California CodesBusiness and Professions Code - BPCDivision 3 — Professions and Vocations GenerallyChapter 3 — ArchitectureArticle 4 — Issuance of CertificatesSection 5550.3

(a) Notwithstanding Section 111, the board may adopt guidelines for the delegation of its authority to grade the examinations of applicants for licensure to any vendor under contract to the board for provision of an architect’s registration examination. The guidelines shall be within the board’s legal authority to establish the standards for registration in this state, and shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Goals for the appropriate content, development, grading, and administration of an examination, against which the vendor’s rules and procedures can be judged.

(2) Procedures through which the board can reasonably assure itself that the vendor adequately meets the goals established by the board.

(b) The board shall not delegate its authority to grade the examinations of candidates for registration in this state to any vendor or any party not in compliance with Section 111 or with the guidelines established in subdivision (a).

(c) A candidate who received full credit for all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) prior to May 1, 2023, shall be deemed to have passed the ARE.