How to Become an Architect

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  • Tips

    • Learn your state's requirements.
    • Explore the field by job shadowing.
    • Subscribe to architectural periodicals.
    • Take a free hand drawing class
    • Select an accredited school.

  • Have you ever wanted to design houses, office buildings, skyscrapers, or entire cities, and wondered what qualifications were needed to become an architect? A licensed architect, or RA, is a professional whose training encompasses 8-10 years after high school. This page will walk you through the steps involved in how to become an architect.


    The path to an architectural career varies by state, as each state licensing board has its own requirements. They all require the "Three E's" — Education, Experience and Examination — but the academic degree and level of experience required differ. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), comprised of members from all licensing boards in the U.S., administers the testing (ARE) and internship (IDP) programs and also maintains information about each state's individual licensing requirements.NCARB: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards NCARB: Registration Requirements

  • Step 1: Prepare in High School

    • Although each state has different educational requirements, and there are several educational paths you can take to satisfy them, preparation for an architectural career can begin in high school.
    1. Take a rigorous curriculum which includes the physical sciences, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, English and the humanities. If available in your school, freehand drawing, one semester of drafting and an industrial arts course will be helpful as well.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
    2. Participate in the Advanced Placement Program if offered at your school. Successful performance on advanced placement (AP) exams can enable a student to reduce their academic load or move into advanced courses more quickly.University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
    3. Take advantage of college summer programs designed to introduce high school students to architecture.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep
    4. Use summer jobs to gain experience in the field. Jobs in building construction may be easier to find than a job in an architect's office, and will be just as helpful in preparing you for a career in architecture.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep
    5. The ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program provides high school students with mentors to discuss career opportunities in architecture and related fields.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep
    6. You can also familiarize yourself with architecture by reading books and subscribing to related periodicals.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep
    7. There are also pre-professional organizations that welcome high school students, such as the American Institute of Architecture Students.ARCHcareers.org: College Prep

  • Step 2: Select an Educational Path

    Creative Commons [http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikemurry/26700300/ photo by MikeMurry
    • Each state licenses its own professionals, and has its own educational requirements. In general, however, there are three educational paths that a person wishing to become an architect can follow.University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
    1. Professional degree in architecture (5 years)University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
    2. BS in Architecture (4 years), followed by a Master of Architecture (usually 2 years)University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
      • The BS and Masters may be separated by a period of architectural work which can be used towards satisfying your state's experience requirements.University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
    3. BS or BA in any subject area, followed by a Master of Architecture (usually 3 years)University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect
      • Although you can apply to a graduate program after successfully completing any course of study, you may want to select a major that will logically fit with advanced architectural studies.University of Virginia: Advice On Becoming an Architect Civil Engineering students will find that their major adds value to their degree, while film studies majors may have more gaps in their preparation.

  • Finding a School

    • Once you've determined which educational path to follow, there are resources available to help you select the program that's right for you.
    1. There are more than 100 accredited architecture programs in the United States.ARCHCareers.org Architecture Education
    2. The NCARB publishes the ARE pass rates by school. Caution should be used when looking at them, as several years usually pass between graduation and sitting for the exams.NCARB: ARE Pass Rates by School
    3. The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture maintains an online database of all architecture schools in the United States and Canada, which can be helpful in identifying programs that might meet your needs.ACSA: Guide to Architecture Schools

  • Step 3: Obtain Experience

    Creative Commons [http://www.flickr.com/photos/eklektikos/2541408630/ photo by Todd Ehlers
    • The second of architecture's Three E's is experience. All aspiring architects in the United States must complete a period of apprenticeship. The length of time is determined by the respective state licensing board.ARCHcareers.org: Experience
    1. Check with your state board to determine the exact requirements in your state.
    2. Register with the Intern Development Program
      • The Intern Development Program (IDP), administered by the NCARB, is a formal program that fulfills the experience requirement in most states. This program can be personalized, uses a standardized time reporting system, can be begun before graduation from architecture school and usually lasts about 3 years.NCARB: Introduction to the Intern Development Program (IDP)

  • Step 4: Take the Architect Registration Examination

    • The final "E", examination, is consistent across all United States states and territories. It is an electronic test that covers the knowledge and skills required by an architect including pre-design, general structures, lateral forces, mechanical and electrical systems, building design materials and methods, construction documents and services, site planning, building planning and building technology.ARCHcareers.org: Examination & Licensure NCARB: Architect Registration Examination
    1. Must be registered with the IDP to take the examNCARD: ARE Guidelines
    2. Consists of nine sections, called divisions, which are taken separatelyNCARD: ARE Guidelines
    3. All sections must be passed within five yearsNCARD: ARE Guidelines .

  • Conclusion

    • Some states have additional requirements for licensing, such as an oral exam or an interview.ARCHcareers.org: Examination & Licensure Even after you've been licensed, your education isn't over! For the rest of your career, you'll be responsible for keeping up to date by satisfying your state's continuing education requirements.

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