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There are approximately 85,000-90,000 licensed architects in the United States today, including some who are retired and others who are not working as architects. In addition, substantial numbers of non-licensed people are working in architectural offices.
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An estimated 33,300 students are enrolled in schools of architecture in the United States; 16,000 are in five-year professional degree programs, 5,200 in professional master’s degree programs and 12,100 in pre-professional four-year programs. In 1997, there were 3,028 five-year professional degrees and over 1,600 professional master’s degrees awarded. The pre-professional programs awarded 2,324 degrees in 1997. In Canada, there are approximately 7,000 licensed practitioners.
These figures have remained fairly constant over the past five years even though the National Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook predicts an increase in architecturally related jobs over the next decade. Determining the demand for new employees is complicated by many factors, not the least of which is the apparent desire of many graduates to pursue a career other than one in an architecture office. This, coupled with the cyclical nature of construction activity and the unpredictability of national and world-wide economics five to eight years hence, make an accurate assessment of the future needs for architects very difficult. A good source for predicting future needs is the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Government. This book should be in your library.
The better graduates from professional programs have little difficulty finding a professional job opportunity, particularly if they have acquired some summer experience in an office or in building construction and if they are willing to relocate. Often, various sectors of the county will be “booming” while other areas are in a state of near recession.
Beginning salaries for architecture interns also fluctuate widely, depending in part on geographical location, demand due to building activity, availability of applicants, and, most important, the capability of the individual applicant. A beginning intern architect typically earns $18,000-$27,000 per year. Since a new graduate must work as an intern architect for three years before taking the licensing exam and becoming a registered architect, the salaries are for interns, not registered architects.
Remember your entire educational experience requires approximately eight to nine years of combined formal schooling and internship. Essentially, your internship salary allows you to earn an income while completing the last two or three years of your education. A 1996 survey of architectural firms indicated that the project managers in mid-sized firms earned an average of $48,500 annually. Three quarters of partners in firms 10-20 employees earned between $50,000 and $150,000. Partners in large firms can earn several hundred thousand dollars annually. Remember, however, that this last group constitutes only a tiny percentage of the total.
Source: Guide to Architecture Schools, Association of College Schools of Architecture
Intern Development Program (IDP)
The Intern Development Program (IDP) is a profession-wide program that guides the training and development of intern architects. Every intern architect must complete 700 training units (5,600 hours) in a specified range of professional activities prior to licensing as an architect (in addition to passing the Architectural Registration Examination).
Completion of the IDP typically takes three to five years. Students can establish an IDP file with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and start earning credit upon completion of the 3rd year of a five-year NAAB-accredited B.Arch program.
IDP freqently asked questions.
So get started as soon as you can!
For additional information:
Penn State Architecture School IDP Educational Coordinator
Bob Holland, Associate Professor of Architecture, 422 Stuckeman Family Building, (814) 865-1620
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
http://www.ncarb.org/idp/index.html
To establish a NCARB Record File (and get started with IDP):
http://www.ncarb.org/RecordApp/recordsvc/login.aspx
Handbook for Architects and Interns
The American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architecture Students
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture