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Reciprocity through Experience

NOTE: All candidates who earn a license in California must successfully pass the California Supplemental Examination (CSE) before a license will be issued (see information at the bottom of the page). There is no waiver of this requirement.

Follow the process below to apply for California reciprocity without an NCARB Certificate:

  1. Complete a California Architect Reciprocity Application.
  2. Contact your state/province of licensure and have them send directly to the Board a certification of your current licensure status and past exam scores.
  3. Submit an Employment Verification Form from your current or previous employer(s) for a total of eight years experience.
  4. Contact your school(s) and have them send directly to the Board a certified copy of your transcript(s). You only need to do this if you wish to submit education in lieu of a portion of your work experience.
  5. Submit the following if you wish to submit self-employment experience:
    • An Employment Verification Form on your own behalf.
    • A list of projects for the time period being verified indicating the names and addresses of your clients, types of projects, construction costs, date each project was started and completed, and all services provided by you.

Items 1 to 3 are required. Submit documents in items 4 and 5 ONLY if they are applicable.

PLEASE NOTE: Degrees from a foreign college or university must be evaluated by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or an approved education evaluation service approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Any cost of evaluation is the responsibility of the candidate. Professional degrees accredited by the CACB shall be accepted by the Board and shall not be required to have an education evaluation service by NAAB or NACES.