This has been something that has always confused me.
What is the order of these job titles from most experience to least experience and there responsibilities.
This is what I am assuming it is:
1. Senior Project Manager: 12+ years exp. Has the ability to manage projects with little to no guidance. Reports directly to the associate or principal.
2. Project Manager: 8+ years exp. Manages Projects and reports to senior PM or associate
3. Intermediate Architect: 4-8 years exp. with a high level of resopnsibility
4. Job Captain: 3-4 years exp.
5. Junior Designer: 1-2 years exp. Designs layouts. 3d models and works with construction documents
6. Junior Architect: 0-2 years exp. Generally works on constructions documents
7. Project Architect: 0 yrs. exp. as a fulltime position. Finished with schooling
8. Intern Architect: 0 yrs exp. as a summer or temporary position
Your list appears to be close to my understanding. I have seen the titles "Project Architect" and "Intermediate Architect" used interchangably.
This industry tends to assign salaries based upon years of experience, as it is the easiest for the employer. However, not all years-of-experience are created equal.
you're an intern until you're registered, no matter how much experience.
according to most state boards, you can't call yourself '__ architect' until registered, so 3, 6, and 7 would depend on registration while 8 (at least in my state) isn't allowed.
most firms define hierarchies in their own ways. mine, for instance, doesn't have titles like these. you're either an architect or an intern. if an intern, you can be a project manager or not.
when titles are used, they can vary WIDELY. the same person could be an Architect II, a project architect, a junior architect, project manager, intermediate architect, job captain, etc.
Ours go like this, from lowest to highest. Job Captain and Architect are virtually interchangeable,
Architectural Assistant I (typically just out of school)
Architectural Assistant II (typically less than 3 years experience)
Project Designer
Architect/Job Captain (Job Captain is used if the individual isn't licensed)
Project Architect
Project Manager
We base our categories solely on ones ability to contribute, so we do not include years of experience.
For what it's worth, here's the AIA's take on the question, as published with their 2005 salary survey:
Senior principal/partner: Typically an owner or majority shareholder of the firm; may be the founder; titles may include President, CEO, or Managing Principal/Partner.
Midlevel principal/partner: Principal or partner; titles may include Executive or Senior Vice President.
Junior principal/partner: Recently made a partner or principal of the firm; titles may include Vice President or Associate Principal.
Department head/senior manager: Senior management architect or nonregistered graduate; responsible for major department(s) or functions; reports to a principal or partner.
Project manager: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has overall project management responsibility for a variety of projects or project teams, including client contact, scheduling, and budgeting.
Senior architect/designer: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has a design or technical focus and is responsible for significant project activities.
Architect/designer III: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 8–10 years of experience; responsible for significant aspects of projects.
Architect/designer II: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 6–8 years of experience; responsible for daily design or technical development of project.
Architect/designer I: Recently licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 3–5 years of experience; responsible for particular parts of a project within parameters set by others.
Third-year intern: Unlicensed architecture school graduate in third year of internship; develops design or technical solutions under supervision of an architect.
Second-year intern: Intern in second year of internship.
Entry-level intern: Intern in first year of internship.
Student: Currently enrolled in an academic architecture program.
I've worked in firms where "Job Captain" is higher than "Project Manager", and would typically have 15+ years of experience.
I've also worked in firms where "Job Captain" can be a 2nd-year intern.
I think that a lot of firms started using Job Captain for lower-on-the-totem-pole positions when some state boards started cracking down harshly on the use of "architect", "architectural", etc. used in the title of anyone unlicensed.
"Project Manager" is another tricky title, because some of the larger insurers of architects will not let firms use "Manager" in any term applied to an unlicensed employee. So some firms have Project Managers with 3 years of experience, while others won't let a unlicensed person with 20 years of experience use the title.
Using "Junior Architect", "Project Architect", or even "Intern Architect" will get the firm fined in some states (and the employee too, in some cases). But there are a number of states that specifically DO allow the title "Intern Architect" - though in some of them it may only be used by somebody with a currently active NCARB IDP record...
It's better not to use any of these titles in things like cover letters, lest you inadvertently mis-categorize yourself right out of the running for a spot in some firm's idiosyncratic system.
And if you're using the titles on your resume (for instance in noting that you were a "Technical Production Specialist" or "Design Liaison" at Firm X) then make sure to list your responsibilities and accomplishments, so that the reader understands what that title meant at Firm X.
If you're trying to figure out what a job entails at a particular firm it's better to ask about the responsibilities and typical experience level than to base any assumptions on anyone's title.
We are all assuming this discussion is taking place in the USA (many people who post here work in other places).
The AIA classification is logical and matches the terms used in some salary polls I have seen. The use of the term "Junior" can be confusing since it can only legally be applied to the designer. Any position calling for an "Architect" would entail being licensed and therefore be at least an "Intermediate" position.
Some firms post "Junior Architect" positions. While the position should technically be posted as "Junior Designer" or more correctly "Junior Architectural Designer" the title "Junior Architect" gets the message to the right audience. I would not use it on my resume.
I think the titles "Junior", "Intermediate" and "Senior" can be quite helpful to describe either your level (years) of experience or your responsibilities. Possible misunderstandings can arise from different work settings: I work in a small office and have 4 years of experience. This would just about get me into the category "Intermediate Designer." Judging from my responsibilities most would describe the position as "Senior Designer."
This is were people then become creative and use titles such as "Job Captain" or the word "Manager." Combined with bullet points describing your experience, scope of projects and a clear statement about the number of years you have worked these titles can be useful to accurately describe your level of expertise. Don't use them to inflate past experience.
I have a question, I am currently a paralegal at a small firm and due to some thinking and life evaluations I have decided that I want to venture out into the architectural field. I am not sure if I can work in an architectural firm with my current background, as a starter working in some specific department or whether there are firms that I can use my paralegal certificate for and then work my way into it, or whether I need to do something specific to help with my transition. Please let me know,
You'd like to apply your legal training in an architecture firm? Or
You'd like to become an architect?
