For some of us, becoming an Architect is something we have envisioned since we were beginning to walk. For others, we don’t realize it until later in life. Becoming an Architect can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.

No matter when you decide when you want to be come an Architect, we lay the path for you (albeit a long and sometimes windy one). We discuss the 4 main steps of licensure, from Education to Licensure.

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Show Notes:

4 Steps to Licensure

1. Education
2. Internship
3. Examination
4. Licensure

1. Education

Accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Students should visit the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture website (ACSA) to access A Student’s Guide to Education including information on architectural education, becoming an architect, and selecting a school.

Each state’s architectural registration board sets it’s own standards, so graduating from a non-accredited program may meet educational requirement.

Three types of professional degrees in architecture are available (from NCARB’s website):

  • Bachelor of Architecture: Accredited degree programs awarding the B. Arch. degree must require a minimum of 150 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.
  • Master of Architecture: Accredited degree programs awarding the M. Arch. degree must require a minimum of 168 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour 10 equivalent, of which 30 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, must be at the graduate level, in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.
  • Doctor of Architecture: Accredited degree programs awarding the D. Arch. degree must require either an undergraduate baccalaureate degree or a minimum of 120 undergraduate semester credit hours, or the undergraduate-level quarterhour equivalent, and a minimum of 90 graduate-level semester credit hours, or the graduate-level quarter-hour equivalent, in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.

Education Evaluation Services for Architects – EESA

The NAAB’s Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) program enables you to have your non-accredited degree assessed to determine if it meets the NCARB Education Standard for licensure and identify what, if any, deficiencies remain to be satisfied.

NOTE: The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is not a NAAB accredited degree. (just B. Arch and M. Arch).

2. Internship

Intern Development Program – current program is 3,740 hours, dropped from about 5600 hours.

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

3. Examination

Architect Registration Exam: 4.0. – 7 exams.

Architect Registration Exam: 5.0 coming late 2016 – 6 exams.

California Supplemental Exam – Supplemental required by California after completing the ARE.

4. Licensure

Check with State that license will be obtained for requirements.

Granted by the State where candidate is seeking licensure.

54 Jurisdictions: 50 states plus D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.

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