The Mission of the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by:

• Ensuring that those entering the professional practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, geology, soil science, or those using the title of certified interior designer, meet standards of competency by means of education, examination and experience;
• Establishing standards of practice for those licensed to practice;
• Requiring anyone practicing or offering to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, geology or soil science be licensed and continue to maintain professional competence;
• Requiring anyone using the title of certified interior designer be certified and continue to maintain professional competence;
• Enforcing the laws, rules and standards governing the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, geology, and soil science, or the use of the title certified interior designer, in Minnesota in a fair, expeditious and consistent manner.

Vision

• Licensed or certified individuals provide quality services in Minnesota.
• Licensees and certificate holders possess the knowledge, skills and abilities that enable them to meet the needs of their clients, the public and their communities.
• Licensees and certificate holders are competent in their respective areas of practice and adhere to standards of ethical professional conduct.
• Licensees and certificate holders have access to statutes, rules, regulations and professional standards necessary to remain current.
• The Board maintains an active interest in building relationships with all stakeholders – regulated professionals, public officials and members of the general public.
• The Board utilizes communication tools including a website, newsletter and a highly-informed staff to increase overall awareness of two of its principle functions:
• Educating the Board’s stakeholders as to the critical role of licensure and certification in protecting the public;
• Enforcing Minnesota’s laws governing professional licensure and certification.

• The Board’s work protects the public health, safety, and welfare.

Board Structure

The Board has 21 members appointed by the Governor for four-year terms. The regulated professions are represented by 16 individuals, complemented by 5 members of the general public.

Each member serves on one of three committees: Complaint, Rules, or Credentialing. The Complaint Committee meets monthly, while the Credentialing and Rules Committees meet every other month. On the opposite months, the members are divided into two Sections: ALACID (Architects, Landscape Architects and Certified Interior Designers) and ELSGEO (Engineering, Land Surveying and Geoscience). During the Section meetings, more in-depth discussions about the issues surrounding those particular professions are discussed. Anything acted upon in a Committee or Section meeting must come to the full Board for approval.

COMPLAINT COMMITTEE:

The Complaint Committee is charged with reviewing all enforcement issues as a result of complaints filed at the Board office.  The types of complaint files reviewed include, but are not limited to, the following:  unlicensed practice, violations of the professional code of conduct, negligence and holding one’s self out as a licensed or certified design professional. 

CREDENTIALING COMMITTEE:

The Credentialing Committee acts on all examination, licensing and certification issues such as applications for licensure, renewals, certification and examination.  The Committee reviews and recommends rule, policy and procedural changes related to licensure, certification and examination.  The Committee also implements continuing education procedures and ensures that the Board’s newsletter, The Communicator, is published at the direction of the Board.

RULES COMMITTEE:

The Rules Committee acts on issues involving Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules and amendments thereto.  This includes any updating or “housekeeping” changes that are necessary, statute changes that are needed to clarify the intent and limits of the law, rule packages that must be generated to further explain statutes.  The Committee implements the outreach activities of the Board to increase familiarization with Board statutes and rules.