50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Minnesota Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Minnesota.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Minnesota for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Minnesota Architecture Company Licenses

Minnesota Professional Firm Registration

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design
Law:

MN St. § 326.14

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

All Entity Types:

  • Ownership interest in the corporation can be held only by licensed design professionals, other entities authorized to provide at least one of the same professional services, a voting trust if all voting trustees are licensed design professionals, or an employee stock ownership plan where all voting trustees are design professionals.
Notes:
  • This registration is only issued to professional entities and does not apply to standard business entities.
  • Minnesota does not issue a license number. Firm registrations are listed by name only and can be verified by contacting the board by phone or email.

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

Non-professional entities such as business corporations and LLCs are generally exempt from this registration requirement.

Agency Fee:

$0

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Firm Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$100

Turnaround:

7 to 10 business days after successful filing and payment

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Minnesota licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional design activities in the state.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Minnesota licensed design professional, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional design activities in the state.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  2. Obtain a copy of your approved entity formation documents to file with the firm registration application.
  3. File a Professional Firm Registration Application with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  2. Obtain a copy of your approved foreign qualification documents to file with the firm registration application.
  3. File a Professional Firm Registration Application with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of your Articles of Incorporation or your Certificate of Authority (after foreign qualifying)
  • A list of owners and individuals with "governance authority" 
    • Someone who determines important policies for the firm
    • Someone who oversees the firm's overall operations
    • Someone who maintains the general, active management of and ultimate control over matters involving professional judgment

Registration Renewal

Form:

Professional Firm Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Required Attachments:
  • List of directors, officers, managers, or members of the firm including addresses (only required if there were changes)
  • Updated copy of articles of incorporation or certificate of authority (if changes have occurred)

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Notify the board of changes via phone or email.

Reinstatement

Form:

Professional Firm Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$25 for each year expired.

Notes:

Licenses that have been expired for longer than 4 years cannot be reinstated and the licensee should instead apply for a new license.

Individual Licenses

Minnesota Individual Architecture Licenses

Minnesota Architect License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design
NCARB Certificate:Not required
Completion of CE/PDH:Required
Interview:Not required
NAAB-accredited degree:Required
NCARB IDP:Required
Additional Experience:Not required
State-specific exam:Not required

Initial Registration

This section applies to architects that are applying for a license in Minnesota for the first time.

Form:http://mn.gov/aelslag/architecture.html
Agency Fee:

$132.00 licensure fee at time of approved licensure + $75.00 exam fee

Reciprocal Registration

This section applies to architects licensed in another state that are looking for reciprocal licensure in Minnesota.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:Comity applicant must meet MN Statutes and Rules in effect at time of original licensure in their base state.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architects that are already licensed in Minnesota and need to renew their license.

Agency Fee:

$132

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Interior Designer Certification

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Certified Interior Designer Application

Agency Fee:

$120

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Minnesota Landscape Architect License

Agency:Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design

Initial Registration

Form:

Landscape Architecture License Application

Agency Fee:

$75 application fee + $120 license fee

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Learn about architecture licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ARE (Architect Registration Examination) - Assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required to be a practicing architect.

AXP (Architectural Experience Program) - NCARB program for architectural internship, a requirement for licensure that occurs after filling the educational requirements.

BEFA (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect) - An alternative NCARB certification that allows foreign architects to independently practice architecture.

COA (Certificate of Authorization) - The most common name of the registration required for firms to practice architecture in a given state.

Design Firm - Architectural firm registration is sometimes grouped with engineering and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

NCARB Certification - Licensed architects have the option to become Certificate holders to signify that they have met national standards established by U.S. licensing boards for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Certification also facilitates reciprocal registration in all 54 jurisdictions, 11 Canadian jurisdictions, and can be used to support an application for licensure in other countries.

Reciprocity - This is when a licensed architect in one state can provide documentation (often a NCARB certificate) to more easily apply for licensure in another jurisdiction.

State Board - Often referred to as the State Architects Licensure Board or Board of Architects, an individual state’s board serves as the regulatory authority for architects. The board qualifies and licenses individuals seeking architectural licensure. The board is responsible for preserving the public health, safety, and welfare of individuals who occupy built environments.

National Architecture Accrediting Board
NAAB establishes criteria for and accredits professional architecture degree programs in the United States.

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
AIAS is an independent, student-run group that promotes excellence in architecture education, training, and practice.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA is a voluntary professional organization for architects providing advocacy, information, and community.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
ACSA represents architectural education programs across the globe.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
NCARB is the national organization representing the state registration boards.

Revised October 18, 2021. Complete data last reviewed August 11, 2019.
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