Number 1 is not really possible, and number 2 means years of education and training to change careers. You certainly could start working in a firm as an intern as you progress in your architectural education.
citizen, I disagree with your assessment of number 1. There are very real applications of a person's legal training in an architecture firm.
Architects, whether they understand it or not, prepare legally-binding documents for our clients. Those bathroom details you are working on ... they're intended to be used as legal documents in a contract for construction. Those specs you are putting off until a couple of days before your deadline ... also intended to be used as legal documents in a contract. Those RFI responses and supplemental instructions ... legally binding. Those Agreements and General Conditions no one ever reads ... legal documents.
tanyaroland, I would think a large-, or even medium-, sized architecture firm would welcome someone with some paralegal experience in their firm. You might not get much beyond reviewing and preparing contracts and proposals for clients, consultants, etc. You'll probably be the one tasked with dealing with the AIA software anytime the firm will be using AIA documents. You could easily venture into specifications once you gain more architectural experience if it is something you'd want to get into.
Not everyone who works in an architectural firm needs to have an architectural degree or background, and not everyone has to start as an intern.
EI, you're right that architects need legal services, of course.
So architects usually hire a lawyer when those services are needed. Keeping one (or a paralegal) on staff is certainly possible for a larger firm, but probably not a viable career path for most people interested in that arrangement. (A law firm would be much more likely to hire an architect for space and office-planning when the need comes up than to keep an architecture intern on staff, just in case.)
Don't confuse legal services with utilizing knowledge and expertise gained from focused legal training, education, and experience.
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal. I'm not going to hire RWCB, PBD to design my theater renovation, I'm going to hire an actual architect.
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
Jun 6, 16 4:08 pm ·
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E_I, please refrain from mentioning me in your comments and replies.
Excuse me, RickB-OR (am I ok to mention you when I'm directly responding to you?). I was trying to be less verbose, unlike some other users of the forum.
Is the following better? If anything it better reflects your job title. no_form, others, if the reference below is too vague, and it is hard to picture the type of person I am speaking of, please feel free to add to it.
...
Don't confuse legal services with utilizing knowledge and expertise gained from focused legal training, education, and experience.
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal. I'm not going to hire someone who is unlicensed, untrained, a self-proclaimed 'professional' building designer, with no realistic prospects of becoming an architect, who makes outlandish claims about their own experience, who lives with their parents, who lacks the basic understanding of building codes in order to apply them in real-world situations, who can't properly use a tape measure, who insists they are correct despite of all the evidence to the contrary, who consistently fails to live up to their own edicts, and only 'sells' their services to clients based on the fact that it is either required for a course and completely fictitious, or volunteers and then makes up the actual amount of involvement and influence they ever had on the project they were volunteering for, who still insists they were the designer despite there being no official record of it, who has likely endangered countless lives and has most likely already run a foul of their state's board of architectural examiners, who is this close to making it big in their various businesses (all run out of their parents home) if only they were able to simply focus and complete a discrete set of tasks rather than waste their life away looking up and plagiarizing information on the internet to 'educate' those who actually are qualified and know what they are doing to design my theater renovation, I'm going to hire an actual architect.
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
...
You know, RWCB, PBD, I think I will mention you instead. It's just too much effort otherwise. Plus, if you don't want to be a part of these forums (either by name or by association) you are free to delete your account and discontinue use of the website. It won't take long before you are no longer mentioned.
Years of experience doesn't really mean anything - there are people with 7 years experience that have not progressed past the 3 year level of ability and there are people with 1 year experience who can do the job of most people at the 5 year level - e.g., years of experience does not equal ability
You know, RWCB, PBD, I think I will mention you instead. It's just too much effort otherwise. Plus, if you don't want to be a part of these forums (either by name or by association) you are free to delete your account and discontinue use of the website. It won't take long before you are no longer mentioned.
Or you could have been a lot shorter and said not use the theater project and me. For that paragraph, all you needed was:
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal.
Then proceeded with the following paragraph:
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
With all that said, I can be very certain you guys would be talking behind my back as you you guys were doing even in the 12+ hours I wasn't on the forum. If you had self-discipline, you wouldn't be talking about me even 1 hr. afterwards. You wouldn't mention me at all.
Everyday, i could certainly add to that list, but i think you've got the past few months of balkins nonsense covered pretty well.
I'm trying to think of a word that means "lazy piece of trash who does nothing but thinks they are everything." I guess Richard WC Balkins is the closest "word" I can come to describe that.
By the way, I'm still trying to reach Ted Ames at Astoria Fire Department so he can fill me in on his inspection of the theater.
Rick, if I didn't use your wonderful example of the theater project, my point wouldn't have as much emphasis. It's called persuasive writing.
Quit the forum and delete your account, and then we'll see how long you are mentioned. Until then, it's anybody's guess.
My opinion? Sure, you'll be mentioned for a few days, weeks, potentially even months later when someone brings up your name as an inside joke. But no one will be begging for you to come back. There is a difference ... I hope you understand that. Saying your name is not like looking into a mirror and saying Bloody Mary three times. We aren't summoning you to appear.
Lol, I'm not the only one to make a similar comparison (the Bloody Mary one) ... link here (that thread refers to this one on archinect for those of you following along).
Jun 8, 16 1:45 pm ·
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E_I,
Stop the alibying. You were persuasive enough without referring to me or the theater projec. You didn't do it for persuading. You did it to personally attack me. You saw an opportunity to attack me and my personal character and you did it for those reasons.
You still don't get it Rick. Ignore the haters, or whatever the cool kids say nowadays. If you did so you could probably get some of your projects done.
