Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Practice
Recently, the Board has seen an increase in licensees seemingly aiding and abetting unlicensed draftspeople to prepare plans for projects subject to the Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§81-3441, “E&A Act”).
When unlicensed individuals perform services that constitute the practice of engineering or architecture and are required to be done by a licensed architect or professional engineer, such activity is a violation of the E&A Act.
Board Rule 5.5.6 states, “The licensee shall not knowingly aid or abet the practice or the performance of activities requiring a license by a person not licensed to conduct such practice or activity.”
It is not uncommon for licensees to work with unlicensed draftspeople in preparing a set of technical documents done in conjunction with a project. However, if this draftsperson is not a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer, the licensee must have full professional knowledge of and control over the work by being in direct supervision of such work. Direction supervision requirements are listed in Board Rule Section 6.4, which requires that the licensee in direct supervision of work must:
-
Have and exercise the authority to review and to change, reject, or approve both the work in progress and the final work product, through a continuous process of examination, evaluation, communication, and direction throughout the development of the work (Rule 6.4.1);
-
Be personally aware of the project’s scope, needs, parameters, limitations, and special requirements (6.4.2);
-
Be capable of answering questions relevant to the architectural or engineering decisions made as part of the services provided, in sufficient detail to demonstrate reasonable knowledge of and proficiency in the work (6.4.3); and
-
Be reasonably satisfied with the product of the services rendered and accept full responsibility for the work (6.4.4).
One key rule regarding direct supervision is Rule 6.5.1. It says the licensee must “have and exercise the authority to review and to change, reject, or approve both the work in progress and the final work product.”
This means the licensee be involved throughout the “life” of the project, from conceptual design and planning through construction documents and observation. This rule and others in the section were written specifically to prevent the problem of “plan stamping,” where a licensee comes on at the end of a project and simply places his or her seal on the technical documents.
If a licensee cannot prove to the Board that their work on a project satisfies all the requirements of direct supervision listed in Rule Section 6.4, then that licensee is not providing the level of direct supervision required on a project by the E&A Act.
2025 NCARB Annual Business Meeting
Earlier this year in June, members from the 55 U.S. architecture licensing boards convened for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) 2025 Annual Business Meeting. The meeting serves as a forum for NCARB members to elect the incoming Board of Directors, vote on several resolutions, and shape the agenda for the Council’s next fiscal year (which began on July 1).
During the meeting, attendees also had the opportunity to engage in workshops covering a variety of topics, and receive updates on NCARB’s progress throughout the past year.
Council member boards also voted on several resolutions, including ratifying two new Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with NCARB’s counterparts in Canada and South Africa. The agreements expand access to international reciprocity, allowing qualified architects from each country to pursue licensure through a streamlined process.
In addition, member boards addressed a common barrier to eligibility within the Education Alternative to NCARB Certification, which provides a pathway to NCARB certification for architects without a degree from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited program. Effective January 15, 2026, NCARB will remove the three-year waiting period between initial licensure and eligibility to apply for certification through the Education Alternative. All other program requirements—including completion of either Two Times AXP or Certificate Portfolio Pathways.
To view a summary of the NCARB 2025 Annual Business Meeting, please click here.
NCARB Releases Latest Data on Architectural Licensure
NCARB has released the 2025 edition of its annual data report, NCARB by the Numbers. The report, which is based on data from the 2024 calendar year, highlights that the average time to earn an architecture license has decreased for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With data from more than 126,000 candidates and licensed architects, NCARB’s annual data report reveals recent trends in architectural licensure, including:
-
In 2024, the average time to earn a license—including earning a degree & completing the AXP & ARE—fell below the 13-year mark for the first time since 2016.
-
The licensure candidate pipeline finally recovered from COVID-19, with nearly 40,000 candidates actively working to become architects in 2024.
For highlights from this year’s report, please click here.
To read the full report and explore interactive data charts, please click here.
NCARB New Fee Schedule Effective August 1
NCARB’s new fee schedule will go into effect on August 1, 2025.
These increases address rising costs due to inflation while still keeping them below inflation benchmarks. NCARB has chosen to raise fees incrementally each year rather than by a larger amount every several years. NCARB has indicated that those who use NCARB services should expect to see incremental fee increases each year going forward.
