What do Your Residential Architect’s Qualifications and Licenses Mean?





When you’re planning to build your dream home, you’re going to want an architect with the right experience and qualifications. Here’s a quick guide to the industry terminology and what it means.

  • Registered Architect: In the USA, a Registered Architect is a Licensed Architect – a professional who has complete the requirements for architectural registration and hold a license to offer services in the relevant state. It is in fact illegal for anyone to call themselves an architect or offer these services without a license.
  • RA, AIA or FAIA: If your architect has any of these behind their name, it indicates that they are a Registered Architect. RA stands for “Registered Architect”, AIA stands for the “American Institute of Architects”, and FAIA stands for “Fellow of the American Institute of Architects”. An FAIA is a high honor and is only awarded to those architects who have made distinguished contribution to architecture.
  • Architect’s stamp/Architect of Record: When filing drawings and plans with local government agencies (Department of Buildings, City Planning Department, etc.), architects stamp their work. This makes them legal documents and is an indicator that the work was done by a licensed architect or their staff. Stamping the documents is done by the Architect of Record.
  • Unlicensed architects: If you come across anyone offering services as an unlicensed architect, beware. There is no policy in the USA or any state within it that allows an unlicensed person to call themselves an architect or offer architecture services – doing so can result in fines and legal penalties. It’s important that you don’t put your investment on the line by working with someone who isn’t qualified to provide these vital services.


Registered Architects in NJ Work with You to Deliver a Unique and Functional Home 


At the architectural firm of Seth A. Leeb, we consider designing and building your project as a privilege, and we’ll work with you to make the process as smooth and rewarding as possible. For more information on our services as custom home architects, project managers and more, or to speak to a specialist home architect or commercial architecture team in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://leeb-architecture.com/

Original content posted on https://leeb-architecture.com/what-do-your-residential-architects-qualifications-and-licenses-mean/

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