West Virginia
Law Passed: 1921 • Joined NCARB: 1942 • Region 2—Middle-Atlantic (1965)
The Components of Licensure
Education
1970: Applicants without a degree from a NAAB-accredited program can document additional experience as an alternative.
1974: West Virginia accepts NCARB’s education standard, requiring 12 years of experience as an alternative for candidates without a degree from a NAAB-accredited program.
1986: The board requires a degree from a NAAB-accredited program or its equivalent.
1993: A degree from a NAAB-accredited program is required.
Experience
1970: Three years of experience are required for applicants with a degree from a NAAB-accredited program, five years for those without.
1993: Completion of the IDP is required for ARE candidates.
Examination
1954: West Virginia models its examination after NCARB’s syllabus.
Noteworthy
West Virginia has had several long-serving board members, including Edward T. Boggess (22 years); Greg Williamson, who served for 15 years and was responsible for many rule revisions; E. Keith Dean (30 years); Charles Hickman (21 years); Jan Fox (25 years); and William Yoke (24 years). In addition, Lexa Lewis provided 20 years of support as the board’s executive director.
In 1942, board member Frederic Faris moved that no architect who had served in the military should be penalized for not practicing or paying fees during the period of military service. He also urged the board to consider allowing unlicensed employees of firms to continue the work of a firm with during the war.
In 1956, at the NCARB Annual Business Meeting, board Secretary L.D. Schmidt and President Walter Martens were presented with “Certificates of Award” for “distinguished service as members of an architectural registration board” and it was noted that they had made “inestimable” contributions to benefit the architectural profession.
In addition to serving as NCARB president, West Virginia Architect C. William Bevins also served as the president of the NAAB in 2006.
West Virginia was the first state to require construction administration by the architect.
Notable People
NCARB Presidents
1959-60: Walter F. Martens, FAIA (Charleston)
2002: C. William Bevins, FAIA (Charleston)
Additional Member of the NCARB Board of Directors
1986-90: Clint Bryan (Charleston)
First Chairman/President
1921-36: Theodore T. Sansbury (Parkersburg)
First Board Members
M. J. Garry (Bluefield)
Charles L. Hickman (Clarksburg)
H. Rus Warne (Charleston)
M. F. Giesy (Charleston)
First License Issued
1921: Theodore T. Sansbury (Parkersburg)
First Female Board Members
1993: Jan Fox, Public Member (Charleston)
2016: Wendy Scatterday, Architect (Wheeling)
NCARB President Medalist
1998: E. Keith Dean (Huntington)
