Fast-track your architecture career at SCAD

The Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) at SCAD is a prestigious and rigorous academic track merging all three components of architectural licensure — education, experience, and examination — into the university’s existing bachelor of fine arts and professional master of architecture programs. 

Through this structure, driven students may obtain licensure — in as few as seven years.

Choose your path

The Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) at SCAD

Through enrollment in the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) at SCAD, students undertake classroom and real-world experiences simultaneously to earn a bachelor's, professional master of architecture, and meet licensure requirements in as few as seven years. Students following this path supplement coursework with paid internships at architecture firms to accrue the required hours of experience to become a licensed architect. SCAD provides resources and dedicated support to prepare students for the six Architectural Registration Exams (ARE).

How it works

Educate: Learn from the masters

Graduation from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited program is the first requirement for architectural licensure in the U.S. Students may enroll in the IPAL program at SCAD as early as their first year during their bachelor of fine arts in architecture. Transfer students are accepted based on previous internship experience and grade level.

After completing the B.F.A., students seamlessly continue with the university's NAAB-accredited professional master of architecture program.

Experience: Prepare with professional practice

The second requirement for architectural licensure in the U.S. is the accrual of 3,740 paid Architectural Experience Program (AXP) hours. Starting in the first year of their university careers, IPAL students begin accruing Architectural Experience Program hours and engage with intensive academic coursework. Through an innovative combination of 10-week academic quarters and extended breaks between quarters, IPAL students have the schedule flexibility to gain real-world experience at professional firms.

The result of this holistic and fully integrated effort is that SCAD architecture students graduate as professionals with a license to practice architecture, becoming immediately productive in the field.

Examination: Testing for success

During the graduate portion of the IPAL program, students test for the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE). Pre graduation access to the ARE is a key benefit of the IPAL program at SCAD and critical to students’ ability to complete the track within the accelerated time frame.

Through focused instruction from faculty, a dedicated resource center, guided workshops, and mentoring in place to navigate the exam structure, SCAD fully supports students in the IPAL program at SCAD as they prepare to pass all six divisions of the Architectural Registration Exams.

B.F.A. and masters of architecture program

The professional architecture program at SCAD was among the first in the nation to earn an unprecedented eight-year term of accreditation by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The immersive art and design context at SCAD gives architecture students a competitive advantage as designers. The exposure to art and cutting-edge technology produces well-rounded practitioners with excellent graphic skills.

The Conventional Path at SCAD

Students on the conventional path may pursue internship opportunities concurrent with or after fulfilling their academic requirements. These students may only access the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) after graduation

Start your creative career

If you're interested in accelerating your path to architectural licensure and would like additional details about the program, request more information today.