Michigan Board of Architects: Licensing, Renewal, and Seal Rules

To get a Michigan architect license, you need a professional degree in architecture from an accredited program, completion of the NCARB experience program, a passing score on the Architect Registration Examination, and an application submitted through the state’s MiPLUS portal with a $100 fee for the initial two-year license. The Michigan architect license requirements are set under Article 20 of the Occupational Code (Act 299 of 1980) and administered by the Board of Architects within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).¹

The Four Requirements

Michigan sets four conditions for licensure: education, experience, examination, and good moral character.¹ Three of them involve paperwork and proof; the fourth is a background standard the Board applies when reviewing your file.

Education

You need a first professional degree or higher in architecture. Michigan accepts degrees from programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). If your degree is from a school outside those systems, submit an evaluation from EESA-NCARB or a NACES-member agency showing you meet the NCARB Education Standard.²

Experience

You need a certificate of completion from an NCARB internship program. Most candidates satisfy this through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP). As an alternative, holding a current, continuous license in another state or Canadian province for at least five years counts in place of the AXP certificate.²

Examination

Pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). NCARB transmits your passing scores directly to Michigan’s licensing office. You cannot self-report results.²

Application and Fees

Apply through MiPLUS, Michigan’s online licensing portal. You can either have NCARB transmit your Council Record on your behalf or upload official transcripts yourself. The initial license covers a two-year period and costs $100.²

If You’re Already Licensed in Another State

Michigan recognizes two reciprocal paths. The simpler one runs through an NCARB Certificate, which every U.S. jurisdiction accepts. Log into your NCARB Record, go to the Licenses tab, and request a transmittal to Michigan. A transmittal fee applies.³

If you don’t hold an NCARB Certificate, Michigan will still consider you if you’ve held a current, continuous license in another state or Canadian province for at least five years. You will need to meet Michigan’s education standard and submit your credentials through MiPLUS.²

Your Seal: What You Must Have Once Licensed

After licensure, you must obtain a seal that meets Michigan’s specifications. The seal must include your full name, your full license number as it appears on your state-issued license, the words “State of Michigan,” and the words “Licensed Architect.” The design must follow the format shown in Figure 404 of the administrative code.⁴

You are required to seal plans, drawings, specifications, and title sheets that need government approval or that go into the public record. Only the licensee named on the seal may use it, and you are personally responsible for its security. Sealing work you did not prepare or supervise is a standalone violation that can trigger discipline.

Renewing the License

Michigan architect licenses run on a two-year cycle. To renew, complete 24 hours of continuing education during the two-year period immediately before your expiration date. Qualifying coursework includes seminars, workshops, online programs, and conferences.²

The biennial renewal fee is $70.⁵ Keep your proof of completed coursework. The Board audits licensees and can request documentation at any time during the renewal cycle.

If Your License Lapses

You cannot practice while a license is lapsed. How hard it is to come back depends on how long you’ve been out.⁶

Lapsed less than three years: you can be relicensed without retaking the ARE or meeting new education requirements. You’ll pay the application processing fee, the late renewal fee, and the license fee for the upcoming period, and you must show one year’s worth of continuing education completed within the 12 months before your reinstatement application.

Lapsed three years or more: the department may require you to retake part or all of the ARE, complete additional continuing education, or demonstrate that you meet current education and training standards.

If your license was revoked through disciplinary action rather than simple lapse, reinstatement requires a petition explaining why you should be reinstated, with evidence that you can practice competently and lawfully. The Board reviews these petitions case by case.⁶

Practicing Without a License

The Occupational Code sets architect-specific penalties for unlicensed practice that are significantly harsher than those for most other professions.⁷

First offense: a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $5,000 to $25,000, up to 93 days in jail, or both.
Second or subsequent offense: a misdemeanor with the same $5,000 to $25,000 fine range, but up to one year in jail, or both.
Offense causing death or serious injury: a felony punishable by a $5,000 to $25,000 fine, up to four years in prison, or both.

A court that finds a violation must also order restitution to anyone harmed. The department, the attorney general, or a county prosecutor can pursue asset forfeiture, and affected parties can file civil suits for injunctive relief plus actual costs and attorney fees.⁷ For most other licensed professions under the Code, a first offense for unlicensed practice caps at $500 and 90 days in jail.

1
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2004 – Architect, Professional Engineer, and Professional Surveyor Licensing Requirements
2
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Architect Licensing Guide
3
NCARB. Reciprocity
4
Legal Information Institute. Michigan Admin Code R 339.15404 – Seal Design, Use, Security
5
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. License Renewal Fees
6
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 339.411 – License Renewal, Relicensure, Reinstatement
7
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 339.601 – Violations, Penalties