Resources by Profession

The following websites and publications are valuable resources to assist architecture and urban planning students as they seek to develop an understanding of the larger context for their education and the career pathways available to them.

Architecture

• American Institute of Architects [AIA]
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook for Architecture
• American Institute of Architecture Students [AIAS]
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture [ACSA]
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards [NCARB]

Licensure for Architects

A professional degree in architecture is generally required before one can take the licensing exam, and additional experience is required for full licensure. In the United States, licensing of architects is the legal prerogative of individual state governments. Each jurisdiction sets its own requirements for initial registration, examination, and corporate practice. Due largely to the efforts of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), guidelines for license examination eligibility and the exam itself are fairly uniform from state to state. However, it is always advisable to check with the individual board to verify registration and practice requirements, as each jurisdiction may change its rules, statutes, and regulations at any time. A license is not required to work in an architectural firm; but to have ownership in a firm or to use the title Architect legally, licensing is mandatory.

View University of Michigan alumni pass rates of the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) here.

AXP/ARE Program

The Architecture eXperience Program(AXP) and Architecture Registration Exams (ARE) are administered by The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). See guidelines for experience hours here.

Urban Planning

• American Planning Association [APA]
• American Institute of Certified Planners [AICP]
• APA Career Center
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook for Urban & Regional Planners
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning [ACSP]
• Michigan Association of Planning [MAP]
• MAP Student Conference [SMAP]

Certification for Urban Planners

The American Planning Association (APA) administers certification for planners through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). The AICP certification process requires passing a comprehensive exam, acquiring a minimum threshold of professional experience, committing to continuing education, and upholding the AICP Code of Ethics.

Students in the Taubman College Urban and Regional Planning Program, a Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) certified program, are eligible for the AICP Candidate Pilot Program. This program allows master students to take the AICP exam following graduation, rather than waiting until they have achieved the required two years of professional planning experience. Upon passing the exam, a planner is considered an AICP Candidate until completing and verifying their professional experience. Some employers will pay for AICP certification and study materials.

The FAICP designation is for Fellows of the AICP, which is an honor bestowed to those members of the American Institute of Certified Planning with the highest levels of professional impact and service to the field. Two Taubman College faculty members, Professor Emeritus Robert Marans, and Professor June Thomas, have been inducted into the AICP College of Fellows.