Who can I trust?

Q. I’ve been interviewing architects and contractors for a big renovation to my home, and I’m confused by the answers I get to whether the contractors are licensed and whether the architects are AIA. Some say yes, some say they’re only licensed in the county, some say only by the state. What does all this mean, and will I have trouble with them and getting a permit? Who’s qualified, officially, and how do I tell?

A. Contractors are licensed for home improvement by the county Department of Consumer Affairs. In addition, several municipalities in the county also register contractors, plumbers and electricians. You can call your city town, or village to verify if an individual is authorized (registered or licensed) to work in that community.

Architects are licensed by the state, not by local municipalities. You can verify that someone who represents himself as an architect is actually licensed or has any legal issues involving his license by going online to www.op.nysed.gov/prof/arch/. As a former vice president of the Long Island American Institute of Architects (AIA), I can tell you that it’s an elective organization that not every architect belongs to. There are other organizations an architect can affiliate with as well, so they can get a monthly magazine, newsletters on lobbying efforts and continuing-education notifications, which all architects, whether or not they’re members of organizations, can get. Continuing education is required for keeping their state licenses and is open to all professionals, so affiliation by some is considered an extra, not a necessity. I used to believe it was important to be affiliated, but realized that these organizations don’t have the strength to help their members, locally, against such problems as illegal practitioners, who New York state seems remiss to prosecute.