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. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and submit documentation acceptable to the board verifying that one of the following educational qualifications has been met:
1. The applicant holds 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. The applicant has received credit for a degree or coursework, whether foreign or domestic, that is not NAAB-accredited. Such applicant must establish an NCARB record and must have that degree or coursework evaluated for equivalency to an 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.
3. The applicant has a minimum of 10 years of qualifying work experience, education experience, or a combination of work and education experience as provided for in Table 1 of this subdivision. For the purposes of this subdivision B 3, (i) "education experience" means credit awarded toward the alternative educational requirement provided for in this subdivision based on completed education; and (ii) "work experience" means credit awarded toward the alternative to educational requirement provided for in this subdivision based on completed work under the direct supervision a licensed architect.
a. Applicants may combine work experience and education experience in the following methods.
Table 1 | ||
Education | Education Experience Credited | Supplemental Work or Additional Education Experience Required |
Architecture baccalaureate degree, to include architectural design | Four years | Six years |
Baccalaureate degree in a related discipline, to include engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and building construction | Three years | Seven years |
Nonrelated baccalaureate degree | Two years | Eight years |
Associate degree in the field of architecture | One year | Nine years |
b. The methods in Table 1 may not be combined if the lower-level degree was used as academic credit toward the higher-level degree.
c. Applicants may be awarded one year of education experience for each successfully completed full-time equivalent academic year for a graduate degree in the field of architecture.
d. Applicants may be awarded six months of education experience for each successfully completed full-time equivalent academic year for a graduate degree in a related discipline, to include engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, or building construction.
e. Applicants may be awarded one year of education experience for each successfully completed full-time equivalent academic year for completed NAAB accredited coursework.
f. Applicants must provide a transcript from the institution awarding a degree or granting coursework credit. The board may make further inquiries into an applicant's program to assess whether a degree is in a related discipline.
g. Education experience used to qualify under this subdivision B 3 may not be combined with experience used to meet experience qualifications under subsection C of this section.
h. All work experience must have been gained under the direct supervision of a licensed architect. Work experience will be evaluated in accordance with 18VAC10-20-35. Work experience gained must include all of the following areas:
(1) Architectural programming.
(2) Site and environmental analysis.
(3) Schematic design.
(4) Construction cost analysis.
(5) Code research.
(6) Design development.
(7) Construction documents.
(8) Specifications and materials research.
(9) Document checking and coordination.
(10) Bidding procedures.
(11) Construction phase – office.
(12) Construction phase – observation.
(13) Project management.
(14) Office management.
i. Applicants qualifying under this subdivision B 3 must certify work and education experience annually. Any experience gained under the alternative education requirement must be reported to the board on the board-designated form no later than January 31 for the preceding year's experience. Nothing in this provision prohibits the board from awarding education experience earned prior to an individual becoming an applicant, including out-of-state experience.
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; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2026.