Rick if you were to actually leave the forum, or stop posting, permanently, then there might be some comments in the first hours, days, or weeks (mostly along the lines of not believing that you'll stay gone), but so what? how does that hurt you? after that, if your name ever came up at all, it would be along the same lines - "wonder what ever happened to..." Even if anybody had anything critical to say in your absence, so what? Without your reactions to feed it, any such thread would die quickly.
If you went away and actually did some work, then you could build a positive reputation. Even if somebody were to say something negative about you, you'd have good work and good word of mouth to balance that out. But as it is, you hang around, helping to generate more and more negativity about yourself, and because you're hanging around you don't have time to do anything real in the world.
Leaving and not looking back would be the best thing you could do for yourself and your future. It's not too late for you to have a real life and a real career - but it's getting toward that late.
good luck restoring your reputation balkins, you're already known as the village idiot at the astoria building department. there are multiple complaints against you at the obae and in washington state too.
your stupidity is posted all over many other forums, IBC, contractors, local news groups, the commodore community, and who knows where else.
the best thing that could happen to you is witnessing a mafia assassination and getting put in the witness protection program so you could start over as a DMV clerk in east corn husk alabama. and no internet privileges.
balkins, you can literally never get your architecture license in Oregon... too many complaints/ such bad history there. My suggestion - move, change your name, stop using the internet. Good luck!
Jun 8, 16 5:27 pm ·
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One case? I doubt it.
Jun 8, 16 5:46 pm ·
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no_form,
No Balkins, these are facts verified by many people.
You can hide from them all with excuses but it's the truth.
I have only been through a single case with OBAE and DOL in Washington. Both cases were really the same case filed in both states. In both states, cases were closed and no disciplinary actions were made. It was over Angie's List system. It was more a result of Angie's List than it is my own. The claim in the case was a result of Angie's List server software and database scripts and coding that I can not modify and put on the website server.
It was a fault of a faulty scripting code that they didn't want to deal with.
Rick, having had "only" one case against you is not a minor thing. The vast majority of architects and unlicensed designers never have a single complaint filed against them in their entire careers. Being the subject of even one state board investigation, whether or not any fines or charges were eventually made, will ensure that any application you ever make for a professional license in most states will be held up for "special scrutiny". I don't know about Oregon, but in my current state anybody who is identified for "special scrutiny" generally has to submit a lot of extra documentation that others aren't required to provide - 5 reference letters, a portfolio, additional experience beyond the minimum state requirements, etc.
Why make things even harder for yourself than they already are? If you're finding that you're being brought to the attention of authorities more than the average designer might be, then you need to look at what you're doing that's contributing to that, and how to address that problem. Ceasing participation on this type of forum would be a step in the right direction.
Jun 8, 16 10:23 pm ·
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Rick, having had "only" one case against you is not a minor thing. The vast majority of architects and unlicensed designers never have a single complaint filed against them in their entire careers. Being the subject of even one state board investigation, whether or not any fines or charges were eventually made, will ensure that any application you ever make for a professional license in most states will be held up for "special scrutiny". I don't know about Oregon, but in my current state anybody who is identified for "special scrutiny" generally has to submit a lot of extra documentation that others aren't required to provide - 5 reference letters, a portfolio, additional experience beyond the minimum state requirements, etc.
Oregon doesn't do that. If I am outright clear to in-depth detail of exactly the case and what the case issue was, it is not an issue. It might delay by about 2 months by possibly an additional board meeting. First off, if I don't offer "architectural services" (as defined by Oregon Revised Statutes) to clients in Oregon until I am licensed then what is the issue. If I was looking to practice with a license as an Architect, don't you think I would be looking at states where I intend to practice. Do you think I am interested in working in a state with such nonsensical bullshit? Obviously not.
Why make things even harder for yourself than they already are? If you're finding that you're being brought to the attention of authorities more than the average designer might be, then you need to look at what you're doing that's contributing to that, and how to address that problem. Ceasing participation on this type of forum would be a step in the right direction.
Why pursue a license, then? If you don't participate on forums like this, you're not even going to be hired. You won't even know about job positions. You won't have any identity. In this age where a person who doesn't have any online presence doesn't exist. It's the psychological mentality of our culture. Online forums, facebook, linkedin, and other social media is how people socialize other than getting drunk as a skunk at a bar. Since I am not into drinking beer, I don't do the bar scene. Maybe I am a bit anachronistic with contemporary culture, I don't find getting drunk at a bar as entertainment. If I want to get into relationship with other people, I don't want to get into such relationship under the influence of intoxicants. As for other relationships with people, why not at a scene where one isn't drinking alcohol to have fun and enjoyment. Why are you needing it to relax?
Please note that 'you' in the above is rhetorical and not to imply you in particular.
I don't really go to that many other architecture forums because there isn't any other forums that is socially active. When you hardly see a post from anyone in months or years, it is boring and not worth much to discuss or talk. The premise of these forums is socializing. Is it not?
Jun 8, 16 11:01 pm ·
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It is not illegal to practice building design on exempt buildings. Why should I or anyone have to hide it as if it was a criminal black market? If it was illegal, that's one thing.
Balkins, people have been going to bars and getting laid since the advent of agriculture.
You're just a weirdo who needs to get a job and grow the fuck up.
Jun 8, 16 11:18 pm ·
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Sponty,
Just so you know, I do understand the seriousness of the licensing boards and cases. Don't get me wrong, one case where the issue was a fault of a third party and was resolved at the time is no grounds for denying licensure.
Building designers are quite often hated by licensed architects because so many licensed architects thinks we are criminals. At least one licensed architect compared us to the mob like Al Capone type gangster mob. That architect literally said that to me. Do you think from that point forward that I would trust you guys easily?
It is really sad when some members of this profession has such a view on anyone not licensed designing buildings legally under the exemptions.
