New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions - State Board for Architecture

How do I apply for an initial license and to take the ARE?

Online

$377

Mail or online.

$377 for most paths; $587 if applying via practical examination

Who is eligible to apply for a license via the NCARB Certificate?

• An architect licensed in a US or Canadian jurisdiction who has passed the ARE and holds the NCARB Certificate.

Who is eligible to apply for a license via endorsement for US and Canadian Architects who Passed the ARE?

• An architect licensed in a US State or Canadian province who has obtained five years of acceptable professional practice following licensure in a US State or Canadian province within the seven years immediately preceding application and who passed the ARE.

Who is eligible to apply for a license via endorsement for Canadian Architects who did not Pass the ARE?

• An architect licensed in a Canadian province who has five years of acceptable professional practice following licensure in a Canadian province within the seven years immediately preceding application and who did not pass the ARE.

Who is eligible to apply for a license via endorsement for US Architects who Passed the Professional Examination (PE) before 1983?

• An architect licensed in a US State who has five years of acceptable professional practice following licensure in a US State within the seven years immediately preceding application and who passed the Professional Examination (PE) in use prior to 1983.

Who is eligible to apply for licensure via the practical examination?

• An applicant applying for licensure via the practical examination must be:
  • An architect who has been Principal/shareholder/owner of their own lawful architectural firm for 10 years or more outside of New York
  • An architect who has never attempted the ARE or any other licensing examination in use by New York prior to the ARE
  • An architect who is licensed in a country where the practice of architecture is regulated and is similar to that of New York.
  • An architect who is licensed in a country where the title of "Architect" is regulated
  • An architect who is licensed in a country where there is an enforcement system for architects that regulates professional conduct
  • An architect who has a minimum of three building projects that have been completed within their 10 years of lawful practice of their own architectural firm and whose projects were completed within the 15 years immediately preceding their application for licensure 

Applying via NCARB Certificate:

1. Submit Online Form 1 - Application for Licensure. Indicate on your Form 1 that you are applying for licensure via NCARB Certification.
2. Pay the licensure and first registration fee of $377
3. Request that NCARB transmit your NCARB Record to New York State.
4. ONLY IF FOREIGN EDUCATED: send Form 2 - Certification of Professional Education to your foreign university for them to complete and send back to the Department with all required documentation (New York State does not accept an EESA evaluation).

Applying via Endorsement for US and Canadian Architects who Passed the ARE:

1. Submit Form 1, New York’s Application for Licensure. Please indicate on your Form 1 that you are applying for a license via endorsement and have passed the ARE
2. Pay the licensure and first registration fee of $377
3. Send Form 3 to each jurisdiction in which you are licensed. Form 3 must be submitted directly by the licensing authority to the Department. The board must receive a Form 3 from each jurisdiction in which you are licensed.
4. Send Form 4E to an architect licensed in the same State or Province who will endorse your experience. Your endorser must submit the Form 4E directly to the Department. The form will not be accepted if submitted by you.

Applying via Endorsement for Canadian Architects who did not Pass the ARE:

1. Submit Form 1, New York’s Application for Licensure. Please indicate on your Form 1 that you are applying for a license via endorsement and did not pass the ARE
2. Pay the licensure and first registration fee of $377
3. Send Form 3 to each jurisdiction in which you are licensed. Form 3 must be submitted directly by the licensing authority to the Department. The board must receive a Form 3 from each jurisdiction in which you are licensed.
4. Send Form 4E to an architect licensed in the same Province who will endorse your experience. Your endorser must submit the Form 4E directly to the Department. The form will not be accepted if submitted by you.
5. If you are found to be eligible via this pathway, an invitation with details for a practical examination will be emailed to you.

Applying via Endorsement for US Architects who Passed the Professional Examination (PE) before 1983:

1. Submit Form 1, New York’s Application for Licensure. Please indicate on your Form 1 that you are applying for a license by endorsement, PE no QT
2. Pay the licensure and first registration fee of $377
3. Send Form 3 to each jurisdiction in which you are licensed. Form 3 must be submitted directly by the licensing authority to the New York State Education Department. The board must receive a Form 3 from each jurisdiction in which you are licensed.
4. Send Form 4E to an architect licensed in the same State who will endorse your experience. Your endorser must submit the Form 4E directly to the Department. The form will not be accepted if submitted by you.

Applying via Practical Examination:

1. Submit Online Form 1 - Application for Licensure. Indicate on your Form 1 that you are applying for licensure via the practical examination.
2. Pay the licensure and first registration fee of $587  
3. Send Form 3 - Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification and/or Examination to each jurisdiction in which you are licensed. Form 3 must be submitted directly by the licensing authority to the Department.
4. Send Form 4P - Attestation of 10 Years of Lawful Practice Outside New York State as Principal/Shareholder/Owner of Firm to three licensed and registered architects who will attest to your lawful practice outside of New York State for the required minimum period of 10 years. These architects must submit the Form 4P directly to the Department. The form will not be accepted if submitted by you. 
5. If you are found eligible via this pathway, an invitation with details for a practical examination will be emailed to you.

Online

$287

Triennially by the last day of the month prior to the architect's birth month.