Can someone with a non-architecture bachelor's degree qualify for CA architectural licensure after completing a 3-year Master of Architecture from an NAAB-accredited program?
California requires 5 years of architectural education, but I'd have 3 years (M.Arch) plus a 4-year BA in an unrelated field. Would this satisfy the educational requirements for licensure, assuming I complete the required professional experience and examinations?
Looking for input from those familiar with California licensing requirements. Thank you!
What OddArcitect said.... you really just stopped at the first page of the website on getting licensed and couldn't bother to click on the education page?
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:
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
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
Technically they will need to confirm, but if you have a 3-year master's and an undergrad degree in anything you should be fine.
California is one of the states with a wide array of paths to licensing even without a degree. The main difference is how much AXP/supervised experience under a licensed architect that you will need to take. So if you have a pre-professional architecture degree, you'll probably get 3-4 years of credit. Then you need to make up the rest under a supervised experience under an architect. Logging enough AXP hours to the equivalent of the required number of years at full-time equivalent. If you work part-time, you need to proportionally adjust. So factor 2080 hours per 'year'. At half-time, that would be 2 years of half-time to equal 1 year of full-time. They are based on full-time. However, working overtime doesn't necessarily shorten that timeframe down. The board may still require the minimum calendar years at 40 hours a week or more. If you work less than full-time, the number of years are prorated increased.
Keep in mind that you also need to be adequately prepared to take the exams so you may need more years if quality of your experience is so so. Simply because there is stuff you need to do in practical experience to gain sufficient understanding of some things. The years listed for experience are minimum. You don't want to rush it. You also have that CSE exam in California.
California Licensure Requirements
Can someone with a non-architecture bachelor's degree qualify for CA architectural licensure after completing a 3-year Master of Architecture from an NAAB-accredited program?
California requires 5 years of architectural education, but I'd have 3 years (M.Arch) plus a 4-year BA in an unrelated field. Would this satisfy the educational requirements for licensure, assuming I complete the required professional experience and examinations?
Looking for input from those familiar with California licensing requirements. Thank you!
Look at NCARB's website.
Ask the licensing board in CA.
You don't want to get a bunch of 'answers' from rando's on the internet for this.
What OddArcitect said.... you really just stopped at the first page of the website on getting licensed and couldn't bother to click on the education page?
https://www.cab.ca.gov/cand/be...
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:
Technically they will need to confirm, but if you have a 3-year master's and an undergrad degree in anything you should be fine.
OP: yes.
That's me. Anthropology Bachelor's with an MArch, CAB has deemed me eligible for the CSE.
California is one of the states with a wide array of paths to licensing even without a degree. The main difference is how much AXP/supervised experience under a licensed architect that you will need to take. So if you have a pre-professional architecture degree, you'll probably get 3-4 years of credit. Then you need to make up the rest under a supervised experience under an architect. Logging enough AXP hours to the equivalent of the required number of years at full-time equivalent. If you work part-time, you need to proportionally adjust. So factor 2080 hours per 'year'. At half-time, that would be 2 years of half-time to equal 1 year of full-time. They are based on full-time. However, working overtime doesn't necessarily shorten that timeframe down. The board may still require the minimum calendar years at 40 hours a week or more. If you work less than full-time, the number of years are prorated increased.
Keep in mind that you also need to be adequately prepared to take the exams so you may need more years if quality of your experience is so so. Simply because there is stuff you need to do in practical experience to gain sufficient understanding of some things. The years listed for experience are minimum. You don't want to rush it. You also have that CSE exam in California.
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