Many interns and school students thinks we are illegally practicing because they don't understand the licensing laws. Often, it is driven in their minds that they have to be licensed to design buildings.
Jun 8, 16 11:23 pm ·
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Balkins, people have been going to bars and getting laid since the advent of agriculture.
You're just a weirdo who needs to get a job and grow the fuck up.
no_form,
While there have been people who have. Yes, that's true but in the past, or even in the early 20th century, you didn't just go to bars to socialize. While there were bars. Bars was not the only place to socialize or find entertainment.
At a point in U.S. history, it was outlawed. Sure, the law failed. However, I am not promoting outlawing such. However, I do believe that people shouldn't have to drink alcohol at every place of socialization. People shouldn't have to drink alcohol to socialize. Our culture these days are taking it to extremes. Are we not trying to teach our children to say no to drugs and abstain from alcohol so that when they grow up, they can live and socialize without needing drugs and alcohol? Isn't that what we as a society suppose to be doing? Aren't we suppose to be able to socialize without drinking alcohol. Does it have to be in our faces all the time? I don't do business or contractual stuff with prospective clients over a beer. Reason: It is illegal to conduct business and contractual matters when parties of contractual (verbal or written) are under the influence of intoxicant. That legally starts from the very moment of ingesting any intoxicant. It means the contractual agreement (verbal or written) is null and void and unenforceable.
The moment you have intoxicants (from the legal point of view) in your body, you are deemed not in capacity to make decisions. In other words, legally incapacitated. A person may not conduct business, contracts or any other such activities when they are legal incapacitated.
That is how the laws were written. A lot of people these days don't follow the laws and rules.
I don't particularly like you. I wouldn't want anything to do with you. However, there are people on this forum I do like and are nice people.
Interesting morality rant Balkins. But really, grow up and get a life outside of here.
Trading barbs with you on archinect is essentially my daily entertainment. It never ceases to amaze me what kind of crap you'll come up with. You're like the best bathroom book never written.
Jun 9, 16 1:24 am ·
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no_form,
Talk about not having a life, you need to consider your own advice.
you are a "licensed building designer" on a forum for architects. We all dislike you, and building designers in general, to varying degrees. If you can't deal with that, I suggest you go check out the forums at licensedbuildingdesignet.com
Do all the single family houses you want Balkins. I'm not interested in that. But when you show your incompetence in designing an assembly space (which was not exempt by the way), of course we aren't going to like you. You actively put people in danger with your incompetence.
Plus all the rants. Holy hell you could make a hell of a crackpot website.
^I'd buy a copy only if it's signed by Balkarino. I bet his signature is a 1000s word essay on handwriting analytics or the history of the ball-point pen.
Rick when I hire people I do google them - and if I were considering hiring you and I googled you it would almost certainly negatively affect my decision when I found your very extensive history of time-wasting, hot-headedness, immaturity, illiteracy, crudeness, technical incompetence, lack of forward progress, and poor professional judgement. However, I have never factored into a hiring decision the fact that a person does NOT have a presence on online forums. In other words such a presence may or may not harm your reputation, depending on its general nature, but the lack of that presence won't hurt it. You seem to be claiming that you must post here in order to make yourself employable. In fact this is the exact opposite of what you need to do to be considered a viable possibility for any job, project, or collaborative opportunity.
This forum is visited by tens of thousands of people weekly. Most don't post anything ever. There's no reason you could not use the job postings, read the threads, etc. without posting. I'm telling you from an employer's point of view that you're creating a document of yourself that will be viewed very poorly by anyone considering hiring you or collaborating with you. You'd be much better off going silent.
Jun 9, 16 9:19 am ·
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eeayo,
True but careful. If I was seeking for any reason to not hire someone, you will find that with anyone. If you are looking for a perfect employee, you'll never find one. If we take petty b.s. that happens on this forum then you will never hire anyone from this forum including yourself. If you are objective, you wouldn't hire yourself. Every online pseudo-ID can be traced back to the real person. If you ascertained the real id of people here, no one that is active on here or active socially on the internet would be employable by the logic you present.
Every word you had ever spoken on any medium is recorded. Whether on the phone, by the satellites, and everywhere else. Everything in time is recorded. So what. For employment purposes, don't take a person's behavior on the internet too seriously. If person is looking for an elk, they are going to see elk (in a manner of time) but may very well not see so much what they are not looking for. If a person is looking for any reason to not hire someone, they are going to find that with every person.
No one who has ever been on the internet hasn't said or wrote something that can be interpreted as a reason to not hire that person by another person. In a country where people have the Constitutional right of the freedom of speech, expression, & press is going to speak their thoughts and feelings on a given day.
Employer point of view, it would borderline discrimination on a person's political views and beliefs. This includes political view within an occupation not just government politics. You got to be a little careful about it.
Some people on this forum are assholes. I don't sugar coat my opinion of them. I don't particularly follow political correctness as I personally view political correctness is complete utter bullshit. Some of you do have a certain degree of civility and are likable.
Separate point and separate issue:
When it comes to projects, unless you are a government official that has authority over the jurisdiction (which can be both geographical and also subject matter within the geographical), you do not have the authority to give orders to anyone other than your employees or subordinates. You can not give orders to a contractor's employees or volunteers of your client. You can explain what you're design intent and what you are hoping to see as outcome but you can't give orders to those who don't work for you.
rick, your problem is that you are beyond petty. you're a fucking idiot in every sense imaginable. and you've proven that point over and over since you've been a member.
that's why you won't get hired. no one cares about your political or religious beliefs; though they are equally idiotic. ps. free country i can criticize your political and religious beliefs.
Job Titles
This has been something that has always confused me.
What is the order of these job titles from most experience to least experience and there responsibilities.
This is what I am assuming it is:
1. Senior Project Manager: 12+ years exp. Has the ability to manage projects with little to no guidance. Reports directly to the associate or principal.
