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Architect
Becoming a licensed architect requires a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited program, completion of the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) with 3,740 hours, and passing all six divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE 5.0).
51
Total States
51
NAAB Required
51
ARE Required
20.7 hrs
Avg CE Hours
Architect licensure follows a structured path through education, experience, and examination, coordinated nationally through NCARB.
Most states require a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited program — either a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch, typically 5 years) or a Master of Architecture (M.Arch). Some states offer alternative paths for candidates with non-accredited degrees.
The Architectural Experience Program (AXP) requires 3,740 hours of experience across six practice areas including project management, project design, and construction evaluation. Experience is documented through NCARB and must be supervised by a licensed architect.
The Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 5.0 consists of six divisions covering practice management, project management, programming & analysis, project planning & design, project development & documentation, and construction & evaluation.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | NAAB Required | AXP Hours | ARE Exam | Fees | CE Hours | NCARB Cert | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,710 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,760 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,760 | 5 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,690 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,664 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,645 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,660 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,535 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,629 | 0 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,585 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,550 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,580 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,610 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,548 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,660 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,543 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,590 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,520 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,610 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,660 | 8 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,580 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,650 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,660 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,670 | 36 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 12 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,610 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,510 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,610 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,660 | 8 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,530 | 8 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,540 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 16 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,710 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,585 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,539 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | 3,740 | Yes | $1,560 | 24 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
Architects often work alongside other licensed design and construction professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
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