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Board fines unlicensed practitioner $6,500, issues $3,500 penalty and exam requirement for expired license; engineer case closed with warning
Summary
Three enforcement items on Aug. 7: the board proposed civil penalties for unlicensed architectural practice in one case, closed an engineer's out-of-state discipline matter with a letter of warning, and assessed penalties and a rules exam for an architect who practiced with an expired certificate.
The Tennessee Board of Architecture and Engineering Examiners on Aug. 7 approved three enforcement actions during its legal report: a civil-penalty recommendation against an unlicensed practitioner, a letter-of-warning in an engineer's out-of-state discipline matter and a financial penalty plus an exam requirement for an architect who worked while his Tennessee certificate was expired.
Case 1: Unlicensed architecture work; recommended civil penalties of $6,500 The board reviewed a complaint alleging unlicensed architecture practice after a drafter/"architectural designer" provided drawings that subdivided an existing building and listed 13 sheets in the drawing index. After a board-member review, staff concluded the work included architectural services (subdivision of an existing building with firewalls) and that the scope likely required a licensed architect's seal because the building's gross area remained over the threshold for exemption. The board accepted staff's recommendation to assess civil penalties at $500 per drawing, for a total recommended penalty of $6,500. The board voted to accept the recommendation.
Case 2: Engineer with out-of-state discipline; closed with letter of warning The board considered a professional engineer who had been disciplined in Wyoming (May 2025) and had prior discipline in Missouri and Kentucky. The respondent had self-reported the Wyoming action but had not reported earlier disciplinary action to Tennessee within the 60-day reporting window. Legal staff concluded the Wyoming/Missouri/Ohio actions did not meet the rule's reporting threshold requiring immediate disciplinary filing, and recommended closing the matter with a letter of warning reminding the registrant of reporting obligations. The board approved the recommendation.
Case 3: Architect worked with expired certificate; $3,500 penalty plus laws and rules exam A Tennessee-licensed architect acknowledged working on seven projects after allowing the Tennessee certificate to expire. Staff reviewed the construction documents (via a Tennessee-licensed colleague) and found them to comply with Tennessee requirements. The architect reported the projects were located at business sites under 5,000 square feet in gross area; staff noted that, while TCA 62-2-102 provides exemptions based on size, an awarding authority may still require a licensed architect. The board assessed settled penalties totaling $3,500 and required the architect to take and pass the board's laws-and-rules exam.
Board comments: The board discussed the frequency of renewals-related enforcement and the communication challenges that can lead to accidental lapses. Members urged licensees to maintain current licensure in every jurisdiction where they practice and noted that renewal questionnaires and fingerprints of remediation are tools the board uses to detect noncompliance.
Next steps: Staff will implement penalty assessments and send required notices to the respondents. The board recorded its votes on each enforcement recommendation in the meeting record.
Ending: The legal report concluded with the board directing staff to proceed with notifications and any administrative processing required to complete enforcement actions.
