Grow your career with mentorship
Having a mentor can significantly accelerate personal and professional growth. As a mentee, you gain access to knowledge, skills, and guidance that support performance, decision-making, and career advancement.
Explore AIA opportunities to become a mentee and build your confidence, expand your professional network, and gain support for navigating challenges.
Connect with AIA’s mentorship programs
Explore mentorship programs offered through AIA chapters, committees, and member groups, and connect directly to learn more and get involved.
Don’t see your mentorship program listed? Submit a request to be added.
Ready to become a mentee?
- Take Becoming an Empowered Mentee in Architecture course on AIAU
- Connect with your local chapter
- Explore mentorship opportunities and resources below
- Connect with your local chapter
Most chapters offer mentorship programs for their members. If yours doesn’t have a formal program, they often know of architects who are interested in serving as a mentor. - Apply for AIA Next to Lead
A leadership development training program designed for racially and ethnically diverse women in architecture who aspire to be AIA leaders. - Apply to the AIA Align Mentorship Program
The Young Architects Forum and College of Fellows Align Mentoring Program is a long-range initiative (think ten years, not one) that connects young architects with AIA Fellows. Applications open annually in the fall. - Join the NEXUS Mentorship Program
The NEXUS Mentorship Program is affiliated with the College of Fellows and is designed to bring people together across the country in group sessions and 1:1 mentee pairings with AIA Fellows. - Sign up for the AIA Career Center & get a free resume review
A comprehensive platform connecting architecture professionals with job opportunities, career resources, and professional development tools. The center offers job listings, career advice, resume support, and guidance for emerging architects navigating licensure and professional growth. - Join an AIA Knowledge Community & connect with an expert in your field of interest
AIA Knowledge Communities are interest-based networks where architects connect, share resources, and deepen expertise in areas like sustainability, health care, urban design, and technology. These communities organize events, publish thought leadership, and foster peer collaboration across the profession. - Reach out to your local NCARB Licensing Advisor
A network of volunteer professionals, educators, and students who provide guidance to architectural licensure candidates on navigating NCARB’s AXP, ARE, and certification requirements.
- Mentoring Programme Guidance: Information for Mentors and Mentees – RIBA
Practical handbook for RIBA mentoring programs, covering roles, responsibilities, expectations, and tips for successful mentor–mentee engagement. - National Mentoring Resource Center – Resources Directory
Comprehensive library of handbooks, guides, and fact sheets on mentoring challenges including equity, trauma disclosures, and diversity considerations. - AIA Guides for Equitable Practice: Intercultural Competence
Second edition guide providing strategies for mentors and professionals to build intercultural awareness, foster inclusion, and engage respectfully across diverse perspectives. - AIA Guides for Equitable Practice: Mentorship and Sponsorship
Second edition guide focused on effective mentoring and sponsorship practices, emphasizing equitable access, professional development, and relationship-building strategies.
Not sure if mentorship is right for you?
Consider the following before becoming a mentee:
Do you have clear goals you want to work toward?
Are you open to feedback and learning from someone else’s experience?
Are you willing to invest time and energy in the relationship?
Can you communicate openly and follow through on guidance?
If you’re unsure, connect with colleagues who’ve worked with mentors or start with AIA’s free AIAU course to learn how to make the most of a mentoring relationship.