Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part I - Architects
Chapter 17 - Professional Architectural Corporations, Architectural-Engineering Corporations, and Architectural Firms
Section I-1705 - Architectural Firms

A. For purposes of this rule, the term architectural firm shall mean a corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, association, sole proprietorship, or other entity lawfully organized under the laws of Louisiana or other lawful jurisdiction for the purpose of practicing architecture.

B. The practice of architecture in Louisiana by an architectural firm is only permissible when such firm is lawfully constituted under the laws of Louisiana or under the laws of some other lawful jurisdiction for the purpose of practicing architecture, and it complies with all of the requirements of this rule.

C. Except as provided infra in this rule, no architectural firm shall solicit, offer, execute, or perform architectural services in Louisiana without first receiving a certificate of authority from the board authorizing it to do so.

D. An architectural firm soliciting, offering, contracting to perform, or performing the practice of architecture in Louisiana shall be subject to the discipline of the board and to its authority to adopt rules and regulations governing the practice of architecture.

E. A person seeking a certificate of authority for an architectural firm to practice architecture in Louisiana shall obtain an application from the board website, www.lastbdarchs.com. The applicant is required to complete the application fully and file same with the board. Upon receipt of such application and the fee described below, the board shall either approve said application and issue a certificate of authority to the architectural firm, or disapprove said application advising the applicant of the reason(s) therefor. The certificate of authority must be renewed on an annual basis.

F. The fee for obtaining an initial certificate of authority for a resident architectural firm is $75. The fee for obtaining an initial certificate of authority for a non-resident architectural firm is $150.

G. The architectural firm shall designate in its application for certificate of authority one or more supervising professional architects who shall perform or directly supervise the performance of all architectural services by said firm in Louisiana. Performing or directly supervising the performance of all architectural services shall mean unrestricted, unchecked, and unqualified command of, and legal accountability for, the architectural services performed. Specifications, drawings, or other related documents will be deemed to have been prepared by the architect or under the architects direct supervision only when the requirements of §1313 of this Part are fully satisfied. Only natural persons:

H. When the architectural firm designates an architect as a supervising professional architect, the architectural firm authorizes that architect to appear for and act on behalf of the firm in connection with the execution and performance of contracts to provide architectural services.

I. An architectural firm may practice architecture in Louisiana only as long as it employs a designated supervising professional architect who complies with §1705. F above. If the architectural firm designates only one architect as the supervising professional architect and that architect ceases being a full-time active employee of the architectural firm on a primary basis, the authority of such firm to practice architecture in Louisiana is suspended until such time as the firm designates another supervising professional architect pursuant to §1705. F above.

J. The architect(s) designated as the supervising professional architect(s) of the architectural firm is responsible to the board for all of the acts and conduct of the architectural firm.

K. The supervising professional architect(s) of the architectural firm shall advise the board of any organizational change that would relate to the authority granted under this rule. Any failure to do so could result in imposition by the board of one or more of the disciplines described in R.S. 37:153 and/or R.S. 37:154 against the architectural firm and the designated supervising professional architect(s). Possible disciplines include, but are not limited to, the suspension, revocation, or rescission of:

L. A corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, association, sole proprietorship, or other entity lawfully organized under the laws of Louisiana or other lawful jurisdiction for the purpose of offering a combination of architectural services together with construction services (i.e., a design/build firm), must obtain a certificate of authority from the board as set forth in this rule and also comply with §1319 of this Part.

M. A joint venture practicing architecture in Louisiana shall not be required to obtain a certificate of authority from the board; however, all architectural firms practicing architecture in Louisiana as members of a joint venture are required to obtain a certificate of authority and otherwise comply with this rule.

N. A non-resident architectural firm associated within the meaning of §1317 of this Part with a resident architect or architectural firm for a specific and isolated project is not required to obtain a certificate of authority from the board, provided the resident architect is licensed in Louisiana or the resident architectural firm has obtained a certificate of authority from the board.

O. A sole proprietorship practicing architecture in Louisiana in the name of an individual registered with the board is not required to obtain a certificate of authority to practice architecture in Louisiana. A sole proprietorship practicing architecture in Louisiana under some name other than the name of an individual registered with the board is required to obtain a certificate of authority from the board.

P. A non-resident architectural firm retained by a Louisiana architect as a consultant only is not required to obtain a certificate of authority from the board.

Q. The architectural firm shall satisfy all of the requirements of the Louisiana secretary of state for doing business in this state.

R. An architectural firm holding a certificate of authority and desiring to continue offering architectural services in Louisiana shall make application for renewal each year on or prior to June 30 by downloading a renewal form from the board website, www.lastbdarchs.com. Upon receipt of the completed application and the renewal fee described below on or prior to June 30, a renewal certificate will be issued.

S. The fee for renewing a certificate of authority for a resident architectural firm is $75. The fee for renewing a certificate of authority for a non-resident architectural firm is $150.

T. The failure of an architectural firm to renew its certificate of authority on or before June 30 shall not deprive it of the right of renewal thereafter, provided it pays a delinquent fee to the board. The delinquent fee to be paid upon the renewal of a certificate of authority by a resident architectural firm is $75. The delinquent fee to be paid upon the renewal of a certificate of authority by a non-resident architectural firm is $150. This delinquent fee shall be in addition to the renewal fee set forth in the preceding paragraph.

U. Rules regulating the names of architectural firms are contained in Chapter 15 supra.