The undeserved architect: Beating the system by working within it

Now that I am actively pursuing getting my architectural license, I want it as soon as possible. Like everything else in my life, I have little patience for long, drawn out processes. Neat and tidy, and give it to me as quickly and as easily as possible, thank you very much. It would stand to reason then that any way to obtain the title “architect” faster than the prescribed methods would be something of interest to me.

If there is one thing I’m dedicated to in life, it is attempting to beat the system while working within its confines. This dedication applies to the field of architecture as well, and more specifically to becoming a registered architect.

One of the main reasons for moving to California in 1999 was at that time I could become licensed without having a professional degree. With a certain number of years of experience (I forget at this point), I could sit for my written exams (ARE). California is one of the few states that still allows this, although the process is slowly becoming more difficult. The reason that California allows this is because they have their own special exam, The California Supplemental Exam (CSE, or just “the oral”) that must be passed before getting licensed. This additional exam is a difficult oral exam given by a jury of live architects in a hotel conference room several times a year, and I have feared it since I knew it existed, and therefore I have little desire to take it.

So I was very excited to hear that as of 2010, California will be phasing out the oral and switching to a written format supplemental exam, to be administered beginning 2011. This is excellent news, but I want to be an architect as soon as I’ve passed my written exams. My solution? Get licensed in Colorado.

Colorado’s requirements for licensure differ from California in one important way. There is no supplemental exam.In addition, you may transfer your grades from another jurisdiction (in my case California), and as long as you have met their education and experience requirements you may apply for and receive a license. You are an ARCHITECT.

I’ve summarized the list of requirements here.

Is it a waste of money if you only practice in California? Yes. Do you still have to announce that you are a “Colorado Licensed Architect”? Likely. Will you be able to solicit your own projects that are larger than a house? Not yet. But you WILL be an Architect, indisputably, you can put that AIA at the end of your name, and you receive all the recognition that comes with it(admittedly, not much). From there you can get your reciprocity back in to California when you sit for the written, not oral, CSE in 2011.

For me, after all the money I’ve spent in NCARB and ARE fees, the cost for a license in Colorado is a drop in the bucket.