Before you can officially call yourself an architect, you have to earn a license. However, becoming a licensed architect is a challenging proposition. On average, it will take someone 12.7 years from entering school to obtaining their license, according to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
In the first half of 2021, we’ve watched three of our own promising young architects complete this difficult process and become licensed!
After graduation, the licensure process begins with gaining at least 3,740 hours of practical experience broken into six areas. This helps future architects learn about “the daily realities of architectural practice, acquire comprehensive experience in basic practice areas, explore specialized areas of practice, develop professional judgment, and refine career goals,” according to NCARB.
Once experience hours are complete, a future architect must still pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), which assesses knowledge and skills regarding architecture practice. This notoriously difficult test is really six tests covering specific divisions of architectural practice, including practice management, project management, programming and analysis, project planning and design, project development and documentation, and construction and evaluation.
In the first half of 2021, we’ve watched three of our own promising young architects complete this difficult process and become licensed!
Nick Christensen, AIA
Associate
Nick graduated from Iowa State University and, over the past five years, has worked on a variety of healthcare and commercial projects from predesign through construction. His primary His primary focus within healthcare design is delivering outpatient clinics for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Recent projects include the 78,650-square-foot VA outpatient clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas and the 95,000-square-foot VA outpatient clinic in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Ethan Hale, AIA
Associate
Ethan graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. From being president of the firm’s Culture Club to jumping into projects in multiple market sectors, Ethan has made a big impact since joining Hoefer Welker three years ago. His recent projects include the 347,000-square-foot Residences at Galleria apartments in Overland Park, Kansas and the 124,000-square-foot VA outpatient clinic in Lubbock, Texas.
Shannon Hush, AIA, LEED Green Associate
Associate
Shannon graduated from Kansas State University and quickly became a rising star at Hoefer Welker. She was an active leader in the firm’s culture club and recently became a certified LEED Green Associate in 2016. Shannon’s recent projects include the 792,000-square-foot Apex at CityPlace in Overland Park, KS and 80,000-square-foot North Little Rock Justice Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas.