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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 10. Board For Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers And Landscape Architects
Chapter 20. Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects Regulations
5/2/2026

18VAC10-20-105. Qualifications for licensure as an architect.

A. Upon completing the requirements of this section, applicants may apply for licensure with the board.

B. Education.

1. Applicants for original licensure must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB. The degree program must have been accredited by NAAB no later than two years after the date of the applicant's graduation from the program.

2. Applicants seeking credit for a degree or coursework that is not NAAB-accredited, whether foreign or domestic, must establish an NCARB record and have that degree or coursework evaluated for equivalency to a NAAB-accredited professional degree in architecture through NAAB's evaluation service. The board reserves the right to reject any evaluation submitted. Any costs attributable to evaluation will be borne by the applicant.

C. Experience.

1. Applicants for original licensure must successfully complete the NCARB-administered Architectural Experience Program (https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/AXP-Guidelines.pdf), which satisfies the experience requirement outlined in 18VAC10-20-35.

2. Applicants with a NAAB-accredited degree or who are actively participating in or who have completed the NCARB-accepted integrated path to architectural licensure option are required to document experience or training in architecture before licensure.

D. Examination. The board is a member board of NCARB and applicants for original licensure are required to pass the NCARB-prepared exam.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.

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