Designing Your Career How to Become an Architect

Designing Your Career How to Become an Architect If you want a successful career and you love home design, architecture might be the path for you. Here are the basics of how to become an architect. Have you always been fascinated by the structure of buildings? Do you dream of a career that mixes the creativity of design with the structure of math? Architecture might be the career for you. This article will teach you how to become an architect. Pretty soon, your citys skyline could be etched with your designs. 1. Do Your Research Before diving headfirst into a career in architecture, be certain its what you want. Becoming an architect can take up to 6 years. Dont decide to pursue this career on a whim. Instead, check out books in your local library about architecture to find out if youre truly interested. Its also a good idea to audit a class in architecture at your local university or community college. Decide whether you want a career in residential or commercial architecture. 2. Get a Bachelors Degree If you want to become an architect, youll need an accredited degree in architecture. These programs typically take 5 years to complete, which is no small feat. Your degree should be accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. 3. Take on an Internship After you earn your degree youll need to take an internship in architecture. This internship will give you first-hand experience of the field youre about to enter. Its a great networking opportunity as well. Many internships will turn into full-time positions if you make a good impression on your supervisors. Be sure to show up on time every day of your internship. Ask questions and be attentive to show your supervisors youre very interested in the field. 4. Pass the Test After completing your bachelors degree and your internship, youll need to pass the Architect Registration Examination. This exam is a seven-part pass or fail test. Youll take this test in the state you plan to practice architecture in. Keep in mind that each state may have different requirements to become a licensed architect. Its a good idea to figure out where you want to live before you take on an internship. The connections you make during an internship may enable you to find an architect job. 5. Get a Masters While not a requirement, a Masters degree will open up more opportunities to you as an architect. More jobs will become available to you and at a higher pay scale. If you want to open your own firm, consider a dual degree in architecture and business. Now You Know How to Become an Architect You now have all the knowledge you need on how to become an architect. The ball is in your court, or rather the pen is in your hand, on what you do with the information. Remember to do plenty of your own research to be sure architecture is the path you want to go down. It can be a very rewarding and lucrative profession once you pass all the tests. Have questions for us? Want to contact us for any reason? Please do so here.