Licensed Architect
A licensed architect is typically registered with the state board (California Architect's Board or CAB in CA). The practice act for the state governs their practice, including rules of professional conduct (Architect Practice Act in CA).
The requirements for becoming a licensed architect are much more stringent than for becoming a CPBD. From the CAB website:
To become licensed as an architect in California, a candidate must provide verification of 8 years of education (from an institution accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board - NAAB meeting the NAAB conditions) and/or work experience and must successfully complete the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and the California Supplemental Examination. A candidate must verify 5 years of education and/or work experience to be eligible for the ARE, 7-1/2 years for the California Supplemental Examination, and 8 years for licensure.
To verify the status of an individual's license, the CAB website has a licensee lookup feature available. This is useful for determining whether or not an individual possesses a license, when it was issued, when it expires and what their license number is. Complaint history is also available upon request.
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The state board allows architects to prepare engineering plans and calculations for most buildings. However, a large percentage of architects rely on registered civil and/or structural engineers to perform this analysis, especially for more complex structures. By California state law, an architect may design and engineer any building of any type except the structural portion of a hospital.