Architect - Professional Title Distinctions

Professional Title Distinctions

According to the American Institute of Architects, titles and job descriptions within American architectural offices might be as follows:

  • A Senior Principal / Partner: Typically an owner or majority shareholder of the firm; may be the founder; titles may include managing director, president, chief executive officer, or managing principal/partner.
  • Mid-level Principal / Partner: Principal or partner; titles may include executive or senior vice president or director.
  • Junior Principal / Partner: Recently made a partner or principal of the firm; title may include vice president or associate director.
  • Department head / Senior Manager: Senior management architect or non-registered graduate; responsible for major department(s) or functions; reports to a principal or partner.
  • Project Manager: Licensed architect, or non-registered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has overall project management responsibility for a variety of projects or project teams, including client contact, scheduling, and budgeting.
  • Senior Architect / Designer: Licensed architect, or non-registered graduate with more than 10 years of experience; has a design or technical focus and is responsible for significant project activities.
  • Architect / Designer III: Licensed architect or non-registered graduate with 8–10 years of experience; responsible for significant aspects of projects.
  • Architect / Designer II: Licensed architect or non-registered graduate with 6–8 years of experience, responsible for daily design or technical development of projects.
  • Architect / Designer I: Recently licensed architect or non-registered graduate with 3–5 years of experience; responsible for particular parts of a project within parameters set by others.
  • Intern Architect: Unlicensed architecture school graduate participating in a defined internship program; develops design or technical solutions under supervision of an architect. In the U.S., some states prohibit the use of architect to describe an unlicensed person who provides architectural services.

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