You can review a full list of adjusted fees on NCARB’s website and below:
-
New candidate Record application: $103 (previously $100)
-
Licensure candidate Record renewal: $103 (previously $100)
-
ARE cost per division: $257 (previously $250)
-
Licensure candidate Record reactivation: $103 (previously $100) plus the cost of all outstanding renewal fees, up to $206 (previously $200)
-
Annual architect Record and NCARB Certificate holder renewal fees: $293 (previously $285)
-
Reciprocity and international transmittals: $488 per transmittal (previously $475)
-
NCARB Certificate or architect Record application: $1,381 (previously $1,345). This application fee does not apply to licensure candidates with an active Record who become NCARB-certified
-
Architect Record or NCARB Certificate reactivation: $313 (previously $305) plus the cost of all outstanding renewal fees, up to $1,381
NCARB: Changes to the AXP Launch November 18
Effective November 18, 2025, NCARB is making several changes to the Architectural Experience Program (AXP). The structure of the AXP will remain the same, including the six experience areas and the requirement to gain and document 3,740 hours of experience.
In addition to minor program updates and clarifications, the changes will include:
-
Refreshed descriptions of each of the program’s six experience areas,
-
Replacing the five-year reporting requirement with a new reporting policy, and
-
Updating the process through which candidates can gain experience for completing professional development courses.
Under the new reporting requirement, candidates will be able to earn 100% credit for experience up to a year old. Experience older than one year will be worth 75% credit, with no limitation on how old that experience can be.
Questions about how these updates will impact you? Join NCARB experts for a live webinar about the upcoming AXP changes on Thursday, July 31, at 3 p.m. (ET). This webinar will explain what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and answer any questions you may have in a live Q&A session. Register here.
For more information regarding these upcoming changes, please click here.
NCEES Awards $265,000 Through Professional Licensure Scholarship
NCEES has announced the award of a total of $265,000 in scholarships to students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia this year in partnership with the ACEC Research Institute. The NCEES Professional Licensure Scholarship aims to make engineering and surveying careers and professional licensure more accessible to students and address workforce shortages facing the industries.
Meghan Ann Tiahrt, attending the University of Nebraska Omaha, was the Nebraska recipient of a $5,000 NCEES Professional Licensure Scholarship.
“We are thrilled once again this year to be able to partner with the ACEC Research Institute to support deserving engineering and surveying students on their path to professional licensure,” NCEES Chief Executive Officer Davy McDowell, P.E., stated. “Professional licensure at its core helps ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public, which is at the heart of the NCEES mission.”
Licensure Updates
Recently Resolved Compliance Cases
24.49 – Unlicensed Practice of Architecture - 81-3442(1)(a)
Summary: The Board was notified of the submission of unsealed plans to another state agency for the renovation of a single-story building [Business (B) Occupancy] comprising approximately 6,000 square feet. The plans did not bear the seal of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer.
Action: This project was subject to the Act due to the building area comprising more than 3,000 square feet of B-Business occupancy. The Board authorized architecture remediation to bring the project into compliance with the Act. Per Board Rule 8.4, the project owner engaged a Nebraska-licensed architect to review the project for compliance with the Act. The Board dismissed the complaint without disciplinary action based on the successful completion of architecture remediation.
25.10 – Audit Failure
Summary: A complaint was initiated alleging that Richard Morrison Jr. (E-10932) failed to respond to a continuing education audit failure. Board Rule 9.1 requires every professional engineer to meet the continuing education requirements as a condition for license renewal.
Action: The Board found that Morrison failed to meet continuing education requirements during the 2023-2024 renewal period. The Board proposed a settlement agreement in which Morrison agreed to the disciplinary action, which imposed a $500 civil penalty and $44.54 in investigative costs to be paid within thirty (30) days. The Board accepted and executed the settlement agreement at the May 30, 2025 meeting. During the July 11, 2025 meeting, the Board closed the complaint based on fulfilling the settlement agreement terms.
For further information regarding the enforcement process, please click here.
For a full list of disciplinary actions taken by the Board, please click here.
The Nebraska Professional Archive
Please click here for past issues.
If you have questions about topics in this digital newsletter, previous issues, or other topics that would be helpful to publish in our next release, please contact us.