2. Project Manager: 8+ years exp. Manages Projects and reports to senior PM or associate
3. Intermediate Architect: 4-8 years exp. with a high level of resopnsibility
4. Job Captain: 3-4 years exp.
5. Junior Designer: 1-2 years exp. Designs layouts. 3d models and works with construction documents
6. Junior Architect: 0-2 years exp. Generally works on constructions documents
7. Project Architect: 0 yrs. exp. as a fulltime position. Finished with schooling
8. Intern Architect: 0 yrs exp. as a summer or temporary position
Your list appears to be close to my understanding. I have seen the titles "Project Architect" and "Intermediate Architect" used interchangably.
This industry tends to assign salaries based upon years of experience, as it is the easiest for the employer. However, not all years-of-experience are created equal.
you're mixing your terms a little.
you're an intern until you're registered, no matter how much experience.
according to most state boards, you can't call yourself '__ architect' until registered, so 3, 6, and 7 would depend on registration while 8 (at least in my state) isn't allowed.
most firms define hierarchies in their own ways. mine, for instance, doesn't have titles like these. you're either an architect or an intern. if an intern, you can be a project manager or not.
when titles are used, they can vary WIDELY. the same person could be an Architect II, a project architect, a junior architect, project manager, intermediate architect, job captain, etc.
Ours go like this, from lowest to highest. Job Captain and Architect are virtually interchangeable,
Architectural Assistant I (typically just out of school)
Architectural Assistant II (typically less than 3 years experience)
Project Designer
Architect/Job Captain (Job Captain is used if the individual isn't licensed)
Project Architect
Project Manager
We base our categories solely on ones ability to contribute, so we do not include years of experience.
You forgot "Drafting Cog"
...whih include your levels 2-8
For what it's worth, here's the AIA's take on the question, as published with their 2005 salary survey:
Senior principal/partner: Typically an owner or majority shareholder of the firm; may be the founder; titles may include President, CEO, or Managing Principal/Partner.
Midlevel principal/partner: Principal or partner; titles may include Executive or Senior Vice President.
Junior principal/partner: Recently made a partner or principal of the firm; titles may include Vice President or Associate Principal.
Department head/senior manager: Senior management architect or nonregistered graduate; responsible for major department(s) or functions; reports to a principal or partner.
Project manager: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has overall project management responsibility for a variety of projects or project teams, including client contact, scheduling, and budgeting.
Senior architect/designer: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has a design or technical focus and is responsible for significant project activities.
Architect/designer III: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 8–10 years of experience; responsible for significant aspects of projects.
Architect/designer II: Licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 6–8 years of experience; responsible for daily design or technical development of project.
Architect/designer I: Recently licensed architect or nonregistered graduate with 3–5 years of experience; responsible for particular parts of a project within parameters set by others.
Third-year intern: Unlicensed architecture school graduate in third year of internship; develops design or technical solutions under supervision of an architect.
Second-year intern: Intern in second year of internship.
Entry-level intern: Intern in first year of internship.
Student: Currently enrolled in an academic architecture program.
I've worked in firms where "Job Captain" is higher than "Project Manager", and would typically have 15+ years of experience.
I've also worked in firms where "Job Captain" can be a 2nd-year intern.
I think that a lot of firms started using Job Captain for lower-on-the-totem-pole positions when some state boards started cracking down harshly on the use of "architect", "architectural", etc. used in the title of anyone unlicensed.
"Project Manager" is another tricky title, because some of the larger insurers of architects will not let firms use "Manager" in any term applied to an unlicensed employee. So some firms have Project Managers with 3 years of experience, while others won't let a unlicensed person with 20 years of experience use the title.
Using "Junior Architect", "Project Architect", or even "Intern Architect" will get the firm fined in some states (and the employee too, in some cases). But there are a number of states that specifically DO allow the title "Intern Architect" - though in some of them it may only be used by somebody with a currently active NCARB IDP record...
It's better not to use any of these titles in things like cover letters, lest you inadvertently mis-categorize yourself right out of the running for a spot in some firm's idiosyncratic system.
And if you're using the titles on your resume (for instance in noting that you were a "Technical Production Specialist" or "Design Liaison" at Firm X) then make sure to list your responsibilities and accomplishments, so that the reader understands what that title meant at Firm X.
If you're trying to figure out what a job entails at a particular firm it's better to ask about the responsibilities and typical experience level than to base any assumptions on anyone's title.
We are all assuming this discussion is taking place in the USA (many people who post here work in other places).
The AIA classification is logical and matches the terms used in some salary polls I have seen. The use of the term "Junior" can be confusing since it can only legally be applied to the designer. Any position calling for an "Architect" would entail being licensed and therefore be at least an "Intermediate" position.
Some firms post "Junior Architect" positions. While the position should technically be posted as "Junior Designer" or more correctly "Junior Architectural Designer" the title "Junior Architect" gets the message to the right audience. I would not use it on my resume.
I think the titles "Junior", "Intermediate" and "Senior" can be quite helpful to describe either your level (years) of experience or your responsibilities. Possible misunderstandings can arise from different work settings: I work in a small office and have 4 years of experience. This would just about get me into the category "Intermediate Designer." Judging from my responsibilities most would describe the position as "Senior Designer."
This is were people then become creative and use titles such as "Job Captain" or the word "Manager." Combined with bullet points describing your experience, scope of projects and a clear statement about the number of years you have worked these titles can be useful to accurately describe your level of expertise. Don't use them to inflate past experience.
Good Day everyone,
I have a question, I am currently a paralegal at a small firm and due to some thinking and life evaluations I have decided that I want to venture out into the architectural field. I am not sure if I can work in an architectural firm with my current background, as a starter working in some specific department or whether there are firms that I can use my paralegal certificate for and then work my way into it, or whether I need to do something specific to help with my transition. Please let me know,
thanks much.
