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Education

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Overview

A candidate must provide verification of at least five years of education and/or architectural work experience to be eligible to begin the examination and licensure process. Candidates can satisfy the five year requirement in a variety of ways, including the following:

  1. Provide verification of a three year, five year, or six year professional degree in architecture through a program that is accredited by NAAB or CACB
  2. Provide verification of at least five years of educational equivalents. Candidates are granted educational equivalents in various amounts pursuant to the Board’s Table of Equivalents:
    • A maximum of four years for a non-accredited professional degree in architecture
    • Various amounts for other degrees and for units earned toward degrees, including: an undergraduate degree in architecture; a degree in a field related to architecture or in another field of study; and, (to a limited extent) units earned toward some degrees
    • Work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect in the U.S. or Canada

Under some circumstances, a candidate may apply for eligibility to take the ARE prior to completing his or her degree, using work experience credit to meet the educational requirement. In such a situation, when a candidate is working toward a degree in architecture or in a field related to architecture, the maximum credit the Board grants for the units earned toward that degree is six months less than the maximum credit that would be granted if the degree had been obtained. The Board conducts a unit evaluation to grant credit in this instance. For the unit evaluation, 30 semester or 45 quarter units are considered one academic year. Fractions greater than one-half of an academic year are counted as one-half of a year, and smaller fractions are not counted.

Generally, candidates may not receive credit for more than one degree. However, a candidate who possesses a professional degree in architecture and a post-professional degree (e.g., Master of Science, Ph.D.) in architecture may receive one additional year of credit for the post-professional degree.

NOTE: As described above, California does not require an accredited degree in architecture for examination and licensure. However, most other states require an accredited degree for licensure. California candidates may also receive credit for qualifying work experience to fulfill the education portion of the examination and licensure eligibility requirements.

Accredited and Non-Accredited Degree Programs

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the only accrediting body for professional architectural degree programs in the United States. NAAB accredits the professional degree programs within the schools, not the schools themselves.

Many architectural schools offer both NAAB-accredited and non-accredited degree programs. A degree from a NAAB-accredited program provides a candidate immediate eligibility for the ARE. Additionally, such a degree will facilitate future reciprocal licensure, if desired, with another state and/or NCARB certification. Visit the NAAB website for a list of the most current accredited degree programs.

Architectural degrees from programs accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) are considered equivalent to NAAB-accredited degrees and granted five years of credit.

There are several types of degrees and degree programs (the accredited programs are sometimes referred to as "professional degrees").

Pre-professional architecture degrees refer to architecturally-focused four-year degrees that are not professional degree programs. These degrees have such titles as BS in Architecture, BS in Architectural Studies, BA in Architecture, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Architectural Studies, etc.; the amount of architecture work in the program varies and will determine the length of time required to complete further professional architecture studies.

The following degrees are recognized by the Board as "related to architecture":

  • Architectural Design
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architectural Studies
  • Architectural Technology
  • Building Science
  • City and Regional Planning
  • Civil Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Design
  • Interior Architecture
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Urban and Regional Design

Community Colleges and Technical Schools

The Board grants credit for a community college education only if a degree is obtained. Credit is granted for units earned at a community college without a degree only if those units are transferred to and accepted by a higher institution. A candidate who has a degree from both a community college and a university is only granted credit for the degree that gives the most credit.

The Board may allow credit for a technical school degree if it is in a field related to architecture. Credit is granted for a technical school education only if a candidate obtains a certificate of completion.

Foreign

A candidate with a foreign degree may receive credit for education at foreign colleges and universities. A Board-approved educational evaluation service or NAAB Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) must evaluate certified original transcripts and diplomas from the foreign school(s) and equate the degree to a comparable U.S. degree for credit to be granted. Board-approved educational evaluation service must submit the original recommendation report along with transcripts directly to the Board. The candidate is responsible for any cost of evaluation. Candidates should request that an original "short" or "general" report be submitted directly to the Board along with a copy of the original transcripts. Professional degrees accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) are accepted by the Board and do not require an education evaluation service.

NOTE: NCARB only accepts foreign degrees evaluated by the NAAB Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) for NCARB Certification.