Becoming an architect is an arduous process, so with a crop of soon-to-be high school graduates headed off to pursue college degrees, I thought it would be a great time to look at the challenges, and the stiff licensing requirements to practice. (And, not so incidentally, to offer a little peek into my practice, my staff’s steps towards licensure, as well as how much of a Plymouth “family” my firm is.)
It’s these requirements that never seem to be mentioned by those architects of TV fame. It’s the conversation that Mike Brady, Art Vandelay, and Ted Mosby never mention as they glorify our chosen careers.
In the Stone Age, when I began my own journey, Massachusetts was a state that required the “rule of 8s.” A candidate pursuing an architectural license was required to have a total of eight years of schooling and work experience to sit for the national exams. Any combination of schooling in the architectural world accompanied by work under a licensed architect would qualify.
In my case, I received an accredited five-year Bachelor of Architecture (equivalent of a master’s), with concentrated minor studies in historic preservation, from Roger Williams College. Then I worked under various licensed architects for three years. The exam, administered by the NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards), was held in Boston at the Hynes Convention Center over four days. The exams began at 8 a.m. and ran until 5 p.m. – except for the last day, when we faced the design portion, which ran for 12 hours. In June 1989, when I filed into the Hynes with hundreds of other hopefuls, the exam was only offered once a year. Regrettably, I fell into the statistic of the 90 percent who failed to pass all sections on the first try. The second time was the charm.
In the 1990s, Massachusetts changed the requirements for licensure. Candidates now must have a five-year accredited NCARB degree as well as three years of tracked experience. Massachusetts effectively prevented candidates who held only two- or four-year architectural degrees from becoming licensed.
Freshly licensed in 1990, I sought fame and fortune in California. Having taken an NCARB exam, I assumed that licensure in California would be an easy reciprocal process. I assumed wrong. I also assumed that the additional testing in California would be based on earthquake resistance required construction . . . wrong again. California at the time required knowledge of American Institute of Architects (AIA) documents and the supplemental exam was taken in front of a panel of three architects, with answers given verbally.
What I found baffling about the process was the involvement of the AIA, which defines itself as “the largest, most influential network of architects and design professionals.” It’s basically a private club and a Washington lobbying organization. Seemed like a conflict of interest to me, but I readily passed the oral exam.
Upon returning to Massachusetts, I pursued and obtained registrations in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Maintaining these registrations requires ongoing continuing education credits and, of course, hefty renewal fees.
Looking at my beloved staff of seven (architectural and support), their journeys through this system are as varied as New England weather.
Michelle, a Plymouth native, attended Syracuse University, which was too daunting for me since admission there requires a portfolio (usually a collection of fine art drawings, sculptures, and art-related works). Syracuse granted Michelle a 5-year accredited NCARB degree, and after working the required three years and taking the exams, she was licensed in Massachusetts. Michelle lives in Plymouth, and we share many relatives in our family tree.
Noah’s path through education and licensure is all too common in our field. He began at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, which offers a four year unaccredited program. Realizing Hobart wasn’t a good fit, he transferred to Boston Architectural College (BAC), which offers a unique program that allows students to work full time during the day and attend classes in the evening.
The educational process takes longer, but upon graduation, a student will have accrued enough work experience to begin the exam process. Noah has one exam left. Until recently, he lived in Plymouth. His grandmother was my kindergarten teacher, and his step-grandfather is one of my dad’s cousins.
Brie attended Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), a school that always evokes praise from architects. IIT was famed for its dean Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He was the father of modern architecture in the United States and responsible for the design of iconic buildings like the Farnsworth house and the Seagram building. Brie spent her early childhood years here and her mom and dad still live in town.
Chris, like Noah (and me), started his college career at one school but transferred. Chris began at Wentworth Institute and then transferred to Keene State College. Majoring in Architecture, supplementing his degree with a minor in sustainability, Chris falls into a quagmire of NCARB licensing requirements. Keene’s architectural program is not recognized by NCARB, which makes him ineligible for the exams in Massachusetts. He is, however, eligible for licensure in New Hampshire. Upon completion of his required work hours, he will take the exam in New Hampshire and apply for reciprocity in Massachusetts. Where there is a will there’s a way. Chris hails from Scituate and is my only staff member without ties to Plymouth. We don’t hold it against him . . . often.
Rounding out the staff are the essential folks that we couldn’t live without. Sheila graduated from Suffolk University with a degree in history. Bound for a career in law, a friendly conversation led her to becoming our business manager. Sheila grew up in Kingston but now counts Plymouth as home. Her grandfather was a Manfredi, and there are Manfredi’s in my family tree – I just haven’t connected the branches. Sheila also started the “Plymouth, Remembering When” page on Facebook.
Cherie is our account manager. Upon retiring from teaching at Plymouth Community Intermediate School, she jumped in to track the endless hours our professionals devote to their respective projects. Her accounting degree from Bentley University is an asset to us. Cherie’s grandfather was a Plymouth police officer, and our grandmothers were first cousins.
Rounding out the staff is Paul, our controller. Paul works a punishing hour or two a month balancing all the accounts. He attended Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth). Paul came to work for us when he retired. You won’t be surprised to hear that he is a cousin of mine and grew up next door to me. I have forgiven him for all those years of childhood harassment. Maybe.
Despite all our classroom time and lofty degrees, there is nothing that substitutes for real work experience. Our office regularly participates in field trip Fridays. The staff will spend a good portion of the day in the field on building sites, conversing with contractors, and observing actual construction. It’s an education worth more than a college degree any day.
Architect Bill Fornaciari is a lifelong resident of Plymouth (except for a three-year adventure going West as a young man) and is the owner of BF Architects in Plymouth. His firm specializes in residential work and historic preservation. Have a question or idea for this column? Email Bill at billfornaciari@gmail.com.