An Idaho architect license renewal is due on your birthday, costs $50, and requires 12 hours of continuing education in health, safety, and welfare topics completed during the prior licensure period.1Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Board of Architects and Landscape Architects Miss the deadline and a $35 late fee is added. The Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, housed within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), began shifting licenses from an annual to a biennial cycle on July 1, 2025, so your current renewal period may be longer or shorter than the one before it.
When Your Renewal Is Due
Idaho law sets architect licenses at a 24-month term that expires on the licensee’s birthday unless renewed first.2Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code Title 54 Chapter 3 Section 54-312 – Renewal and Reinstatement For newly licensed architects, the first renewal is not due until at least 12 months after the birthday following initial licensure.3Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code Title 67 Chapter 26 Section 67-2614 – Renewal or Reinstatement of Licenses
During the transition to biennial renewal, DOPL may extend or shorten any individual renewal period by up to one year to move licensees onto the new two-year cycle.3Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code Title 67 Chapter 26 Section 67-2614 – Renewal or Reinstatement of Licenses Where you land depends on your birthday and when you fall in the rollout. Check the Board News page at dopl.idaho.gov/ala for the dates that apply to you before you plan your renewal.
Fees
The renewal fee is $50. A late renewal adds a $35 penalty, for a total of $85.1Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Board of Architects and Landscape Architects Posted fees may change as the biennial cycle takes effect, since a 24-month license could carry a different charge than two separate annual ones. Confirm the current amount on the DOPL site before you pay.
Continuing Education
You must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics during the prior licensure period.4Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Idaho Code 24.01.01 – Rules of the Board of Architects and Landscape Architects The requirement begins with your second year of licensure, so first-time renewers have a one-year grace period. Qualifying subjects include building systems, structural safety, accessibility standards, and environmental regulations.
You keep your own records. The board does not track credits on your behalf, and the rules require you to retain proof of completion for every course.4Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Idaho Code 24.01.01 – Rules of the Board of Architects and Landscape Architects DOPL conducts random audits. If you are selected, you must produce documentation for every credit claimed, and missing records can lead to disciplinary action or suspension.
Most architects earn HSW hours through courses from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) or NCARB. Online seminars, in-person workshops, and self-study programs all count as long as the content addresses health, safety, and welfare. If you hold an NCARB Certificate, you can track and report credits through your NCARB Record using transcripts from approved providers.5NCARB. Continuing Education for HSW
The current rules still reference 12 hours per licensure period. As the biennial cycle takes hold, the hours required for a full two-year period may rise. Verify the number that applies to your cycle with DOPL before you certify completion.
How to Renew
The fastest route is the DOPL online portal at dopl.idaho.gov. Log in, confirm your personal and professional information, self-certify that you have completed the required continuing education, and pay the fee by credit or debit card. A confirmation email follows shortly after submission.1Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Board of Architects and Landscape Architects The self-certification is a legal statement of compliance, so check your records before you tick the box.
Mail renewals go to the Division’s office at 11341 W. Chinden Blvd., Building #4, Boise, ID 83714.6Idaho Access. Occupational and Professional Licenses, Division of Paper processing takes longer, so leave extra time if your birthday is close. Once a renewal is processed, the public license registry updates within a few business days.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
If your birthday passes without a renewal, the license expires. You cannot legally offer architectural services or use the title “architect” in Idaho until it is reinstated. The immediate cost is the $35 late fee added to the $50 renewal.1Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Board of Architects and Landscape Architects Reinstatement follows Idaho Code ยง 67-2614, and the requirements grow heavier the longer the license sits expired.3Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code Title 67 Chapter 26 Section 67-2614 – Renewal or Reinstatement of Licenses
The exposure goes beyond fees. Work performed or contracts signed while your license is expired can draw liability claims and regulatory complaints, and clients and building departments can see your status in real time on the DOPL registry. If you know you will be late, paying the penalty quickly is far cheaper than letting the license lapse for months.
If You Also Practice in Other States
Idaho renewal only keeps your Idaho license active. If you work across state lines, an NCARB Certificate carries your credentials to other jurisdictions, and Idaho HSW hours count toward NCARB’s continuing education tracking at one learning unit per hour of credit.5NCARB. Continuing Education for HSW Keeping your NCARB Record current while you renew in Idaho preserves that option without duplicating coursework.