On this page, you’ll find an exhaustive guide on the Texas Architect License Requirements and the Architect Registration process in Texas. 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 Texas?

To secure an architect’s license in Texas, a few critical steps must be adhered to. First, it’s essential to obtain a professional degree in architecture from a program that has been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). This degree could be a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) or a Master of Architecture (M.Arch). Once your degree is complete, you’re required to gain practical experience by working for at least three years under the guidance of a licensed architect.

After fulfilling the practical experience requirement, you’re eligible to sit for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), a comprehensive exam that encompasses various facets of architecture, including site planning, building systems, and structural design. In order to become a licensed architect in Texas, it’s mandatory to pass all sections of the ARE.

Following the successful completion of the ARE, you can proceed to apply for licensure with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE). The application process entails submitting your educational and work experience records, clearing a background check, and paying the required fees. After your application is approved, you will receive your license to practice architecture in Texas.

In order to sustain your license, it’s compulsory to fulfill continuing education requirements each year. This involves the completion of at least 12 hours of continuing education courses, which have to be approved by the TBAE. If you fail to meet these requirements, your license could potentially be suspended or revoked.

How Do I Take The Architect Registration Examination In Texas?

Company Licenses

Texas Corporation, Partnership and Firm Disclosure (Architecture)

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

• Business Corporations: officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Texas licensed individual to be responsible for each professional service performed by the firm.

• Professional Corporations: all shareholders, officers, and directors must be licensed in a professional service performed by the firm.

• Limited Liability Companies: members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Texas licensed individual to be responsible for each professional service performed by the firm.

• Professional Limited Liability Companies: all members and managers must be licensed in a professional service performed by the firm.

• Partnerships: partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Texas licensed individual to be responsible for each professional service performed by the firm.

First-Time Applicants

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $45

Before Applying, Take In Consideration:

Domestic Applicants:

1. Recognize a full-time Texas licensed professional who will be responsible for each professional service the firm offers

Foreign Applicants:

1. Assign a Texas licensed professional who is a full-time employee to oversee each professional service provided by the firm.

How to apply:

Domestic Applicants:

1. Submit entity formation documents to the Texas Secretary of State – Corporations Section.
2. Enroll your firm online through the Board of Architectural Examiners: Architects, Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Lodge foreign qualification documents with the Texas Secretary of State – Corporations Section.
2. Register your firm online with the Board of Architectural Examiners: Architects, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $45
• Due: Annually by date of initial issuance.
• Original Ink is not required
• Notarize is not required
• Note: Reminders for renewal are emailed to license holders about 6 weeks and again 2 weeks prior to the license expiration date.

Individual Licenses

Texas Architect License

First-Time Applicants

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

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $100

Reciprocal Registration

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $150
• Note: Along with online application, applicants must:
• Obtain a certificate of standing sent directly from their State Licensing Board and provide a Certified College Transcript from a NAAB accredited or equivalent program, or have their NCARB record transmitted to the board.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $108 for residents and $200 for non-residents
• Due: Annually by the last day of the licensee’s birth month
• Original Ink is not required
• Notarize is not required

Texas Interior Designer Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $100

How to Apply

1. Establish a TBAE online account/record and pay the application fee of $100.
2. Submit CIDQ experience forms, academic transcript, letter of approval from CIDQ for exam eligibility, and exam scores. Optionally, you can submit your CIDQ Certificate if available.
3. Submit Proof of Legal Status to TBAE.
4. Complete a mandatory criminal history check. Further information and instructions can be accessed here.

Reciprocal Registration

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $150

Must-have Attachments

1. Certificate of Standing: This licensure verification and exam history should be sent directly from your State Licensing Board. This applies to individuals with active registration in other jurisdictions who are applying for registration in Texas by reciprocal transfer.
2. Certified College Transcript: Transcripts can now be securely emailed from your college.
3. Proof of Legal Status: Submit this to TBAE.
4. Fingerprints: New applicants must undergo a compulsory criminal history check.
5. Optional: A current NCIDQ certificate can be submitted as proof of passing the NCIDQ Exam.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $105 for residents and $200 for non-residents
• Due: Annually by the last day of the licensee’s birth month.

Texas Landscape Architect Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $100

How to Apply

• Set up a TBAE online account and remit the $100 application fee.
• Submit your Proof of Legal Status to TBAE.
• Along with your online exam application, choose one of the following supporting methods:
  • a. Early Exam Application: If applying without a completed CLARB file, provide TBAE with your official college transcript and an Employment Verification Form.
  • b. Application with a Completed CLARB Council Record: If you’ve completed the CLARB council record, ask CLARB to transmit your council record to Texas.

Reciprocal Registration

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $150

Must-have Attachments

1. Certificate of Standing: This licensure verification and exam history should be sent directly from your State Licensing Board. This applies to individuals with active registration in other jurisdictions who are applying for registration in Texas by reciprocal transfer.
2. Certified College Transcript: Transcripts can now be securely emailed from your college.
3. Proof of Legal Status: Submit this to TBAE.
4. Fingerprints: New applicants must undergo a compulsory criminal history check.
5. Optional: A current NCIDQ certificate can be submitted as proof of passing the NCIDQ Exam.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $105 for residents and $200 for non-residents
• Due: Annually by the last day of the licensee’s birth month.

Register for the Architect Registration Examination

Securing an architect’s license in Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas Board of Architectural Examiners