Please clarify. Do you mean:
Number 1 is not really possible, and number 2 means years of education and training to change careers. You certainly could start working in a firm as an intern as you progress in your architectural education.
citizen, I disagree with your assessment of number 1. There are very real applications of a person's legal training in an architecture firm.
Architects, whether they understand it or not, prepare legally-binding documents for our clients. Those bathroom details you are working on ... they're intended to be used as legal documents in a contract for construction. Those specs you are putting off until a couple of days before your deadline ... also intended to be used as legal documents in a contract. Those RFI responses and supplemental instructions ... legally binding. Those Agreements and General Conditions no one ever reads ... legal documents.
tanyaroland, I would think a large-, or even medium-, sized architecture firm would welcome someone with some paralegal experience in their firm. You might not get much beyond reviewing and preparing contracts and proposals for clients, consultants, etc. You'll probably be the one tasked with dealing with the AIA software anytime the firm will be using AIA documents. You could easily venture into specifications once you gain more architectural experience if it is something you'd want to get into.
Not everyone who works in an architectural firm needs to have an architectural degree or background, and not everyone has to start as an intern.
Without some kind of education / training, best case scenario you'll be doing legal work in an architectural firm.
EI, you're right that architects need legal services, of course.
So architects usually hire a lawyer when those services are needed. Keeping one (or a paralegal) on staff is certainly possible for a larger firm, but probably not a viable career path for most people interested in that arrangement. (A law firm would be much more likely to hire an architect for space and office-planning when the need comes up than to keep an architecture intern on staff, just in case.)
job titles:
intern
architect
anything else is corporate jargon to create an unnecessary hierarchy - you either architect or you don't.
Don't confuse legal services with utilizing knowledge and expertise gained from focused legal training, education, and experience.
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal. I'm not going to hire RWCB, PBD to design my theater renovation, I'm going to hire an actual architect.
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
E_I, please refrain from mentioning me in your comments and replies.
Respectfully requesting.
rwcb, please delete your account immediately as per your previous post announcing your departure from archinect.
respectfully requesting.
Excuse me, RickB-OR (am I ok to mention you when I'm directly responding to you?). I was trying to be less verbose, unlike some other users of the forum.
Is the following better? If anything it better reflects your job title. no_form, others, if the reference below is too vague, and it is hard to picture the type of person I am speaking of, please feel free to add to it.
...
Don't confuse legal services with utilizing knowledge and expertise gained from focused legal training, education, and experience.
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal. I'm not going to hire someone who is unlicensed, untrained, a self-proclaimed 'professional' building designer, with no realistic prospects of becoming an architect, who makes outlandish claims about their own experience, who lives with their parents, who lacks the basic understanding of building codes in order to apply them in real-world situations, who can't properly use a tape measure, who insists they are correct despite of all the evidence to the contrary, who consistently fails to live up to their own edicts, and only 'sells' their services to clients based on the fact that it is either required for a course and completely fictitious, or volunteers and then makes up the actual amount of involvement and influence they ever had on the project they were volunteering for, who still insists they were the designer despite there being no official record of it, who has likely endangered countless lives and has most likely already run a foul of their state's board of architectural examiners, who is this close to making it big in their various businesses (all run out of their parents home) if only they were able to simply focus and complete a discrete set of tasks rather than waste their life away looking up and plagiarizing information on the internet to 'educate' those who actually are qualified and know what they are doing to design my theater renovation, I'm going to hire an actual architect.
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
...
You know, RWCB, PBD, I think I will mention you instead. It's just too much effort otherwise. Plus, if you don't want to be a part of these forums (either by name or by association) you are free to delete your account and discontinue use of the website. It won't take long before you are no longer mentioned.
Years of experience doesn't really mean anything - there are people with 7 years experience that have not progressed past the 3 year level of ability and there are people with 1 year experience who can do the job of most people at the 5 year level - e.g., years of experience does not equal ability
+1 xenakis
E_I,
You know, RWCB, PBD, I think I will mention you instead. It's just too much effort otherwise. Plus, if you don't want to be a part of these forums (either by name or by association) you are free to delete your account and discontinue use of the website. It won't take long before you are no longer mentioned.
Or you could have been a lot shorter and said not use the theater project and me. For that paragraph, all you needed was:
I agree that there wouldn't be much need for a paralegal as a paralegal in an architecture firm ... unless the firm has in-house counsel. If a firm needs legal services, they are going to hire a lawyer not a paralegal.
Then proceeded with the following paragraph:
However, someone with more specific education, training, and knowledge than architects generally receive regarding legal things (especially in preparing contracts and other legal documents) could be put to good use in a lot of firms.
With all that said, I can be very certain you guys would be talking behind my back as you you guys were doing even in the 12+ hours I wasn't on the forum. If you had self-discipline, you wouldn't be talking about me even 1 hr. afterwards. You wouldn't mention me at all.
Everyday, i could certainly add to that list, but i think you've got the past few months of balkins nonsense covered pretty well.
I'm trying to think of a word that means "lazy piece of trash who does nothing but thinks they are everything." I guess Richard WC Balkins is the closest "word" I can come to describe that.
By the way, I'm still trying to reach Ted Ames at Astoria Fire Department so he can fill me in on his inspection of the theater.
Rick, if I didn't use your wonderful example of the theater project, my point wouldn't have as much emphasis. It's called persuasive writing.
Quit the forum and delete your account, and then we'll see how long you are mentioned. Until then, it's anybody's guess.
My opinion? Sure, you'll be mentioned for a few days, weeks, potentially even months later when someone brings up your name as an inside joke. But no one will be begging for you to come back. There is a difference ... I hope you understand that. Saying your name is not like looking into a mirror and saying Bloody Mary three times. We aren't summoning you to appear.
