raises considerations for transition, privacy, and coordination with traditional licensure processes as implementation proceeds.