On this page, you’ll find an exhaustive guide on the Massachusetts Architect License Requirements and the Architect Registration process in Massachusetts. It provides all the crucial information you need including state regulations, application fees, and filing instructions among other relevant details. If you need any assistance related to the licensing process, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to offer further information about our software and managed license services to support your needs.

How do I become an architect in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts currently requires 5600 experience hours, including AXP, while NCARB AXP mandates 3740 experience hours. This translates to around 2.7 years of continuous work at 40 hours per week. Most states have transitioned to AXP hours alone, so stay updated with Massachusetts Board changes.

Half of your experience hours must be supervised by a qualified architect. You can earn hours through direct experience (“A”) working for a licensed architect or outside an architecture firm (“O”) under licensed professionals, in design or construction-related employment, community-based design, etc. Follow AXP reporting requirements. Submit all AXP experience within the time limit. Only six months prior experience is eligible for 100% credit, while prior experience beyond five years is valued at 50%. Start reporting after high school graduation.

How Do I Take The Architect Registration Examination In Massachusetts?

Individual Licenses

Massachusetts Individual Architecture Licenses

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the New Architect Initial Application (Jan. 2020). Consider that the filing method is online. 
• Agency Fee: $135 application fee + $125 licensure fee application fee = $260

Must-have Attachments

Please provide proof of standing document from each state or jurisdiction where you hold a license or certification. This document should detail the nature and status of your licensure, as well as any pertinent information related to disciplinary actions taken against your license.

Reciprocal Registration

• Read the instructions at Massachusetts Architect Reciprocity Registration Application Instructions
• Agency Fee: $365
• Submission method:
  • Online: submit your authorization request to send your file through one of the following methods:
  • Submit digitally via www.ncarb.org using a credit card for payment. Or, if choosing to submit BY POST, please get in touch with NCARB to ascertain the correct fee. Then complete and return the “Authorization for Transmittal of Council Record, Form 182 for Massachusetts” to NCARB.
  • Postal Address:
    • NCARB Transmittals Department
    • 1801 K Street, NW
    • Suite 700
    • Washington, DC 20006

Registration Renewal

• Agency Fee: $125
• Due: Annually by August 31.

Reinstatement

• Fill out the Massachusetts Architectural Reinstatement Application. Consider that the filing method is via mail.
• Agency Fee: The fee is subject to variation and is determined by the duration of the “expired” status of your license, as well as the present renewal fees set by the regulatory board.

Mississippi Landscape Architect Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Form: After successfully completing the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE), applicants must instruct the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) to transmit the CLARB Council Record to the Board. Once the Board receives the CLARB Council Record, they will manually send the applicant an application for initial licensure.
• Agency Fee: $125

Registration Renewal

• Submission method:online
• Agency Fee: $200
• Due: By December 31 of odd-numbered years.

Massachusetts Landscape Architect License

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the First-Time Licensure Application for Examination or Reciprocity for Landscape Architects
• Agency Fee: $45 application fee + $66 licensure fee

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $66
• Due: Annually by January 31

Non-State Level Architecture Firm Licenses in Massachusetts

This section aims to clarify licenses that are not required in Massachusetts for architecture firms.

Massachusetts Architecture Firm License

In Massachusetts, there’s no state-level requirement for licensure of architecture firms.
While the state doesn’t issue firm licenses, it’s crucial that a licensed professional supervises all architectural projects. Firms are strongly advised to review board regulations and state laws before initiating business operations.
For additional details, please refer to the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensing: Board of Registration of Architects.

• Business Corporations
• Professional Corporations
• Limited Liability Companies
• Professional Limited Liability Companies
• Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Joint Ventures

• Business Corporations: In these entities, one officer at least, whose official role is recognized in the organization’s articles or by-laws, must be an architect licensed in Massachusetts. Any contracts or agreements involving architectural services in Massachusetts should be signed on behalf of the corporation by an officer who holds valid architectural registration in the state.
• Professional Corporations: In these cases, all incorporators, shareholders, the president, any vice-presidents, and a majority of directors should hold a license for the professional services provided by the company.
• Limited Liability Companies: At least one manager, or a member if the LLC’s business management is vested in members, must be a licensed architect in Massachusetts. All architectural service agreements or contracts in Massachusetts should be signed on behalf of the LLC by a manager or member who is duly registered as an architect in Massachusetts.
• Professional Limited Liability Companies: At least one manager or a member (if management is vested in members) needs to be a Massachusetts-licensed architect. All contracts for architectural services in Massachusetts should be executed by a manager or member who is a licensed architect, acting on behalf of the PLLC.
• Partnerships: At least one partner should be a licensed architect in Massachusetts. All contracts or agreements for architectural services in Massachusetts should be signed by a partner, who is a licensed architect in the state, acting on behalf of the partnership.
• Limited Liability Partnerships: One partner, at the very least, must be a licensed architect in Massachusetts. All contracts for architectural services in Massachusetts should be signed by a partner who is a registered architect, acting on behalf of the LLP.
• Joint Ventures: At least one member of a joint venture should either be an individual with a Massachusetts architect’s license, or a business organization qualified to provide architectural services in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Interior Design Firm License

Massachusetts does not have state-level licensure requirements for interior design firms. There is no current licensing or registration process for interior design businesses in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Landscape Architecture Firm License

Landscape architecture firm licensure is not required at the state level in Massachusetts. For more information, you can contact the Massachusetts State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects & Interior Designers.

Massachusetts Interior Designer License

Interior Designer licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

Register for the Architect Registration Examination

Securing an architect’s license in Massachusetts opens up a world of opportunities to practice architecture in the state. The journey commences with the pursuit of a professional degree in architecture, a fundamental requirement in your quest to become a licensed architect. This degree is not just a piece of paper, but a testament to your knowledge and comprehension of architectural principles, a rite of passage that equips you with the tools to craft and shape the built environment.

Remember, it’s important that your architecture degree is obtained from a program accredited by a recognized body such as the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). This accreditation assures that the program meets the industry’s standards and provides the necessary skills and training.

Architect registration in Massachusetts is a crucial step that formalizes your standing in the industry. This process includes satisfying the state’s requirements and passing the relevant examinations. With this license, you will have the legal authority to practice architecture, offering your expertise to develop the Massachusetts landscape. Now that you are armed with this information, you’re one step closer to realizing your architectural aspirations.

Disclaimer: These requirements are subject to change based on approval board discretion. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.