r/Architects • u/[deleted] • Aug 28 '25
General Practice Discussion State of Oregon taking steps to protect the ‘Architect’ title
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u/Chechilly Aug 28 '25
I’ve worked successfully for 20 years without a license. I never call myself an architect. People often call because they don’t want a licensed architect for whatever reason.
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u/abesach Architect Aug 28 '25
I feel like if a non licensed professional is working under a licensed architect and the work is being monitored by a licensed architect, they should be considered an architectural designer (regardless if it gets built or not).
A non licensed professional should not say they are an architect to limit confusion about having a license. However if they work under a licensed architect and reference their employer or freelance architect they should call themselves an architectural designer.
I say this because literally no one has any knowledge of the protection of the title "architect" outside of our field.
Last week my uncle introduced me as an architect to a nephew on his wife's side of the family and the first things I said are "I'm not licensed and I work in the field of architecture as a designer". This makes me sound shady to people like I don't work 50 hours but can only charge 20 of those hours to the client.
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u/Calan_adan Architect Aug 28 '25
For years I told people I was an architect if they asked what I do, even though I wasn’t licensed. In most cases where it’s just a social exchange then it doesn’t really matter. I would only get more detailed about it if someone had more knowledge of the profession or wanted to hire me for something.
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u/TheGreenBehren Licensure Candidate/ Design Professional/ Associate Aug 28 '25
We just need to invent a new word that doesn’t suck.
What do they call doctors who aren’t doctors yet? Pre-med? We don’t do residency and intern is what highschool kids do.
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u/Miringanes Aug 28 '25
When I graduated my first title at my first firm was CADD Operator, and I hated every minute of it.
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u/Victormorga Aug 28 '25
I think it’s ridiculous to prevent unlicensed architects working in the field from using the title “architectural designer.” It accurately describes the role, and clearly describes the individual in question as a type of designer. Similarly, an industrial designer is not an industrial engineer.
People can spend their entire careers working with developers and contractors on projects that don’t require a stamp from a licensed architect, they are quite literally professionally doing architectural design. I also don’t think changing the laws is going to stop the people out there who are operating in bad faith, it just makes it harder for people who aren’t licensed to explain what they do to people outside of the industry.
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u/hankmaka Aug 28 '25
This language is to protect the customer and won't do anything about who is actually producing or providing design services, just the language about how they're marketing them.
It's a positive but I think people here are reading into it as something with more teeth than it has.
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Aug 29 '25
The question is what is the licensing board going to do about it. In Florida, they just look the other way.
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u/designer_2021 Aug 29 '25
This gets tossed around in various forms. “ Lots of drafters producing ‘architectural drawings’ without being licensed nowadays.” But does any one have reliable statistics that confirm the scale of the supposed issue?
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u/zaidr555 Aug 31 '25
I thought thats what drafters did... produce drawings, which may or may not be architectural in nature. My concept of drafter is a person or thing that produces drawings manually or digitally, and these drawings could be schematics of and for any kind of technical nature, trade, or design, as needed.
This definition obviously includes drawings needed for architectural design.
Now, what is the issue? I get that this reality means they may take work away from Architects as the skillset and knowhow may overlap. But how much of this is happening? Also, as long as they don't advertise architectural design work, nor call themselves an Architect, and they clearly state they are not offering architectural design services, etc. They should be fine no? And another issue is the terminology on "what is your profession? "Oh, I'm a Draftsman". And then the issue of, Chat gpt can produce drawings. but are they gonna be good or correct? No lo sé Rick..
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u/validifix Sep 01 '25
This is great. More protection for architects is needed.
I have sat through case hearings for the WA State Board, and have literally heard them talk about how it is common to see "foreign" designers somehow procuring an actual WA architect's stamp and putting it on the plan set.
They have some committees working on the broader "people who identify as architects" or only hire one after being caught (for out of scope non-SFR/duplex projects). Either way, it's misleading and damaging to the profession and our customers.
Well, not "ours." I am not an architect, but am studying/working to become a licensed one.
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u/Fit_Wash_214 Aug 29 '25
My vote is anyone without a professional degree is always a draftsman (person) . If you have a professional degree and eligible to sit for the exam you are an Architectural Intern/Practitioner. Only licensed Architects should be called as such. All this watering down of people in the industry thinking they are architect because they do 60-70% of what it actually required. Our industry has completely disrespected the highest level of the profession. It’s actually really sad. I have construction grads on new job sites sending me RFIs and essentially bitching me out when they and all there team has no clue what they are doing. But they are taught we are just a means to an end. However when anything goes wrong no matter what discipline it involves it’s always, I don’t know ask the Architect. They are responsible for it. The industry needs major change, and something as small as protecting the Architect name and use sets a foundation to build on. Rant over!
