Architects: architects-in-training.

Assembly Member Valencia's proposal to establish a formal "architect-in-training" designation would create a new professional milestone for aspiring architects in California who have passed at least one division of the state licensing examination. The designation would be available to qualified candidates for up to four years after board approval.

The California Architects Board would oversee this new credential, with authority to verify eligibility, process applications, and enforce proper use of the title. Only the abbreviation "AIT" would be permitted, and title holders would be prohibited from independently offering architectural services to the public. The board could disclose authorization status to the public upon request and take administrative action, including license denial, against those who misuse the title.

The program includes specific temporal boundaries - becoming operative January 1, 2027, closing to new applications after January 1, 2032, and sunsetting entirely on January 1, 2036. Candidates could apply for a second four-year authorization period if they pass an additional examination division within the preceding four years. The board would charge fees to evaluate applications, with proceeds directed to the California Architects Board Fund.