To become an architect in the United States, you must have a license from a U.S. jurisdiction. To obtain your license, you need to do 3 things:
1. Education
Obtain a professional architecture degree from a program that’s accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB)
The vast majority of licensing jurisdictions require that you earn a degree that’s accredited by the NAAB. If you earn a degree in architecture and it’s not from an accredited program, in most jurisdictions you cannot become an architect with this degree alone. I want to emphasize this point, because I have personally heard stories of people grinding through 4 years of an architecture program & obtaining a degree, only to learn afterwards that they still weren’t eligible to become a licensed architect in their state. I mean, can you imagine?!
As a first step, find out exactly what the education requirements are in the jurisdiction you’re trying to get licensed in. NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) has a fantastic “licensing requirement tool” on their website that provides a detailed breakdown of what’s required in each jurisdiction. Here’s the link:
As a second step, if your jurisdiction requires a degree from an NAAB-accredited program, consult this comprehensive list of NAAB accredited programs, organized by state:
2. Experience
Acquire and document a prescribed amount of professional experience through the NCARB-administered Architect Experience Program (AXP).
All but 5 jurisdictions require you to complete the AXP. In the jurisdictions that do require it, you’ll have to record a minimum of 3,740 hours of experience across six different areas of practice. A handful of jurisdictions require additional experience hours beyond the AXP. Consult NCARB’s website for more information about which jurisdictions require what & a complete breakdown of the AXP program. Here’s a link with more information:
3. Exam:
Pass all 6 divisions of the Architect Registration Exam.
All 55 jurisdictions require this one. There are a total of 6 separate tests that you’ll have to take and pass – one for each division:
- Practice Management
- Project Management
- Programming & Analysis
- Project Planning and Design
- Project Development and Documentation
- Construction and Evaluation
The exam requirement has a rolling clock. Once you pass a test, that passing score remains valid for 5 years. You must have a valid passing score in all 6 divisions simultaneously to fulfill the Exam component of licensure.
That’s it. Those are the requirements: education, experience, examination. Boom boom boom. After you fulfill these requirements, you can successfully apply for a license to practice architecture in your jurisdiction. As I’m sure you’ve gathered, it is a long and arduous path. It takes candidates, on average – from the time they enroll in school – a shocking 12.5 years to obtain their license. 12.5 years! Getting that sucker is an incredible accomplishment. If there’s anything I can do to help you along the way, let me know! Once you do finally get it, notify me, and we’ll get you drunk immediately.