Lol, I'm not the only one to make a similar comparison (the Bloody Mary one) ... link here (that thread refers to this one on archinect for those of you following along).
E_I,
Stop the alibying. You were persuasive enough without referring to me or the theater projec. You didn't do it for persuading. You did it to personally attack me. You saw an opportunity to attack me and my personal character and you did it for those reasons.
You still don't get it Rick. Ignore the haters, or whatever the cool kids say nowadays. If you did so you could probably get some of your projects done.
Rick if you were to actually leave the forum, or stop posting, permanently, then there might be some comments in the first hours, days, or weeks (mostly along the lines of not believing that you'll stay gone), but so what? how does that hurt you? after that, if your name ever came up at all, it would be along the same lines - "wonder what ever happened to..." Even if anybody had anything critical to say in your absence, so what? Without your reactions to feed it, any such thread would die quickly.
If you went away and actually did some work, then you could build a positive reputation. Even if somebody were to say something negative about you, you'd have good work and good word of mouth to balance that out. But as it is, you hang around, helping to generate more and more negativity about yourself, and because you're hanging around you don't have time to do anything real in the world.
Leaving and not looking back would be the best thing you could do for yourself and your future. It's not too late for you to have a real life and a real career - but it's getting toward that late.
good luck restoring your reputation balkins, you're already known as the village idiot at the astoria building department. there are multiple complaints against you at the obae and in washington state too.
your stupidity is posted all over many other forums, IBC, contractors, local news groups, the commodore community, and who knows where else.
the best thing that could happen to you is witnessing a mafia assassination and getting put in the witness protection program so you could start over as a DMV clerk in east corn husk alabama. and no internet privileges.
^ I hear that town's much nicer than west corn husk...
no_form,
That's your words.
You can hide from them all with excuses but it's the truth.
balkins, you can literally never get your architecture license in Oregon... too many complaints/ such bad history there. My suggestion - move, change your name, stop using the internet. Good luck!
One case? I doubt it.
no_form,
No Balkins, these are facts verified by many people.
You can hide from them all with excuses but it's the truth.
I have only been through a single case with OBAE and DOL in Washington. Both cases were really the same case filed in both states. In both states, cases were closed and no disciplinary actions were made. It was over Angie's List system. It was more a result of Angie's List than it is my own. The claim in the case was a result of Angie's List server software and database scripts and coding that I can not modify and put on the website server.
It was a fault of a faulty scripting code that they didn't want to deal with.
now you've got one with the theater project for practicing architecture without a license.
Rick, having had "only" one case against you is not a minor thing. The vast majority of architects and unlicensed designers never have a single complaint filed against them in their entire careers. Being the subject of even one state board investigation, whether or not any fines or charges were eventually made, will ensure that any application you ever make for a professional license in most states will be held up for "special scrutiny". I don't know about Oregon, but in my current state anybody who is identified for "special scrutiny" generally has to submit a lot of extra documentation that others aren't required to provide - 5 reference letters, a portfolio, additional experience beyond the minimum state requirements, etc.
Why make things even harder for yourself than they already are? If you're finding that you're being brought to the attention of authorities more than the average designer might be, then you need to look at what you're doing that's contributing to that, and how to address that problem. Ceasing participation on this type of forum would be a step in the right direction.
Rick, having had "only" one case against you is not a minor thing. The vast majority of architects and unlicensed designers never have a single complaint filed against them in their entire careers. Being the subject of even one state board investigation, whether or not any fines or charges were eventually made, will ensure that any application you ever make for a professional license in most states will be held up for "special scrutiny". I don't know about Oregon, but in my current state anybody who is identified for "special scrutiny" generally has to submit a lot of extra documentation that others aren't required to provide - 5 reference letters, a portfolio, additional experience beyond the minimum state requirements, etc.
Oregon doesn't do that. If I am outright clear to in-depth detail of exactly the case and what the case issue was, it is not an issue. It might delay by about 2 months by possibly an additional board meeting. First off, if I don't offer "architectural services" (as defined by Oregon Revised Statutes) to clients in Oregon until I am licensed then what is the issue. If I was looking to practice with a license as an Architect, don't you think I would be looking at states where I intend to practice. Do you think I am interested in working in a state with such nonsensical bullshit? Obviously not.
Why make things even harder for yourself than they already are? If you're finding that you're being brought to the attention of authorities more than the average designer might be, then you need to look at what you're doing that's contributing to that, and how to address that problem. Ceasing participation on this type of forum would be a step in the right direction.
Why pursue a license, then? If you don't participate on forums like this, you're not even going to be hired. You won't even know about job positions. You won't have any identity. In this age where a person who doesn't have any online presence doesn't exist. It's the psychological mentality of our culture. Online forums, facebook, linkedin, and other social media is how people socialize other than getting drunk as a skunk at a bar. Since I am not into drinking beer, I don't do the bar scene. Maybe I am a bit anachronistic with contemporary culture, I don't find getting drunk at a bar as entertainment. If I want to get into relationship with other people, I don't want to get into such relationship under the influence of intoxicants. As for other relationships with people, why not at a scene where one isn't drinking alcohol to have fun and enjoyment. Why are you needing it to relax?
Please note that 'you' in the above is rhetorical and not to imply you in particular.
I don't really go to that many other architecture forums because there isn't any other forums that is socially active. When you hardly see a post from anyone in months or years, it is boring and not worth much to discuss or talk. The premise of these forums is socializing. Is it not?
It is not illegal to practice building design on exempt buildings. Why should I or anyone have to hide it as if it was a criminal black market? If it was illegal, that's one thing.
You're just a weirdo who needs to get a job and grow the fuck up.
Sponty,
Just so you know, I do understand the seriousness of the licensing boards and cases. Don't get me wrong, one case where the issue was a fault of a third party and was resolved at the time is no grounds for denying licensure.
