Illinois Architecture Industry Licensing

Professional Design Firm Registration Application

Mail your completed application, fee, and support documents to:

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation,
Attn: Division of Professional Regulation, Design/PSS4
P.O. Box 7007
Springfield, Illinois 62791

$75

~2 weeks. Confirmation will be sent to applicants via email.

Foreign Qualification - YES
Certificate of Good Standing - YES (from Illinois)
Certified Copy of Articles of Incorporation - YES, The Purpose Clause must note each profession your firm plans to offer. 
Annual Report - YES (a filed copy of the latest Annual Report with the Illinois Secretary of State identifying the current directors)
members, and partners.
Name: Requires board approval if an assumed name is used
Ownership/ Entity:

• The purpose clause must be specific to the profession(s) for which the design firm is seeking registration, (i.e. professional engineering).
• The firm must provide the name of each director, member or partner of the firm who is a licensed design professional, as well as their license number and state of licensure. If the individual is licensed in more than one jurisdiction, only a copy of the active license of main practice is required.
• The firm must provide a list of all Illinois office locations.

Qualified Party:

• At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a director and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
• Obtain a copy of a signed board resolution designating the Illinois licensed design professional(s) as the managing agent(s) of the firm (to be filed with license application). The resolution must include the licensee's name and Illinois license number, that the licensee is a full-time employee of the firm, the licensee's relationship to the firm, e.g. director (if applicable), and that the licensee has been designated as the managing agent in charge of that professional practice in Illinois.
   

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

• Articles of incorporation (or equivalent for any type of business entity)
• Certificate of good standing with the Illinois Dept of State
• Annual report identifying directors/members/partners designating licensed engineers
• Resolution stating the designated licensed professionals and their license information
• A filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the state approving the assumed name (if applicable)

Online

$75

By April 30 of odd-numbered years. Renewals may be filed as early as 3 months prior to the expiration date.

Renewal notices are mailed 2 months prior to the expiration date.

• List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses
• List of licensees in responsible charge of the firm's professional services
• List of branch office locations including licensee in responsible charge

$0

If the managing agent status changes, the professional design firm must notify the Department by mail within 10 business days and notify within 30 days of the name and license number of the newly designated managing agent by submitting a Resolution of the board/members/partners and the seal and signature of the new managing agent.

$75 for each renewal period missed + $50 late fee

Send the board a letter requesting reinstatement along with the appropriate fees. If the license has been expired for 5 or more years, the license holder should apply for a new license.