This article contains information on How to Become an Architect in 2023.
Becoming an Architect is not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of time and financial investments. Architects are people who draw, plan, design and review the interiors and exteriors of buildings where people live, work, shop and play like houses, factories, cinemas houses, bars, lounge, office buildings, and other structures. They achieve these by discussing the requirements and desires of the job with the client in order to prepare preliminary estimates of costs and feasibility of the project, followed by structural specifications, scaled drawings, and appropriate building contracts whereby work contractors like plumbers and bricklayers are secured to execute the plan. The plan is referred to as an architectural drawing. The architect manages the actual construction to ensure compliance with the architectural plans until execution.
Architects spend much of their time in offices, where they develop plans, meet with clients, and consult with engineers, other architects, and construction sites to prepare initial drawings and review the progress of projects to ensure that clients’ objectives are met.
Some of the things an architect does are:
- Meet with clients to determine objectives and requirements for structures
- Give preliminary estimates of cost and construction time
- Prepare structure specifications
- Direct workers who prepare drawings and documents
- Prepare scaled drawings, either with computer software or by hand
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors
- Manage construction contracts
- Visit worksites to ensure that construction adheres to architectural plans
- Seek new work by marketing and giving presentations
What skills are needed?
- Analytical skills. Architects must analyze and simplify briefs before they understand the content of designs and the context in which they were created.
- Communication skills. Architects share their ideas, both in oral presentations and in writing, with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings.
- Creativity. In designing and implementing customer briefs, creativity helps to make buildings pleasant, functional and unique
- Organizational skills. They need this skill to complete contracts. through the organization of details such as total cost, materials used, and progress.
- Technical skills. Architects need to use CAD (Computer-Aided Design), mainly 3D software designs, to create plans as part of building information modeling (BIM).
- Visualization skills. Architects imagine how the parts of a structure relate to each other and how the overall building will look once completed.
- Other skills are Ability to understand technical plans, articulate them, pay attention, have interpersonal skills, use information technology (IT), lead, work well with others, and manage time.
The mean pay for architects ranges from $48,020 to $138,120 as of 2018, which is determined by level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry. It is estimated that architecture will grow by 4% from 2016 to 2026. Demand is high because sustainable design is prevalent. Architects are needed to design buildings and structures that efficiently use resources, such as energy and water conservation; reduce waste and pollution; and apply environmentally friendly design, specifications, and materials.
Academic Requirement for Architect
The major goal for architectural drawing is to balance the competing needs for functionality, safety, aesthetic value and cost-efficiency. It starts from discussion to project execution which encompasses the work of an architect in all stages because they are the chief planner, perquisites such as the knowledge of engineering along with solid communication, management and supervisory skills. Architecture degree programs are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree levels. You can earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree before beginning professional careers, but you have some flexibility in how you can proceed. With an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, you can work entry-level positions, such as a drafter. To become a licensed architect, you’ll need a professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Professional degrees include the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) and the Master of Architecture (M.Arch.). A doctoral degree qualifies you for research and postsecondary teaching positions.
STEPS ON HOW TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT
Step 1: Start Preparing in High School
If possible, start preparing for your architecture education in high school. Courses in geometry, algebra, pre-calculus and physics develop your skills with mathematical precision. Courses in the arts and humanities may develop your aesthetic sensibility. Much of modern architecture is designed using computer-aided design (CAD) programs, so familiarity with technology and computers will be helpful.
Step 2: Earn a bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree programs in architecture survey the history of the discipline, introduce you to fundamental design concepts and acquaint you with the properties of materials. Courses examine interior space and proportions, structural systems, environmental systems and building technology. Professional B.Arch. programs are typically completed in five years. You could also pursue a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree in architecture, but these degrees are considered to be pre-professional, and they don’t qualify you for state licensure. Some schools offer 5-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Step 3: Earn a master’s degree
Master’s degree programs in architecture integrate theoretical, technological, historical and cultural factors into your design process as well as exploring how to engage in a community’s cultural conversation by shaping its built environment. Ecologically sustainable building practices, historic preservation and urban planning are other possible areas of interest and exploration. Some schools have separate academic tracks depending on whether your bachelor’s degree is in architecture or in an unrelated subject. For example, if you earned a pre-professional degree in architecture, it may only take you two years to earn your M.Arch. If your degree is in an area other than architecture, you’ll likely enrol on a 3-year track.
Step 4: Complete an Internship
Before you’re eligible for state licensing, you’ll need to complete a training period under the supervision of a licensed architect. Most training periods last three years, and most architecture program graduates meet the obligation by working an internship. As of 2018, a majority of architects worked for architectural and engineering services firms, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), so you could look to one of these firms for internship opportunities.
Step 5: Become Certified and Licensed
All architects must have state licenses to offer professional services. Apart from earning a degree and completing an internship, you must pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). The ARE consists of nine divisions containing either graphical questions or multiple-choice questions.
The NCARB also offers national certification to architects who can provide verification of their educational history, employment record and professional references. Certification isn’t required but having it could make applying for licensing across states easier for you. According to the BLS, around 33% of licensed architects were also certified as of 2014.
In all states, earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture is typically the first step to becoming an architect. Most architects earn their degree through a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree program. Many earn a master’s degree in architecture, which can take 1 to 5 additional years. The time required depends on the extent of the student’s previous education and training in architecture. A typical bachelor’s degree program includes courses in architectural history and theory, building design with an emphasis on computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), structures, construction methods, professional practices, math, physical sciences, and liberal arts.
Vocations related to Architect are
- Architect (Residential, Commercial, Public, Industrial or Landscape)
- Architectural technologist
- Interior and spatial designer
- Building surveyor
- Town planner
- Structural engineer
- Conservation officer
- Production designer
- Urban and Regional Planner
Professional Organizations that promote career and business development in architecture are
- The International Union of Architects (UIA)
- The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) UK
- Architects Registration Board (ARB) UK
- The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Australia
- Association of Licensed Architects(ALA) USA.