Architecture School Accreditation

An architectural education must be accredited. As architects must be licensed, most state registration boards require applicants to have a degree from an accredited program. Accreditation provides students with the assurance that the architectural program was reviewed by theatre professionals and met their standards of quality. In addition, it shows that the program is acknowledged by professionals in the field as being important to ones employment.

The only independent agency in the United States authorized to accredit architecture programs is the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB). The responsibilities of the NAAB include establishing the guidelines and setting standards for programs which lead to related to architecture. Moreover, the NAAB requires graduates to be well rounded, technically proficient individuals that can assume any number of career roles in the profession.

Beyond the NAAB, a number of other accrediting organizations exist. The six regional accrediting boards acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education include:

• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools

Other resources related to architectural accreditation include:

• Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board
• Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Accreditation Council

Many other areas of study relate to architecture and may be further researched by visiting our partner sites:

• ArtSchools.com
• DesignSchools.com
• EngineeringSchools.com
• InteriorDesignSchools.org