Become an Architect
Steps to Becoming an Architect
Becoming an architect can seem like a confusing process, but we’re here to help. There are several paths to licensure depending on your preferred timeline, but they all include “The Three Es”: Education, Experience, and Exams. In some cases, your architectural education can begin in high school or community college; however, to qualify for licensure, you will need to attend an accredited school of architecture and obtain a professional degree in the field. You will also need to fulfill professional experience requirements and pass the Architectural Registration Exam.
Step 0: K-12/Community College
Elementary and Middle School
In elementary or middle school? It’s never too early to begin thinking about a career in architecture. Here are some resources to help even the youngest budding architect get started on his/her career path.
Architecture 101 for Kids and Teens ↗
Introduction to Architecture ↗ (School House Teachers)
High School
Some schools offer students an opportunity to begin their foundational architectural education for college credit while they are still in high school, and then transfer into either an associate degree program at a local community college or an accredited architecture program at a university. Check with your school about whether it offers such a dual-credit program.
Student Design Challenge
Each year TxA’s Education Outreach Committee holds an annual Student Design Challenge for Texas middle & high schoolers, recognizing finalists at our Annual Conference & Design Expo. Learn more about the program.
Summer Programs
Check your local AIA, NOMA, and college of architecture for summer camp opportunities in your area!
Community College
After high school graduation, some students enter a university school of architecture (see below). You can also choose to begin your architectural studies at a community college. Several community colleges around the state of Texas offer foundational architecture programs consisting of the first one to two years of architectural coursework, transferable to universities in Texas offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. If you are planning to start at a community college and then continue at a school of architecture, you should contact the university you wish to attend to confirm your coursework will be transferable.
List of Community Colleges with Architectural Foundation Programs
Step 1: Find a School of Architecture & Select a Degree Plan
There are eight schools of architecture in Texas accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the agency that evaluates architecture programs to ensure that graduates have the skills required for a rewarding career in the profession. Most states require you to have a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited program to obtain a license to practice architecture.
NAAB recognizes three types of professional degrees:
Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch)
Master of Architecture (M. Arch)
Doctor of Architecture
A professional bachelor’s degree in architecture normally takes a minimum of five years of study. Professional graduate degrees require one to three years of study.
NOTE: Many universities offer pre-professional undergraduate degrees in architecture, but these degrees require an additional, professional graduate degree. Some universities also offer advanced Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in architecture that are likewise not professional degrees.
Texas Schools of Architecture
The following is a list of the eight schools of architecture in Texas. Consult the website or contact the school for information about available architecture degrees and related programs.
Prairie View A&M University School of Architecture
Nathelyne Archie-Kennedy Building
L.W. Minor St.
Prairie View, TX 77446
(936) 261-9800
Rice Architecture
Rice University MS-50
6100 Main St.,
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 348-48640
Texas A&M University College of Architecture
789 Ross Street
3137 TAMU
Langford Building A, Room 122
College Station, TX 77843
(979) 845-1222
Texas Tech University College of Architecture
DEAN
Urs Peter “Upe” Flueckiger
The University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture & Design
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs
The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
The University of Texas at San Antonio Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL)
NCARB’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) offers an additional, accelerated pathway to licensure for motivated students seeking to become architects.
By enrolling in an IPAL option, students in the process of earning a degree from a NAAB-accredited program can complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) and the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE)® concurrently.
IPAL is incorporated as an optional path within an existing NAAB-accredited program, allowing architecture schools to integrate licensure requirements into their own curricula. See the full list of current IPAL programs ↗
TxA Scholarships
TxA operates the Texas Architectural Foundation (TAF), which awards scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students enrolled in accredited schools of architecture in Texas. You can view a list of available scholarships by school on the TAF page; however, all applications for TAF scholarships are made through the office of the dean of your school, and scholarships may not be available each year. Check with your dean’s office for the latest information.
Other Scholarships Opportunities
AIA Architect’s Foundation: Diversity Advancement Scholarship ↗
AIA San Antonio: Endowment for Diversity Scholarship ↗
Architecture and Design Exchange (Dallas) Scholarships ↗
TxA Student Membership
TxA offers free membership to students enrolled in accredited school of architecture in Texas.
Step 2: Earn Experience & Take Exams
Feel free to contact our Architect Licensing Advisors, Michael Peterson, Assoc. AIA, and Irma Sifontes, AIA, with any questions or concerns you may have. We also have videos on our YouTube channel ↗ with tips for prepping for the ARE & the Path to Licensure!
After you have graduated with a professional degree, your next chapter in the licensure process revolves around gaining professional experience, through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), and taking the professional licensing exam, known as the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
The ARE consists of the following six divisions, with the AXP requiring candidates to complete a specific number of hours in each practice area.
Practice Management
Programming & Analysis
Project Planning & Design
Project Development & Documentation
Construction & Evaluation
The organization that administers the both the ARE and AXP is the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Once you complete your exams and AXP requirements, you can apply for your architecture license. In Texas, you would do this through the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE).
Explore the links below for more information on each step involved in qualifying for licensure. There may be fees and additional requirements associated with each step in this process.
Qualifying for Licensure
Associate AIA Membership
TxA is a state-level component of the American Institute of Architects. AIA membership is available through TxA for individuals who do not yet have their architectural license as associate membership.
Step 3: Maintain Your License
Once you’ve graduated with a professional degree, fulfilled your AXP experience requirements, passed all divisions of the ARE, and obtained your architecture license, you can finally call yourself an architect! Your path as an architect may continue down the road you imagined when you began your education, or it may diverge — and there are numerous avenues available in areas such as design, management, academia, nonprofits, or allied fields. Whatever path you take, once you have your license, it’s important to protect it. This includes renewing your registration with TBAE or other state licensing agency every year, as well as completing the required annual continuing education hours. Depending on the direction you take in your career, you may obtain additional memberships or certifications you may need to maintain as well.
AIA Membership
Becoming an active member of AIA and TxA offers can be a truly meaning part of your professional practice. Membership offers many benefits, including community, continuing education, advocacy, professional development, and networking. Learn more.
TxA provides CE mainly through our Annual Conference & Design Expo and the Design Conference. Look through our events calendar to find more opportunities to gain CE credits.
Looking to get involved with TxA through serving on a committee? Learn more and fill out our Volunteer Interest Form ↗
The title ‘architect’ is a regulated term, which means that only those who have become licensed professionals may legally call themselves an architect.
— Texas Board of Architectural Examiners