Issues & AdvocacyState

From April 8, 2010 Angle

On April 5, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. (D) signed HB 10-1148 into law, thus rolling back onerous “continuing competency” mandates that set the Centennial State’s architectural licensure regime apart from all other states.

Before the repeal, the provisions suggested that an architect is not competent unless he/she can prove otherwise as a condition of renewal when, in fact, all licensed architects are already considered competent based on education, experience, and examination. Also, evaluation of competence was done by architects themselves, which, by definition, compromised the true value of the evaluation. Finally, the continuing competency provisions nearly tripled the cost of renewing an architectural license at a time when up to 25 percent of Colorado’s architects have reported having no work. All of these requirements were in addition to, and separate from, the state’s existing mandatory continuing education requirements, which will remain in effect.