<p>I'm going into business school next year, but I do like architecture. What do you need to be a licensed architect? Is there any way I could take some architecture classes and be able to meet the minimum requirements? If not, what would I need to do to be able to build a house I design in the future; get an architect to approve the plan; a structural engineer? I really like making floor plans and I'd like to design my own house or maybe even community someday. Any input would be appreciated.</p>
<p>In order to be an license architect in the US, you have to major in an architecture program approved by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
The minimum year for a bachelor program is five. For a master, is six. You can double major... but if you do, I will worship you for how much work you put into school and ask you if you get any sleep. <em>grins</em>
You will also have to intern for a certain number of hours. You wouldn't be a license architect until you are at least in the thirties - if you are fast, that is.
Architecture is a lot more than just drawing floor plan. The course is pretty tough - but very wide-spectrum. What you learn can applied to many other disciplinary. Many people who choose not to be an architect but had the major ends up getting pretty good jobs anyway. It may be better to just major in architecture only - of course, I am bias, being an architecture student myself :D.
You can try to take classes in architecture, then try to get it approved by an architect. However, most likely it will changed dramatically. There's design issues (they all have a reputation to keep. If they don't like your work......), technical issues (Um... you need a wall there, or it may collapse), code issues (this could be a fire hazard.), and others. So, get ready to have some very long discussion. But once you take some serious architecture classes, you will know that it doesn't sound as messy as it does, especially if you are the client and not the architect.
The architect will probably appreciate a client that actually knows a bit about architecture, and who won't insist on having some impossible design request.</p>
<p>Thanks. I know there's more to it than drawing floor plans, but drawing floor plans is the only part I would consider fun. Besides, I'm not patient enough to wait until my 30s, so I guess I'll just stick with business and work with an architect someday if any of this ever happens.</p>
<p>Be nice if you could take some of the 'fun' architecture courses while getting your business degree and turn that into a position at an arch firm. </p>
<p>It's a long path to architecture licensure. Way, way too long if you just want to design your own home as a licensed architect. You can however design you own home working with an architect, that's what they do after all. I've done two homes that way, and on both acted as my own general contractor as well. In both cases the architects involved really made efforts to make "my" design work, yet kept me out of trouble (design, style, function and structurally) and on budget. They made some money and I got the home I wanted.</p>