Foreign Education + Work Experience Pathway
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Overview
Candidates licensed in another country must complete the Foreign Licensed Architects process to obtain licensure in California.
Foreign candidates must possess a United States Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to receive a California architect license. A Canadian Social Security Number is not acceptable.
We do not assist foreign candidates with immigration matters. You must contact an immigration professional for assistance.
Education Evaluation
Foreign candidates who seek educational experience credit for their foreign degree must have a foreign education evaluation performed by either the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Education Evaluation Service for Architects (EESA) or use one of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) approved education evaluation services.
NACES Evaluation
Foreign college or university degrees will be granted educational experience credit based upon a comparable U.S. degree. Certified transcripts must be evaluated from a NACES approved educational evaluation service. The maximum credit a candidate may earn through a NACES evaluation is four years. Additional work experience under each architect licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction must be documented on a separate Employment Verification Form.
The NACES member evaluation is only valid in California. Candidates should have the evaluation service send a "general" evaluation to CAB. Do NOT have the service send the evaluation to NCARB, it will not be accepted.
Work Experience in a Qualifying Foreign Country
A candidate who has work experience under an architect licensed in qualifying foreign country may earn training (work) experience credit at 50%. The work experience under each architect must be documented on a separate Employment Verification Form and a copy of the foreign architect license must also be submitted for review.
A minimum of one year work experience under an architect licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction or two years under an architect registered in a Canadian province is required for foreign candidates to earn an architect license in California.
Foreign unlicensed candidates must also complete the NCARB Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and may document all their work experience, in accordance with the AXP Guidelines, to NCARB.