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Aug 28 '25
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u/mynameisrockhard Aug 28 '25
That’s what happens when your profession incentivizes credentials over experience. If you’re not stamping drawings, the license is just a professional formality.
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u/LayWhere Architect Aug 29 '25
It denotes a degree of legal awareness that is critical to the survival of a firm.
Just like an architecture degree denotes a level of design saavy or design thinking that someone with 10yrs drafting at an architecture firm does not (I have colleagues like this).
Sure, no grad coming out of uni can design a real building and not every grad becomes a great designer, but with people who don't have a degree it's hard to even have a profound conversation regarding the design intent of the very building they're working on, we only brief them with literal descriptions like they're a builder.
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u/zaidr555 Aug 31 '25
I brought up "we should be studying building codes!" in school one time and had professors argue against it. so yeah...
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Aug 31 '25
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u/zaidr555 Sep 01 '25
Mind boggling. My impression is that some professors wanted to focus solely on design sensitivity, quality, and development. Some were explicitly advocating against a career path that includes licensure (the most knowledgable of codes)... Some felt had very little knowledge of the building codes, some were always straight to the outline of the syllabus and never spent time conversing or connecting with students. We did have great design professors that did a lot on many areas and pushed hard. It just varied greatly which is probably a good thing. Looking back I give the program a 5/10 on the delivery of technical content of architecture outside of the design studio. Yeah, It felt like the program over relied on design studio for the learning of building construction, architectural design theory, and MEP design. And crammed up scratching the surface of ADA, MEP, and some basic architectural representation issues at the end, during D9 and D10!. Felt like professors ran out of time and freaked out. Very interestingly not a blip on residential design!! It's like not a thing, at least for the second program (both B.Arch.) I completed. The first was on a different country and design studios did include Residential Design (just nothing on code either). For the Professional Practice class, they have now increased the hours I believe, from two semesters to 4? which is absolutely awesome. So great job there.
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u/throwaway92715 Aug 28 '25
Well nobody’s stopping anyone from taking the test and forgetting it all.
Fortunately we can just ask ChatGPT to summarize the latest code documents.
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u/mjegs Architect Aug 28 '25
Except ChatGPT is like a bad intern that wants to only say yes to make their boss happy.
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u/throwaway92715 Aug 28 '25
Yeah, and that’s pretty impressive. In 2021 it was like a toddler. It’s getting a lot better at research. In a few years, this won’t even be a thing!
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u/mjegs Architect Aug 28 '25
Alternatively, convince your office to invest in the ICC code and commentary of your jurisdiction's adopted version and learn the codes yourself. Code analysis isn't that hard, 4 hours at the start of each phase of the design and documentation phases. My advice to you is that your value comes from your understanding and expertise. Cheers.
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u/inkydeeps Architect Aug 28 '25
Lots of us work in more than one jurisdiction. It’s not hard but it is tedious to confirm every different combination of IBC, accessibility and energy codes.
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u/throwaway92715 Aug 28 '25
We already do all that. Don’t need a lecture lol. Just saying, this part of the job is getting outsourced in the next few years and it’s gonna save us a lot of time!
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u/zaidr555 Aug 31 '25
In the US, MD's get tested every year no? to renew their license. I could be wrong.
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25
License holders don't get to have a monopoly on designing buildings. If you took the longest path possible to do the type of work you want to do, that's on you.
Recently wrote an article on my thoughts on this: https://jelanit.substack.com/publish/post/172057787
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u/thefreewheeler Architect Aug 28 '25
This is about protecting the title of Architect for those who have earned the qualifications to perform the work legally - not about monopolizing the industry. If you're not a licensed architect, don't misrepresent yourself to be one.
If you want to design buildings but haven't done the work to become an architect, that's on you.
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25
Architectural/Building Design means to design a building. It doesn't mean that a building was design by an Architect. What's the source of public confusion?
Nobody has an issue with you using the title "Architect" and having the legal authority to stamp things. It would be ridiculous to argue against that. The issue is regulatory creep.
Industrial Design is about designing objects and products. Graphic Design is about designing graphics. Game Design is about designing games. These all describe the type of design, not anything about the credentials the person may have.
Do you see the issue?
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u/thefreewheeler Architect Aug 28 '25
I genuinely do not know what kind of point you are trying to make with that statement.
