Taking the next steps in your career as a newly-licensed architect

You’re now a licensed architect. Here are resources to help you continue your path towards success.

What you should do first

After you get your state license, transfer your AIA membership from Associate to Architect.

In My Account, under the Membership information section, you’ll find a link to a form to change your membership type. Find out more here. If you’re not an AIA member yet, learn more about our benefits and join!

Three ways to maintain a successful career

Continue learning

Growing your knowledge about the profession now will help secure your success in the future.

Continuing education: Take advantage of AIA continuing education to maintain your license. There are always new opportunities in your area. Be sure to check out AIAU for online continuing education opportunities, including the Business Foundations Certificate.
Business practices: AIA Trust is here to help protect you and your business.
Thought leadership: AIA provides you access to information and insights about our ever changing profession. Subscribe to the biweekly AIA Architect digital newsletter, read the articles highlighted below, find more articles in Topics, or check out the Young Architect Forum’s quarterly publication, CONNECTION.

Connect with a community

It can be challenging to determine what your "ideal" career path should be. Connecting with AIA members in your area, nationally, and internationally can shape the course of your professional life.

Emerging professionals groups: Work with your AIA chapter's group or start your own. Find your chapter.
Knowledge Communities: Sustainability, emerging technologies, small business, starting or managing a firm—no matter your interest, there is an AIA Knowledge Community for you.

Advocate for your profession

Advocating for architecture can be the next step in your professional journey. AIA advocates for architects, the profession and the built environment at the federal, state, and local levels.

AIA Advocacy Center: Build your network and get involved with AIA advocacy initiatives. Log in to the AIA Advocacy Center to connect with your legislators or see updates on the advocacy issues that AIA is working on.
Advocate in your community: AIA chapters do a lot of the advocacy work for architecture. Connect with your local chapter to see how you can get involved.

Firm management

Making the leap from project manager to principal

A practicing architect for over 30 years explains how he transitioned from doer to seller.

How To

Find out how to get started and run your own successful firm

Starting a firm and structuring it for success is a formidable task—find helpful resources, tools, and benefit programs to take you into the future.

Five strategies to help you land a new job in architecture

These videos provide advice on marketability and personal and professional branding that will help you find the right job.

Career and the profession

What keeps young architects interested in practice?

Amidst a wealth of alternative career paths, firms need to offer more than just a job.

Social impact

Seven steps for architects to improve their communities

The chair of a local community outreach committee explains how to build relationships and bring design assistance to your city.

Career and the profession

AIA Hong Kong’s Young Architects Group promotes next-gen thinking

To assist emerging professionals and young architects from their country and abroad, AIA Hong Kong has emphasized the value of education and thinking ahead.