An Act To Amend Procedures for the Licensing of Architects and Foresters
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1598
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Amends: 32 MRSA §220, 32 MRSA §5515

Legislative Document 
No. 1598 
H.P. 1088 
House of Representatives, February 23, 2016 
An Act To Amend Procedures for the Licensing of Architects and 
Foresters 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by Representative HERBIG of Belfast for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 3, section 955, subsection 4. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, current law does not allow applicants for licensure as architects in Maine 
to apply for a license before completing 3 years of practical experience; and 
Whereas, most other states have less stringent licensure requirements for architects; 
and  
Whereas, current law discourages potential applicants for licensure as architects 
from becoming licensed in Maine; and 
Whereas, Maine is currently losing well-qualified candidates for licensure to states 
with less stringent licensure requirements and this issue should be addressed as soon as 
possible; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §220, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. F, §11, 
is further amended to read: 
B.    Qualifications An architect must meet the qualifications established in this 
paragraph. 
(1)  To Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, to be qualified for admission 
to the examination a license to practice architecture in this State an applicant 
must submit evidence to the board that the applicant has passed an examination 
administered by a national council of architectural registration boards or an 
equivalent examination specified by board rule and: 
(a)  The applicant has completed a course of study in a school or college of 
architecture approved by the board, with graduation evidenced by a diploma 
setting forth a satisfactory degree, and 3 years of practical experience under 
the supervision of an experienced architect or architects engaged in the 
practice of architecture as a profession as prescribed by the board by rule; or 
(b)  The applicant has training or practical experience, or a combination of 
both, that in the opinion of the board is fully equivalent to that required in 
division (a). 
 (2)  An applicant for licensure as an architect in this State who has a current and 
valid license from another jurisdiction and a certificate from the National Council 
of Architectural Registration Boards or its successor a national council of 
architectural registration boards or other organization approved by the board may 
offer to render architectural services in this State prior to licensure by the board if 
the applicant first notifies the board in writing that the applicant will be present in 
this State to offer to render architectural services.  The applicant may not render 
architectural services until duly licensed by the board. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §5515, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2013, c. 527, §5 and 
affected by §9, is further amended to read: 
6.  Examination.  Each applicant for a forester license shall submit an application 
and examination fee as set under section 5507 and successfully pass an examination 
approved by the board designed to test an individual's knowledge to engage in the 
practice of forestry.  An applicant with an associate degree or higher from a program that 
has a curriculum in forestry from a school or college approved by the board is required to 
pass only the examination section that tests the applicant's knowledge of the State's 
forestry laws, rules and practices.  Applicants must meet all other qualifications for 
licensure prior to taking the examination except that an applicant with a degree in forestry 
from a school or college approved by the board pursuant to rules adopted by the board 
may take the examination prior to meeting all of the qualifications for licensure. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, 
Research and Economic Development pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, 
section 955.  The bill authorizes the Maine State Board for Licensure of Architects, 
Landscape Architects and Interior Designers to specify, by rule, the required amount of 
practical experience under the supervision of an experienced architect or architects that an 
applicant for licensure as an architect must complete before obtaining a license.  The bill 
also removes the requirement that candidates for a forester license submit applications 
and examination fees to the Board of Licensure of Foresters; in current practice, 
candidates submit their applications and examination fees to a board-approved testing 
company rather than directly to the board. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic 
Development has not taken a position on the substance of this bill and by reporting this 
bill out the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or 
disagrees with any aspect of this bill.  The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole 
purpose of turning the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation's proposal 
into a printed bill that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public hearing 
and subsequent processing in the normal course.  The committee is taking this action to 
ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the department's proposal.