What does it take to become an architect?

Each architecture college will have their own curriculum, but you can certainly count on some basic courses. Design Studios, Structures, Building Systems, Building Methods and Materials, and numerous computer / rendering / presentation based classes. Quality and quantity of these vary by school. You’ll likely wind up in a 5 year professional bachelor’s program, or a 4+2 (non-professional undergraduate degree and two years of graduate school for a professional master’s). Those are the most common programs around these days.

After college, there is a fairly bureaucratic process called IDP. I find it to be excessively structured and rigid in places, but if you and the firms you work for follow the guidelines it will get you a fair diverse collection of experiences prior to your exams. This process takes anywhere from 2.5 years to 4 years, depending on how many parts of a project you work on, and frankly, how honest you are. Once you complete the IDP requirements, you take a collection of tests called the ARE. Currently there are 8 or 9 sections, though I keep hearing they look to reduce that number further.

How much architects make is always a tough question. The best answer is less than you (and just about everyone else) tends to think. During your internship (IDP time), you can look forward to $24,000 – $40,000 a year, depending on your experience, firm size, and location. I haven’t made it past this part yet, so I don’t know how much or even if that jumps once you pass your exams and receive you license.

Hope that helps some.