Professional Licensing
How to Verify an Architect's License
Architecture firms, developers, and project owners must verify licensure before a licensed architect stamps drawings. An unlicensed person stamping construction documents creates serious legal liability. Here is the complete verification workflow.
Key takeaway
Verifying an architect requires three checks: (1) professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program, (2) state licensure via the relevant state architecture board, and (3) optionally, NCARB Certificate for multi-state reciprocity confirmation. NCARB's public record search is the fastest starting point — it surfaces state licenses, AXP completion, and ARE passage in a single lookup.
The architecture credential stack
Becoming a licensed architect requires completing all three of the following, in any order:
Education — NAAB-accredited professional degree
B.Arch (5-year professional undergraduate), M.Arch, or D.Arch from a NAAB-accredited program. Candidates with non-professional degrees (BA, BS in architecture) must earn an M.Arch to meet education requirements in most states.
Experience — AXP (Architectural Experience Program)
Administered by NCARB. Requires 3,740 hours of supervised professional experience across six experience areas. Tracked in the NCARB Record.
Examination — ARE (Architect Registration Examination)
Six-division exam administered by NCARB. Passage of all six divisions plus meeting education and experience requirements qualifies a candidate for state licensure.
Step 1 — Search NCARB's public records
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) maintains a searchable public database of architect licensure records across all 54 US jurisdictions (50 states + DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and US Virgin Islands).
NCARB License Search
ncarb.org/licensing-board-search
What it shows
Active state licenses, NCARB Certificate status, jurisdiction, and license numbers. Search by name or NCARB Record number.
NCARB Certificate
An optional credential earned after meeting NCARB's uniform standards. Not required for licensure but facilitates reciprocity across states. Held by ~26,000 architects as of 2026.
Step 2 — Verify state board licensure directly
NCARB's search may not show recent disciplinary actions at the state level. Always verify the architect's license status and disciplinary history directly with the state board where they will seal drawings.
| State | Board / Lookup |
|---|---|
| California | California Architects Board — cab.dca.ca.gov |
| New York | NY State Education Dept — op.nysed.gov/professions/architecture |
| Texas | Texas Board of Architectural Examiners — tbae.texas.gov |
| Florida | Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design — myfloridalicense.com |
| Illinois | Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov |
For other states, use the NCARB Licensing Board directory at ncarb.org/licensing-board-search.
Step 3 — Verify the professional degree (if NAAB accreditation matters)
For most hiring purposes, a current state license is sufficient proof that education requirements were met. But for academic positions, government roles, or jurisdictions with strict education requirements, confirm the degree directly.
- Request official transcripts directly from the institution
- Confirm NAAB accreditation of the program via naab.org/architecture-programs/find-a-program
- For international graduates: NCARB evaluates foreign credentials via the Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA)
Multi-state practice and reciprocity
An architect must hold a license in every state where they stamp drawings. Reciprocity procedures vary:
- NCARB Certificate holders can obtain reciprocal licensure faster in most states — the NCARB Certificate serves as proof of meeting all three E's.
- Non-NCARB-Certificate holders must apply separately to each state board with full documentation — process can take months.
Project owners and developers: If your project spans multiple states and only one state license is on file, verify that a reciprocal license application has been submitted and approved in each state before drawings are sealed.
Common fraud and misrepresentation patterns
- ! Unlicensed persons signing documents as "Architect": The title "architect" is legally protected in all US states. Only licensed individuals may use it. If someone without a license seals construction documents, both the individual and the firm face significant liability.
- ! Lapsed licenses presented as active: Continuing education requirements for license renewal vary by state (typically 12–24 AIA LU hours per cycle). A license that lapsed due to CE noncompliance may still have a number in a state database — check the expiration date and status explicitly.
- ! Non-professional degrees misrepresented as professional: A BA in architecture or a non-accredited M.Arch from an online institution may not satisfy state education requirements. Confirm NAAB accreditation of the specific program and degree type.
- ! NCARB Certificate vs. state license conflation: The NCARB Certificate is not a license — it is a credential that facilitates reciprocal licensing. Always verify the state-specific license separately.
Verification checklist
- NCARB public license search completed — name, license number, and state confirmed
- State board license verified directly — active status, no disciplinary actions
- License confirmed in each state where drawings will be sealed
- Official transcripts requested from institution (if education verification required)
- NAAB accreditation of program confirmed at time of graduation
- For international graduates: EESA evaluation confirmed via NCARB
- CE compliance and license renewal dates checked (state-specific)
Verify schools and institutions with VerifyED
Before accepting transcripts, confirm any architecture school is legitimate and NAAB-accredited. VerifyED's database covers 912,000 institutions worldwide.
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