Section 902. Penalties.
(a) Any person who engages or who offers to engage in the practice of architecture or provides interior design services as a certified interior designer without holding a currently valid license or certificate as required by this act, or any person who violates any of the provisions of this act shall, for a first offense, be guilty of a summary offense and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $500 or suffer imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both, and for a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $2,000 but not more than $5,000, or to suffer imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than two years, or both.
(b) In addition to any other penalties imposed pursuant to this act, any person who engages in the practice or offers to engage in the practice of architecture or provides interior design services as a certified interior designer without holding a currently valid license or certificate as required by this act or without complying with the requirements of section 506 as an architect shall return any fees collected in connection with the practice or offering to practice architecture or the provision of interior design services as a certified interior designer.
(c) The right of the board to refuse to issue a license or certificate or to refuse, revoke or suspend a license or certificate or censure an architect or certified interior designer or issue a letter of reprimand or restrict a licensee or certificate holder or attach conditions to a license or certificate under this act shall be in addition to the penalties set forth in this section.
(d) In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal penalty provided for in this act, the board, by a vote of the majority of the maximum number of the authorized membership of the board as provided by law, or by a vote of the majority of the duly qualified and confirmed membership or a minimum of four members, whichever is greater, may levy a civil penalty of up to $1,000 on any current licensee or certificate holder who violates any provision of this act or on any person who practices the profession of an architect without being properly licensed or provides interior design services as a certified interior designer without being properly certified to do so under this act. The board shall levy this penalty only after affording the accused party the opportunity for a hearing, as provided in Title 2 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (relating to administrative law and procedure).
(e) All fines and civil penalties imposed in accordance with this section shall be paid into the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account.
(902 renumbered from 20 and amended Oct. 31, 2024, P.L.1163, No.144)