Becoming a Licensed Architect


Foreign Individuals

Foreign individuals must complete one of the following pathways in order to earn a California architect license:

  • Education from a Foreign College/University and/or Work Experience Pathway

    Individuals must complete steps 1 and 2 of the starting the licensure process and then complete the following before continuing with steps 4 through 7 of the starting the licensure process.

    Note: Only a US Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is acceptable on the form (a Canadian Social Security Number is not acceptable).

    Education Evaluation

    Candidates seeking credit for their foreign degree must complete either a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Education Evaluation Service for Architects (EESA) or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) approved education evaluation service.

    NAAB EESA

    An approved NAAB EESA automatically grants a candidate 5 years of credit, and a candidate’s testing will be authorized as soon as the Board receives the approval from NCARB.

    Note: A NAAB EESA allows candidates an opportunity to seek licensure in multiple US jurisdictions (46 US jurisdictions accept it).

    NACES Evaluation

    Foreign college or university degree(s) will be granted credit based on a comparable US degree (see requirements for eligibility). Certified transcript(s) 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 US jurisdiction must be documented on a separate Employment Verification Form and submitted as a hardcopy with original signatures to the Board.

    The NACES evaluation is only valid in California; have the evaluation service send the "short" or "general" evaluation to cab-candidate@dca.ca.gov. Do NOT have the company send the evaluation to NCARB, as NCARB does not accept the NACES evaluation.

    Work Experience in a Qualifying Foreign Country

    A candidate who has work experience under an architect licensed in qualifying foreign country may earn credit at 50%. The work experience under each architect must be documented on a separate Employment Verification Form and submitted as a hardcopy with original signatures to the Board (a copy of the foreign architect license may also be required).

    Note: A minimum of one year work experience under an architect licensed in a US jurisdiction or two years under an architect(s) registered in a Canadian province is required to earn an architect license in California.

  • Degree from a CACB Program Pathway

    Individuals must complete steps 1 and 2 of the starting the licensure process and then complete the following before continuing with steps 4 through 7 of the starting the licensure process.

    Note: Only a US Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is acceptable on the form (a Canadian Social Security Number is not acceptable).

    Submit Transcripts to NCARB

    Candidates who earned a degree from a Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) program should contact their school to have their transcript sent directly to NCARB. Complete the NCARB’s Transcript Form (Form 122) prior to a transcript request from your school. A candidate who went to a Canadian college/university and did not earn a degree from a CACB program must follow the instructions in the first pathway above.

    IAP Record Transmitted to the Board or Complete AXP

    Candidates who completed the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) with their Canadian province must request from the Canadian province where they completed the IAP to have their record sent to the Board in English.

    A candidate who did not complete the IAP in a Canada province must complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) requirement.

  • Foreign Architect License Pathway

    Individuals must complete step 1 of the starting the licensure process and then complete the following before continuing with steps 6 through 7 of the starting the licensure process.

    Note: Only a US Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is acceptable on the form (a Canadian Social Security Number is not acceptable).

    Earn a NCARB Certificate and then Apply to the Board

    A candidate who holds a foreign license must first contact NCARB and earn a NCARB Certificate for Foreign Architects. Contact NCARB for any questions regarding the NCARB Certificate.

    Once a candidate has the NCARB Certificate and requests from NCARB to have their record transmitted to the Board, they will then need to submit a California Architect Reciprocity Application to the Board.