On this page, you’ll find an exhaustive guide on the Tennessee Architect License Requirements and the Architect Registration process in Tennessee. 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 details about our software and managed license services to support your needs.

How do I become an architect in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, becoming a licensed architect requires a process that involves education, practical experience, examination, and licensure application. Firstly, you must complete a professional degree in architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), typically a five-year Bachelor of Architecture or a two-year Master of Architecture program. Upon degree completion, you need to gain practical experience through an internship or apprenticeship. The Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners stipulates that a minimum of three years of supervised experience under a licensed architect is required.

Next, you must pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), a six-division exam administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), which must be successfully cleared within a five-year span.

Following the successful completion of the ARE, you must apply for licensure with the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, which involves an application process, a fee, and submission of your educational credentials, experience documentation, and exam scores. Additionally, a state-specific exam that focuses on Tennessee’s architectural laws and regulations must be passed.

After fulfilling all these requirements, you are awarded a license to practice architecture in Tennessee. Remember, architects are required to renew their licenses every two years and meet continuing education requirements to maintain their licensure.

How Do I Take The Architect Registration Examination In Tennessee?

Company Licenses

Tennessee Corporation, Partnership and Firm Disclosure (Architecture)

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

Business Corporations:

• For Business Corporations, a Tennessee licensed architect must be appointed to oversee all architectural activities. This individual should either have the authority to make independent design decisions or be an officer of the corporation.

Professional Corporations:

• Professional Corporations require that all shareholders (unless exempted by the board of architects), officers (except for the secretary and treasurer), and at least half of the directors be licensed in a professional service provided by the PC.

Limited Liability Companies:

• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) must designate a Tennessee licensed architect to be responsible for all architectural activities. This person must have either the authority to make independent design decisions or serve as a manager of the LLC.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

• In Professional Limited Liability Companies, all members (unless exempted by the board of architects), managers (excluding the secretary and treasurer), and at least half of the governors, if any, must hold a license in a professional service provided by the PLLC.

Partnerships:

• Partnerships must assign a Tennessee licensed architect to be in charge of all architectural activities. The individual in question should either be vested with the authority to make independent design decisions or be a partner of the firm.

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the form Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure. Consider that the filing method is via Mail, fax, or email to sundra.dunlap@tn.gov
• Agency Fee: $0

Before Applying, Take In Consideration:

Domestic Applicants:

1. Identify a Tennessee licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm’s architectural activities in Tennessee.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Identify a Tennessee licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm’s architectural activities in Tennessee.
2. Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity’s home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 2 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.

How to apply:

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State – Division of Business Services.
2. File a Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure with the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State – Division of Business Services.
2. File a Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure with the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.

Must-have Attachments

• List of officers and/or principals of the firm including titles, addresses, and Tennessee license numbers, if applicable.

Registration Renewal

Tennessee doesn’t require renewal of firm disclosures. However, if there are any changes in the disclosed details, firms must notify the board within a 60-day window.

Amendment

• Agency Fee: $0
• Due: Notify the board in writing within 60 days of any changes in firm information.
• Original Ink is not required
• Notarize is not required

Individual Licenses

Tennessee Architect License

First-Time Applicants

In order to apply, candidates are required to fulfill the following criteria:

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $30

Reciprocal Registration

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $155

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $140
• Due: Biennially by the end of the month of issuance.

Tennessee Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure (Landscape Architecture)

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the form Corporation, Partnership, and Firm Disclosure. Consider that the filing method is via Mail, fax, or email to sundra.dunlap@tn.gov
• Agency Fee: $0

Must-have Attachments

Firms must provide a list of officers and/or principals of the firm along with their titles, addresses, and Tennessee license numbers (if applicable). This information must be submitted along with the firm’s disclosure form to the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. Any changes to this list should be promptly reported to the board within 60 days.

Registration Renewal

• Tennessee doesn’t require renewal of firm disclosures. However, if there are any changes in the disclosed details, firms must notify the board within a 60-day window.

Amendment

• Agency Fee: $0
• Due: Notify the board in writing within 60 days of any changes in firm information.

Tennessee Architect License

Tennessee Interior Designer Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $100

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $55

Tennessee Landscape Architect Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $30

Reciprocal Registration

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $55

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $140
• Due: Biennially by the end of the month of issuance

Non-State-Level Architecture Firm Licenses in Tennessee

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

Tennessee Interior Design Firm License

In Tennessee, there is no State-level requirement for licensing or registration of interior design firms. The responsibility of overseeing the interior design profession falls under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, specifically the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. However, as of the current regulations, they do not mandate the licensing or registration of interior design businesses.

Register for the Architect Registration Examination

Securing an architect’s license in Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners