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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
board of technical registration; qualifications
Purpose
Clarifies the qualifications for registration as a professional engineer, architect, land surveyor or landscape architect with the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration (AZBTR) through reciprocity or endorsement.
Background
The AZBTR is
established to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the public through
the promulgation and enforcement of standards of qualifications for those
individuals who are registered or certified and seeking registration or
certification in the following occupations:
1) alarm agents and businesses; 2) architects; 3) engineers; 4) geologists; 5)
home inspectors;
6) landscape architects; and 7) land surveyors (A.R.S.
§ 32-101).
In 2025, the Legislature established an alternative pathway, known as reciprocity or endorsement, for a person to qualify for professional registration as a professional engineer, architect, land surveyor or landscape architect with the AZBTR. A person meets the qualifications for registration through reciprocity or endorsement if the person holds: 1) a valid license, registration or certification issued by the proper authority of either another state, territory, district or possession or a county participating in the applicable profession's national council mutual recognition agreement; and 2) a certificate of model law designation from the applicable profession's national council. In addition to the general reciprocity or endorsement qualifications, an applicant for registration as a professional engineer through reciprocity or endorsement must hold a record from the profession's national council verifying that the person meets at least one of the following in the branch of engineering in which registration is sought: 1) has at least four years of experience following the person's licensure, registration or certification by the other jurisdiction; 2) passed a professional national examination; or 3) earned a baccalaureate or equivalent degree or a postgraduate degree (Laws 2025, Ch. 44; A.R.S. § 32-122.03).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that an applicant seeking professional registration with the AZBTR through reciprocity or endorsement must hold a valid license, registration or certification in the profession in which registration is sought.
2. Clarifies that the valid license, registration or certification of an applicant must be issued by the proper authority of another state, territory, district or possession of the United States.
3. Specifies that an applicant seeking professional registration through reciprocity or endorsement with the AZBTR must hold a valid record from the applicable profession's national council certifying that the individual satisfies the national council's requirements for certification, model law designation or mutual recognition agreement.
4. Allows an applicant for registration as a professional engineer with the AZBTR to meet the qualifications for reciprocity or endorsement by holding a record from the profession's national council verifying the person has at least four years of experience, rather than four years of experience following the person's licensure, registration or certification by the other jurisdiction.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
COM 1/20/26 DP 11-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/2/26 48-10-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2026
JT/HD/ci