To get a Michigan architect license, you need an accredited architecture degree, 3,740 hours of documented experience through the Architectural Experience Program, a passing score on all six divisions of the Architect Registration Examination, and an approved application to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) with a $100 fee. Once licensed, you renew every two years for $70 and complete 24 continuing education credits in each cycle. The Michigan architect license requirements are set under MCL 339.2004, which calls for an acceptable degree, a qualifying exam, good moral character, and documented professional experience.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-2004 – Architect, Professional Engineer, and Professional Surveyor; Licensing Requirements
The Degree That Counts
The statute requires a “first professional degree or further degree in architecture satisfactory to the board of architects.”1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-2004 – Architect, Professional Engineer, and Professional Surveyor; Licensing Requirements In practice, the board accepts degrees accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Michigan houses several NAAB-accredited programs, including the University of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University, and University of Detroit Mercy.
Logging Experience Through the AXP
After the degree, you document hands-on experience through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), run by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). You need 3,740 hours spread across six practice areas: Practice Management, Project Management, Programming and Analysis, Project Planning and Design, Project Development and Documentation, and Construction and Evaluation.2National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Experience Requirements
At least 1,860 of those hours must come from work at an architecture firm under the direct supervision of a licensed architect. The remaining 1,860 can be earned in other qualified settings, including work under engineers or landscape architects in certain circumstances.2National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Experience Requirements
The Architect Registration Examination
The ARE is a computer-based exam with six divisions that track the arc of an architecture project:
- Practice Management: firm operations, business structure, and risk management
- Project Management: resource allocation, contracts, and quality control
- Programming and Analysis: site evaluation, code research, and client needs
- Project Planning and Design: design concepts, building layout, and spatial relationships
- Project Development and Documentation: detailing, material selection, and construction documents
- Construction and Evaluation: construction administration and post-occupancy assessment
Each division costs $257. If you pass every division on the first attempt, the total is $1,542.3National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Fees
One change matters for anyone pacing their exam schedule: all 55 U.S. licensing boards have retired the old five-year rolling clock that once forced candidates to pass every division within a fixed window. Passing scores now remain valid for the current and immediately preceding exam versions, which removes that time pressure.4National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. All 55 U.S. Architecture Boards Retire ARE Rolling Clock Policy
What It All Costs
Beyond the exam itself, budget for NCARB record maintenance and Michigan’s own fee. An NCARB Record, which tracks your education, experience, and exam progress, costs $103 to open and $103 per year to renew. Reactivation after a lapse runs $103 per year lapsed, capped at $206.3National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Fees
Michigan’s initial license application fee is $100, filed through the MiPLUS online portal.5Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Architect Licensing Guide Add a professional seal, typically under $75, and the total from exam through initial licensure usually lands in the $1,800 to $2,000 range, before any retakes.
Using Your Seal
Once licensed, Michigan law requires you to place your embossed, printed, or electronic seal on any plans, drawings, specifications, or reports submitted to a government agency for approval or recordkeeping. The seal must belong to the person in “responsible charge” of the work.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-2008 – Seal Requirements
You cannot seal documents you did not prepare or directly supervise. Where a project involves overlapping architecture and engineering work, a licensed architect or professional engineer may perform services in the other’s field as long as those services are incidental to the overall project.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-2008 – Seal Requirements
Renewal and Continuing Education
Michigan architect licenses expire every two years. The biennial renewal fee is $70.7State of Michigan. License Renewal Fees
You must complete 24 credit hours of continuing education during the two-year period before your license expires. Submitting your renewal application certifies that you’ve met the requirement, but LARA can audit you at any time, so keep your documentation for at least four years after you file. If you need a waiver, submit that request to the board at least 30 days before the last scheduled board meeting before your license expiration date.8Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Administrative Code R 339.15501 – Continuing Education Required for Renewal
Acceptable CE activities include workshops, seminars, and online courses, with a focus on health, safety, and welfare topics. Courses approved by organizations like the American Institute of Architects or NCARB generally satisfy Michigan’s requirements.
If You’re Already Licensed in Another State
Architects licensed elsewhere can apply for a Michigan license without retaking the ARE, provided they hold a license in good standing from a jurisdiction with comparable standards. You submit proof of your existing license and pay the applicable fees.
The process is especially streamlined for NCARB Certificate holders. The certificate signals that you’ve met uniform national standards for education, experience, and examination, and most state boards accept it as sufficient for reciprocal licensure. Maintaining the certificate costs $293 per year.3National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Fees Reciprocity doesn’t exempt you from Michigan’s continuing education requirements going forward.
Why the License Matters: Penalties for Practicing Without One
Michigan treats unlicensed architectural practice as a criminal matter. A first offense is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $5,000 to $25,000, up to 93 days in jail, or both. A second or subsequent offense carries the same fine range but up to one year in jail. If the unlicensed practice causes death or serious injury, it becomes a felony with a $5,000 to $25,000 fine, up to four years in prison, or both.9Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-601 – Unlicensed Practice Penalties
A court that finds a violation must also order restitution to affected parties. Separately, anyone harmed by unlicensed practice can seek an injunction and recover actual costs plus attorney fees.9Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339-601 – Unlicensed Practice Penalties That’s the backdrop to every step above: the license is what separates professional practice from a prosecutable offense.