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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55543</law_id><section_number>54.1-401</section_number><catch_line>Exemptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-406</reference><reference>54.1-410</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Landscape Architects</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Practice of professional engineering and land surveying by a licensed <span class="dictionary">architect</span> when such practice is incidental to what may be properly considered an architectural undertaking. <a id="paragraph-203568" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Practice of architecture</span> and land surveying by a licensed <span class="dictionary">professional engineer</span> when such practice is incidental to an engineering project. <a id="paragraph-203569" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Practice as a <span class="dictionary">professional engineer</span>, architect or <span class="dictionary">landscape architect</span> in this Commonwealth by any person not a resident of and having no established place of business in this Commonwealth, or by any person resident in this Commonwealth whose arrival is recent, provided that such person is otherwise qualified for such professional service in another state or country and qualifies in Virginia and files prior to commencement of such practice an application, with the required fee, for licensure as a <span class="dictionary">professional engineer</span>, architect or <span class="dictionary">landscape architect</span>. The exemption shall continue until the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> has had sufficient time to consider the application and grant or deny licensure or certification. <a id="paragraph-203570" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Engaging in the practice of professional engineering as an employee under a licensed <span class="dictionary">professional engineer</span>, engaging in the <span class="dictionary">practice of architecture</span> as an employee under a licensed architect, engaging in the <span class="dictionary">practice of landscape architecture</span> as an employee under a licensed <span class="dictionary">landscape architect</span>, or engaging in the <span class="dictionary">practice of land surveying</span> as an employee under a licensed <span class="dictionary">land surveyor</span>; provided, that such practice shall not include <span class="dictionary">responsible charge</span> of design or supervision. <a id="paragraph-203571" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Practice of professional engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, or land surveying solely as an employee of the United States. However, the employee shall not be exempt from other provisions of this chapter if he furnishes advisory service for compensation to the public in connection with engineering, architectural, landscape architecture, or land surveying matters. <a id="paragraph-203572" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Practice of architecture</span> or professional engineering by an individual, firm or corporation on property owned or leased by such individual, firm or corporation, unless the public health or safety is involved. <a id="paragraph-203573" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Except as provided by regulations promulgated by the State Corporation Commission pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Projects presenting material risk to public safety; licensed professional engineers; regulations" href="/56-257.2_1/">56-257.2:1</a>, the <span class="dictionary">practice of engineering</span> solely as an employee of a corporation engaged in interstate commerce, or as an employee of a public service corporation, by rendering such corporation engineering service in connection with its facilities which are subject to regulation by the State Corporation Commission, provided that corporation employees who furnish advisory service to the public in connection with engineering matters other than in connection with such employment shall not be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-203574" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-401/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 54-37; 1968, c. 77; 1980, c. 757; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 595, 780, 783; 2009, c. 309; 2020, c. 822.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