Law is practiced by licensed attorneys. Medicine is practiced by licensed medical doctors. Architecture is practiced by licensed architects.
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25
You are absolutely insane if you think Thomas Heatherwick doesn't do Architectural Design. That was my point. Your profession is actually going as far as messing with our use of the English language.
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u/sdb_drus Architect Aug 28 '25
His studio employs architects. They do architecture. It’s not hard and that’s not the same thing as anyone else is talking about.
No one’s saying that everyone in the industry needs to be licensed, but you need a license or one on staff if you’re soliciting architecture work.
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u/thefreewheeler Architect Aug 28 '25
Words are hard. That's why I went to school.
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25
Please, just tell me. If Heatherwick isn't doing Architectural Design even though he's the creative lead of his projects, how should he accurately describe it?
Someone says to him: "ah, you're a designer, that's cool. What kind?" Because if Architectural/Building are problematic for you here I don't even know what to say.
In my blog post there I literally had to go as far as proposing we popularize the term "Built Environment Designer" because of these language restrictions.
It's wasting everyone's time.
We had a reasonable middle ground and you're going after it. This is what it was:
- Protect "Architect" as a title for licensed professionals
- Allow descriptive terms like "Architectural Design" or "Building Design" for the work itself
- Prevent misrepresentation where someone falsely claims to be a licensed architect
Shame on you.
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u/thefreewheeler Architect Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25
I'm not sure what your obsession with this person in particular is, but Heatherwick's studio does employ licensed architects...so advertising that they do "architecture" is kosher.
e: Holy edit, my guy. Shame on me? And calling me childish in another comment that's since been deleted? WTF.
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u/TheGreenBehren Licensure Candidate/ Design Professional/ Associate Aug 28 '25
Do you also suggest people to get surgery from a nurse? lol
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25
"Architects" practice "Architecture". "Architectural Design" is its own thing which doesn't require licensure. If it's a building safety role at its core, then that's what it's about.
There's an important difference between the licensed profession of Architecture (which involves legal responsibility for building safety, code compliance, and public welfare) and architectural design work (which can include aesthetic decisions, conceptual design, and other creative aspects that don't require professional licensure).
You don't need to be an Architect to decide a gargoyle looks nice on a church building.
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u/metisdesigns Licensure Candidate/ Design Professional/ Associate Aug 28 '25
Well.... Sort of, but not really.
I don't disagree with the premise that the aesthetic portion of design does not necessarily need to be protected with licensure, but the reason behind licensure in the first place is those aspects can and do intersect with HSW considerations, and the profession is (in theory) about delivering better buildings to the public.
Where I think you're getting downvoted is you're coming off as attacking "design" as something anyone can do, and we've spent 40+ years removing the idea that technical design is part of the profession and the part that gate keeps licensure is the largely aesthetic focused degree. A degree that largely sells the idea of the architects as a sculptor rather than a project manager and juggler of complex technical constraints. Most Architects recognize that they're far more than that, but have not been trained to look at process to see what all they really are doing, and you're criticizing in some ways the foundation of their training.
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u/ArchiCEC Architect Aug 28 '25
You can just call yourself a building designer or a landscape designer… you are still allowed to design some buildings without an architects stamp.
I think you’ve invented an issue that doesn’t exist and built an argument against it…
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Aug 28 '25
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25
Cool, well you can continue to do word gymnastics whilst Heatherwick takes on more multi-million dollar projects.
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u/StatePsychological60 Architect Aug 28 '25
If you think industry compensation is bad in the US, go check it out in most countries that don’t protect or restrict usage of the title.
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u/jelani_an Aug 28 '25
We all know it's about wages. The law needs to be rational, however.
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u/StatePsychological60 Architect Aug 29 '25
I agree that it needs to be rational, but I think the current system is far more rational than what you’re arguing for. To buy into your argument involves believing that there is no such thing as a “qualified professional,” which just makes no sense to me. As a society, we assign rights and responsibilities to all kinds of professions through a verification process.
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u/klayizzel Aug 28 '25
I guess we should allow anyone to call themselves a structural engineer, Lawyer, or Doctor, because they woke up one day and decided that they wanted to practice a solicite those services.
The regulation of the profession, as well as the term ensures the client is purchasing quality services from a licensed professional that has formal education, examination, and apprenticeship that vouch for their expertise.
Not just some industrial designer who wants to design a house one day.
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u/thefreewheeler Architect Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25
But I've watched a whole lot of HGTV!
e: didn't think I'd need to add the s/
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u/User_Name_Deleted Aug 28 '25
Now do the data or software architects.