Resources for Aspiring Architects

What is the path to becoming an Architect?

In Texas, you need to go through the following steps to become a licensed Architect.

1. Get a Professional Degree from an Accredited Architecture School

1. Professional Degrees include:

1. Bachelor of Architecture (5 year program)

2. Masters of Architecture (typically 3 year program) with a non-Architecture Bachelor's Degree

3. Masters of Architecture (typically 2 year program) with a non-accredited Architecture Bachelor's Degree (usually a Bachelors of Science in Architecture or Bachelors of Environmental Design)

2. Schools get accreditation through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). See their website for information on which schools are accredited https://www.naab.org/

2. Complete the AXP required experience

1. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is the organization that tracks the experience you gain as an intern.  https://www.ncarb.org/

2. You will need 3,740 hours of experience over 6 different areas.

3. This experience must be approved by a Mentor Architect and most of this experience must be earned by directly working under the supervision of a Licenced Architect.

4. You can log hours that you work while you are in school as AXP hours as long as you are not also receiving class credit for those hours.

3. Pass the AREs

1. You will need to pass 6 exams to show your competency in different areas.  NCARB also tracks these exams. https://www.ncarb.org/

2. Resources and study groups for the AREs are available through NOMA and AIA.

3. AREs can be taken at the same time as you are completing your AXP hours.

4. Get your License

Once your AXP hours and ARE exams are complete, you can apply to become a licensed Architect from the Texas Board of ARchitectural Examiners (TBAE). https://indreg.tbae.texas.gov/

What skills do you need to be an architect?

Do you need to be good at Art to be an Architect?

No.  It can be helpful to know how to draw, paint, or sculpt, but it is not necessary.  You will learn the technical skills that you need in college and in your career.

If you have interests that align with Art, then it would be great to take that as an elective in high school. But if your interests lie elsewhere, it is fine to take electives other than Art.

Do you need to be good at Drawing/Drafting to be an Architect?

No.  It can be helpful to know how to draw and draft in the way that Architects draw, but it is not necessary.  You will learn the technical skills that you need in college and in your career.

Some schools offer Drafting programs. There is also the ACE Mentorship program that introduces High School students to Architecture and Engineering concepts.  Both could be helpful in giving you a leg up on learning about these concepts. But if your interests lie elsewhere, it is fine to take electives other than Drafting

Do you need to be good at Math to be an Architect?

Somewhat.  

Architecture Schools are small and admission can be competitive.  Grades and math performance might be a factor in admission.

Most degree programs require that you take Physics and Calculus.  It is definitely easier if you get these credits in high school rather than waiting for college to take them.

Physics and Calculus are not part of the daily job of an Architect.  You do need basic geometry and algebra skills.

What are Some skills that Architects need that are not typically thought about?

Writing:

Architects need to communicate their ideas in multiple ways. Writing is one of the most important ways because clients do not always have the background knowledge to understand drawings.

Architects have to write proposals to get work, submissions for awards, and articles for publications and social media posts.

Public Speaking/Presentation/Acting:

Architects have to present their ideas to clients, engineers, other team members, and at public meetings and Architects must get their audience to believe in their ideas. While it is not necessary for every Architect to speak to a large audience regularly, every Architect will need to talk to team members on a regular basis. So skills in Acting and Public Speaking are a great help.

People Skills/Soft Skills:

Architects work with a team with other Architects and Engineers to design something for the benefit of their client. And then the Architect must work with a General Contractor to get the design built. You will never work alone on any project. So you need to be able to work collaboratively and effectively with other people.

Architects usually lead the Design Team made up of Architects, Landscape Architects, Structural Engineers, and other consultants.  So they have to understand how to work with people of different backgrounds and how to get them to work together.