Friday, October 9, 2009

Architecture and Engineering , approval stamp

Architects and engineers are among the dozens of professions that will be paying higher licensing fees in New York, but few are grumbling about it.

The increase is meant to boost staffing and upgrade equipment at the state Office of the Professions, an arm of the Education Department that regulates everyone from acupuncturists to veterinarians.

Individual licensing fees went up 15 percent in late September. The higher fees—not just on architects and engineers, but on almost all 48 licensed professions—are expected to generate $4 million to $5 million in additional revenue.

High taxes and fees are among the biggest complaints about doing business in New York. But, in this case, there has been no strong opposition. The state chapter of the American Institute of Architects even backed the fee increase with the hopes that it would expand enforcement against those practicing without a license.