Building designers are quite often hated by licensed architects because so many licensed architects thinks we are criminals. At least one licensed architect compared us to the mob like Al Capone type gangster mob. That architect literally said that to me. Do you think from that point forward that I would trust you guys easily?
It is really sad when some members of this profession has such a view on anyone not licensed designing buildings legally under the exemptions.
Many interns and school students thinks we are illegally practicing because they don't understand the licensing laws. Often, it is driven in their minds that they have to be licensed to design buildings.
Balkins, people have been going to bars and getting laid since the advent of agriculture.
You're just a weirdo who needs to get a job and grow the fuck up.
no_form,
While there have been people who have. Yes, that's true but in the past, or even in the early 20th century, you didn't just go to bars to socialize. While there were bars. Bars was not the only place to socialize or find entertainment.
At a point in U.S. history, it was outlawed. Sure, the law failed. However, I am not promoting outlawing such. However, I do believe that people shouldn't have to drink alcohol at every place of socialization. People shouldn't have to drink alcohol to socialize. Our culture these days are taking it to extremes. Are we not trying to teach our children to say no to drugs and abstain from alcohol so that when they grow up, they can live and socialize without needing drugs and alcohol? Isn't that what we as a society suppose to be doing? Aren't we suppose to be able to socialize without drinking alcohol. Does it have to be in our faces all the time? I don't do business or contractual stuff with prospective clients over a beer. Reason: It is illegal to conduct business and contractual matters when parties of contractual (verbal or written) are under the influence of intoxicant. That legally starts from the very moment of ingesting any intoxicant. It means the contractual agreement (verbal or written) is null and void and unenforceable.
The moment you have intoxicants (from the legal point of view) in your body, you are deemed not in capacity to make decisions. In other words, legally incapacitated. A person may not conduct business, contracts or any other such activities when they are legal incapacitated.
That is how the laws were written. A lot of people these days don't follow the laws and rules.
I don't particularly like you. I wouldn't want anything to do with you. However, there are people on this forum I do like and are nice people.
Trading barbs with you on archinect is essentially my daily entertainment. It never ceases to amaze me what kind of crap you'll come up with. You're like the best bathroom book never written.
no_form,
Talk about not having a life, you need to consider your own advice.
you are a "licensed building designer" on a forum for architects. We all dislike you, and building designers in general, to varying degrees. If you can't deal with that, I suggest you go check out the forums at licensedbuildingdesignet.com
Plus all the rants. Holy hell you could make a hell of a crackpot website.
someone should make a book of the complete archinect rantings of balkins.
I wouldn't buy it, buy i might buy a copy for the Astoria building department.
^I'd buy a copy only if it's signed by Balkarino. I bet his signature is a 1000s word essay on handwriting analytics or the history of the ball-point pen.
Rick when I hire people I do google them - and if I were considering hiring you and I googled you it would almost certainly negatively affect my decision when I found your very extensive history of time-wasting, hot-headedness, immaturity, illiteracy, crudeness, technical incompetence, lack of forward progress, and poor professional judgement. However, I have never factored into a hiring decision the fact that a person does NOT have a presence on online forums. In other words such a presence may or may not harm your reputation, depending on its general nature, but the lack of that presence won't hurt it. You seem to be claiming that you must post here in order to make yourself employable. In fact this is the exact opposite of what you need to do to be considered a viable possibility for any job, project, or collaborative opportunity.
This forum is visited by tens of thousands of people weekly. Most don't post anything ever. There's no reason you could not use the job postings, read the threads, etc. without posting. I'm telling you from an employer's point of view that you're creating a document of yourself that will be viewed very poorly by anyone considering hiring you or collaborating with you. You'd be much better off going silent.
eeayo,
True but careful. If I was seeking for any reason to not hire someone, you will find that with anyone. If you are looking for a perfect employee, you'll never find one. If we take petty b.s. that happens on this forum then you will never hire anyone from this forum including yourself. If you are objective, you wouldn't hire yourself. Every online pseudo-ID can be traced back to the real person. If you ascertained the real id of people here, no one that is active on here or active socially on the internet would be employable by the logic you present.
Every word you had ever spoken on any medium is recorded. Whether on the phone, by the satellites, and everywhere else. Everything in time is recorded. So what. For employment purposes, don't take a person's behavior on the internet too seriously. If person is looking for an elk, they are going to see elk (in a manner of time) but may very well not see so much what they are not looking for. If a person is looking for any reason to not hire someone, they are going to find that with every person.
No one who has ever been on the internet hasn't said or wrote something that can be interpreted as a reason to not hire that person by another person. In a country where people have the Constitutional right of the freedom of speech, expression, & press is going to speak their thoughts and feelings on a given day.
Employer point of view, it would borderline discrimination on a person's political views and beliefs. This includes political view within an occupation not just government politics. You got to be a little careful about it.
Some people on this forum are assholes. I don't sugar coat my opinion of them. I don't particularly follow political correctness as I personally view political correctness is complete utter bullshit. Some of you do have a certain degree of civility and are likable.
Separate point and separate issue:
When it comes to projects, unless you are a government official that has authority over the jurisdiction (which can be both geographical and also subject matter within the geographical), you do not have the authority to give orders to anyone other than your employees or subordinates. You can not give orders to a contractor's employees or volunteers of your client. You can explain what you're design intent and what you are hoping to see as outcome but you can't give orders to those who don't work for you.
rick, your problem is that you are beyond petty. you're a fucking idiot in every sense imaginable. and you've proven that point over and over since you've been a member.
that's why you won't get hired. no one cares about your political or religious beliefs; though they are equally idiotic. ps. free country i can criticize your political and religious beliefs.
Elk is delicious. Don't you be harping on delicious Elk there Balkarino.
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