NAAB Candidate Program

If a school has a candidate accreditation will i be allowed to take the ARE exam if i graduate before the program reaches its full accreditation? 
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To be eligible to take the ARE will depend on the state in which you are seeking licensure; you need more than just an accredited degree.

Typically, if an architecture program has been offered candidate status, the program is meeting the standards set by NAAB and is expected to obtain full accreditation when it graduates its first class.  Programs time their gaining accreditation to when the first class graduates.

However, as stated below - a graduate from a candidate program is considered to have met the NCARB Education Standards for purposes of meeting the Education standard.

Before attending a candidate program, I would ask questions related to their timeline on gaining accreditation.

http://www.ncarb.org/Studying-Architecture/Difference-Between-NAAB-Accredited-And-Non.aspx

In order to satisfy the education requirement for NCARB certification, you must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited* by NAAB, a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited* by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), or a CACB-certified professional degree in architecture from a Canadian university.

NAAB is the only agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture in the United States. Although graduation from a NAAB-accredited program does not guarantee registration, accreditation is intended to verify that accredited programs achieve education standards established by NAAB in collaboration with the four collateral organizations—theAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), and NCARB.

* The program must have been accredited no more than two years after the graduation date.

College Major

The college that I will be attending in the fall does not offer architecture as a major, yet I would still like to pursue a career in architecture. However, I fear that when the time comes to take the ARE exams, I will not have the proper knowledge necessary to pass. Do the ARE exams play a main factor in entrance to graduate schools? What should I do? 

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I will provide the best answer I can with what you provided, but it would be helpful to know what college you will be attending and it what major?

First, in order to sit for the licensing exam (ARE), you must first complete an accredited degree in architecture and complete IDP (Intern Development Program) for the state in which you wish to become an architect.

As such, the ARE does not play a factor in applying to graduate programs in architecture.

Thus, if you wish to become an architect, consider completing your degree in another discipline and pursue the Master of Architecture (3-4 years); or you can transfer to an architecture program to more quickly pursue your architecture degree.

Aside from the degree, there are many pursuits you can follow to connect with the discipline -- 1) sketch, 2) read, 3) meet with an architect, 4) attend lectures, 5) see architecture, 6) visit architecture, etc.

Thanks!

Sense of Direction?

i am a big follower of your blog and i want to say thanks for giving aspiring architects a direct contact with you. My reasons behind writing you is because I am totally lost. I love architecture for its design sense and want to go in that direction only. What should my major be at school and do I have to go to a NAAB school to be successful? These questions may seem really remedial, but I know the field of architecture is very broad and I just want to head in the right direction. 

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You say that you love architecture, but do you wish to be an architect?  If so, I would advise you to pursue a NAAB accredited degree as it is necessary in almost all jurisdictions to become an architect.  With that said, you could pursue architecture as an undergraduate (BArch), graduate (BS + MArch) or graduate (BA + MArch).  The last route allows you to pursue any major as an undergraduate; select a major that you will enjoy and succeed.

Also, to help, visit the blog - http://archcareers.blogspot.com/ and search on topics of interest.

Another resource to help you is Becoming an Architect, 2nd Ed.

Best - Dr. Architecture

Information about accrediation

I have completed my Bachelors of Architecture (B.Arch)  and Post Graduation in Construction Management (PGCM) from India. I have relocated to Santa Clara, CA few months back. I am looking forward to enroll into a master's program in San Fransisco Institute of Architecture (SFIA) or UC berkeley for students with architecture background. Both these programs do not have accreditation. Does accreditation carry weight-age during job search?

What are the disadvantages of earning a degree from universities that do not have accreditation?  I am also looking for jobs in architecture. Could you please forward me some leads/pointers for the same?

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Below is a basic definition of accreditation as listed on the NAAB website (www.naab.org).

What is accreditation?

Accreditation, in general, is a process of external quality review used to scrutinize colleges, universities and educational programs for quality assurance and quality improvement. In the United States, accreditation is carried out by private, nonprofit organizations designed for this specific purpose. Institutions and educational programs seek accredited status as a means of demonstrating their academic quality to students and the public

For you, accreditation may be important if you intend to become a licensed architect in the U.S.  Almost every jurisdiction requires an individual to have a professional accredited degree by NAAB to pursue licensure.

Of course, as you have an equivalent degree from India, you may pursue licensure and meet the education requirement through EESA - Evaluation Education Services for Architects ( https://www.eesa-naab.org/), a process done by NAAB.  As you will see, it is an expensive process (almost $2,000), but less monies that obtaining an additional degree.

Thus, your decision on pursuing an accredited degree or not depends on your longer term goals of becoming an architect in the U.S.

Best

Dr. Architecture

Question about NAAB Accreditation

My son is a college junior and pursuing architecture.  He is particularly interested in a program that is "not accredited".  What exactly does this mean, and how could it affect his studies, examination, and eventually becoming an architect.

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Having worked at NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board - www.naab.org), I will state that accreditation is absolutely necessary in the process of becoming an architect.  Through NAAB, the profession determines what knowledge is necessary to become an architect and dictates to architecture programs that these be taught.  NAAB informs architecture programs what to teach but not how to teach it.

Also, most jurisdictions (states and territories) require individuals to have an accredited professional degree in architecture to become a licensed architect.  In addition NCARB required an accredited degree for certification which facilities reciprocity to become licensed in more than one state.

In other words, pursuing an accredited degree is ESSENTIAL.  Although he could be licensed without the accredited degree, it would very much restrict his options during his professional career.

Now, are you sure that the program to which he is interested is a "candidate" program of NAAB?  Again, visit NAAB to see the list of accredited and candidate programs.  If it is a candidate program, the institution is in the process of gaining accreditation.  You can still consider a candidate program but ask lots of questions.

To learn more about this and the entire process of becoming an architect, consider obtaining Becoming an Architect, 2nd Edition from Amazon.

Feel free to contact me again with more questions.

Dr. Architecture