In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture.
A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards.
Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
The University of Arizona School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
- Bachelor of Architecture (166 undergraduate credits)
- Master of Architecture II (preprofessional degree + 67 graduate credits)
- Master of Architecture III (non-preprofessional degree + 101 credits)
In Winter 2025, our B.Arch and M.Arch programs were granted eight-year accreditations. The next accreditation visit for all programs is spring 2033.
Accreditation Resources and Reports
Find the NAAB Accreditation Criteria
2020 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation (in effect at last visit)
2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation (in effect at last visit)
Policy on Studio Culture
NAAB Student Performance Criteria
NAAB B.Arch Student Performance Criteria Matrix
NAAB M.Arch Student Performance Criteria Matrix
Interim Progress Report
Pass Rates
(B.Arch + M.Arch)
(B.Arch + M.Arch)
Registration and Career Development
In order to become a registered architect in most U.S. states, one needs a professional architecture degree from a NAAB-accredited program such as UArizona's B.Arch or M.Arch, completion of the Architectural Experience Program and completion of the Architect Registration Examination. Information on these three facets of an architect's training can be found on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) website and in the NCARB Certification Guidelines.
The Arizona School of Architecture encourages its graduates to become registered architects. To this end, we invite an NCARB staff member to our school each year to update students on licensure requirements. We also encourage all graduating students to join the American Institute of Architects free for the first two years as Associates. AIA Associates conduct regular Architectural Registration Exam study groups in preparation for sitting for the exam.