(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, no person shall practice architecture in this state or use the title "architect" or "registered architect" or any word, letter, figure, or any other device indicating or intending to imply that he or she is an architect unless he or she holds a current registration as an architect in this state.

(b) No firm, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other similar organization shall be registered as architects. Firms, sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations may practice architecture, as defined by this article, and perform the services heretofore enumerated common to the practice of architecture, provided that all such work and services are performed under the responsible control of an architect registered in this state who is a director, in the case of a corporation, or who is a partner, in the case of a partnership, or who is a member, in the case of a limited liability company, or who is an employee with an ownership interest who has been designated in writing as holding a position of authority within the firm which authorizes him or her to direct the architectural services offered by that firm; and provided, further, that the administration of construction contracts shall be under the responsible control of such registered architect and that such plans, drawings, and specifications shall be prepared under the responsible control of such registered architect and bear the architect's individual signature and seal.