How to become an architect

1. 1Choose a NAAB-accredited degree path

   Time: During high schoolSources 2, 3

   Decide early whether to aim for a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture or a 4-year pre-professional degree followed by a Master of Architecture. Only the B.Arch, M.Arch and D.Arch are NAAB-accredited professional degrees; a B.S. or B.A. in architecture alone does not meet the education rule in most states. NCARB reports that 36 of 55 U.S. jurisdictions required a NAAB degree for initial licensure in 2025. Use NAAB's school search to confirm a program's status. High school courses in math, physics and drawing help with portfolio-based admissions.

2. 2Earn the professional degree

   Time: 5 years (B.Arch) or 6-7 years (bachelor's + M.Arch)Cost: $59,750-$80,842 in public tuition (see cost note)Sources 3, 5

   A B.Arch takes five years. If you already hold a pre-professional architecture bachelor's, most M.Arch programs take two more years; with a degree in another field, most take three. Studio courses take a large share of the time, with long hours spent on drawings, models and design reviews. Coursework also covers structures, building systems, construction methods, history and professional practice. Some schools run co-op programs that build paid work into the degree.

3. 3Open an NCARB Record and start the AXP

   Time: Can start during schoolCost: $105 application, then $105 a yearSources 1, 4

   The Architectural Experience Program (AXP) is how almost every state verifies your practical training. You need 3,740 hours across six areas: Practice Management (160), Project Management (360), Programming & Analysis (260), Project Planning & Design (1,080), Project Development & Documentation (1,520) and Construction & Evaluation (360). A licensed supervisor approves your reported hours. Hours earned while still in school can count, which shortens the path.

4. 4Pass the six ARE 5.0 divisions

   Time: About 2 years on averageCost: $1,578 for all six divisionsSources 1, 6, 9

   The Architect Registration Examination has six divisions that line up with the AXP areas, from Practice Management to Construction & Evaluation. Each division costs $263, and so does each retake. You can take them in any order, online or at a test center, once your board approves your eligibility; depending on your state, that can be before the AXP is done. NCARB reports candidates took about two years on average to pass every division; the average 2025 finisher needed 9 division attempts, 3.3 of them failed.

5. 5Apply for your state license

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: Varies by stateSources 7

   Once your degree, AXP and ARE are complete, you apply to your state architecture board. Requirements beyond the national ones, such as extra state-specific steps, and fees differ by state. Check the exact rules with your board or the CareerOneStop License Finder before you apply. After you are licensed you can call yourself an architect, seal drawings and later seek licenses in other states.

6. 6Keep the license current and grow your practice

   Time: OngoingCost: State renewal fees plus continuing educationSources 1, 7

   Most states require continuing education to renew, and each board sets its own renewal cycle, hours and topics. Architects who plan to work across many states often get the NCARB Certificate, which makes reciprocal licensing simpler; it carries a $1,415 application fee and $300 annual renewal. Over time, licensed architects take on project architect, project manager and firm leadership roles.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Spatial visualization

You have to picture how rooms, structure, ductwork and daylight fit together in three dimensions long before anything is built.

BIM and CAD software

Construction documents are produced in tools such as Revit and AutoCAD, and firms expect new hires to model and draft in them from the first week.

Building code analysis

Egress widths, fire separations, occupancy limits and accessibility clearances shape the plan, and getting them wrong means a rejected permit.

Client communication

Architects have to turn a client's vague wishes into a clear program and then explain design trade-offs and cost in plain terms.

Coordination and organization

One project can involve a dozen consultants, hundreds of drawing sheets and a contractor's steady stream of questions that all need tracking.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, active listening, writing.

Training cost

$61.4K–$82.5K

Before financial aid

Time

12 years

Typical path

Median pay

$99,280

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

1.3–1.7 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 5-year B.Arch at the Scorecard median public in-state tuition of $11,950 a year ($59,750) + all six ARE divisions ($1,578) + NCARB Record application ($105). High: 4-year pre-professional bachelor's at the same tuition ($47,800) + the Scorecard median federal debt for architecture master's graduates ($33,042) as a stand-in for M.Arch costs + ARE ($1,578) + NCARB Record ($105). Not included: NCARB Record renewals of $105 a year, exam retakes at $263 each, state license fees, housing, and private-school tuition, which can be far higher.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Construction manager$114,990 median

  Architects with strong construction administration experience can move to the builder's side, overseeing schedules, budgets and subcontractors.

• Project manager$102,320 median

  Many licensed architects become project managers inside firms or for owners, running fees, staffing and schedules for whole projects.

• Interior designer$67,190 median

  Architects who focus on interiors can shift into interior design work; check whether your state regulates the interior designer title before using it.

• Civil engineer$100,840 median

  Moving into civil engineering takes an engineering degree and a separate engineering license, so it is a full retraining rather than a lateral move.