Unlicensed Practice

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March 2004

Issue

AIA Washington Council believes the basis for licensing an individual to practice architecture should be for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare. Only this profession tests its applicants for knowledge of all public life/safety provisions of current building codes. Therefore, to safeguard life, health, and property and to promote the public welfare, the Council seeks to eliminate the unlicensed practice or architecture within the State of Washington and to confine the practice architecture to architects. The current practice of public agencies allowing other design professionals to stamp drawings for structures intended for human occupancy does not adequately protect the public’s life/safety.