My Journey to becoming a Registered Architect in the USA
I have passed all the 6 ARE Tests!! and can call myself an Architect!!
A list of what is needed in become a registered/licensed architect in the USA:
Professional degree in Architecture accredited by NAAB. (5 to 6 years)
Architecture experience program 3,740 documented hours minimum.
Must Pass all 6 exams divisions: Practice Management (PcM), Project Management(PjM), Programming Analysis (PA), Project Planning & design (PPD), Project development & documentation (PDD), Construction & evaluation (CE).
Apply for license to the State Board
This has been a tough goal that took me nine years to achieve—but the time is finally here!
Finished my Master degree in 2011 and began testing in 2016 with ARE 4.0 version of the exam. Passed 2 exams before hitting a roadblock with Site Analysis (which later became Programming Analysis in 5.0 test version). Life soon shifted: I was working full time, got married, became a mother of two, and testing simply became too overwhelming. The rolling clock was about to run out, which would have meant starting the entire process over again. (Rolling clock: Passed exams had an expiration date)
At that point, I stepped away from architecture firm life and pursued my own small business designing decorative pillows for interior designers and architects. And it worked! . I found a creative outlet and a way to stay connected to design while balancing my growing family.
Then came the news: NCARB was retiring the rolling clock. That was my sign to try again. I jumped back in, retook the PA exam and passed. Next came PPD and PDD—two major hurdles. I failed both at first, but I kept pushing. I passed PDD, and after several attempts, finally conquered PPD. Persistence won!!
I want to give a huge thank you to Michael Ermann and Elif Bayram for creating incredible study resources that helped me study and to everyone who supported me along the way—family, friends, mentors, and colleagues. This achievement isn’t mine alone; it’s built on years of encouragement, sacrifice, and shared strength.
And thank you NCARB for retiring the rolling clock!!
Now, as a registered architect, I look forward to new challenges, growing in my practice, and creating meaningful, lasting work.
This is just the beginning
Only 2% of Latinas are Architects in the USA - Now I am one of them
