Canada is home to 31 universities offering architecture degrees and courses, providing students with the opportunity to pursue a career in the field of design and construction. Some of the universities that offer architecture programs include George Brown College, Mohawk College, Loyalist College, Fanshawe College, and Seneca. With a total program cost ranging from 9,232 to 65,000 CAD, these universities and colleges offer affordable options for aspiring architects. International students can also explore scholarship opportunities to help alleviate the financial burden of studying in Canada.

In order to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture in Canada, there are specific admission requirements that must be met. These typically include English, Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, and Physics courses, each with minimum final grade requirements. For example, a minimum final grade of 75% is required for English (ENG4U), while a minimum of 70% is required for Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, and Physics. Meeting these requirements is essential for gaining acceptance into an architecture program in Canada.

To gain admission into an architecture program at one of these universities, students typically need to meet certain basic requirements. These requirements may include a high school diploma or equivalent, a minimum GPA in coursework related to math and science, submission of a portfolio showcasing the student’s design skills and creativity, and completion of prerequisite courses in areas such as drawing or design.

Once a student has met the admission requirements for the architecture program they are interested in, they can begin the application process. This may involve submitting an online application, providing transcripts from previous schools attended, writing a personal statement outlining their interest in architecture, and obtaining letters of recommendation from teachers or professionals in the field. Admissions decisions are typically based on a combination of academic performance, portfolio quality, and overall fit for the program.

Architectural Designer Salary

An architectural designer is an artist who works with a client to design both the exterior and interior of buildings. Architectural designers design commercial and industrial buildings, as well as buildings intended for private use.

The estimated total pay for an architectural designer is $89,238 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $60,703 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and is based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $28,535 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit-sharing. The “Most Likely Range” represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all the pay data available for this role.

As of Apr 13, 2022, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Architectural Designer in the United States is $48,617 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.37 an hour. This is the equivalent of $935/week or $4,051/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $72,500 and as low as $23,000, the majority of Entry-Level Architectural Designer salaries currently range between $39,500 (25th percentile) to $55,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $69,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for an Entry Level Architectural Designer varies greatly (by as much as $16,000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Entry Level Architectural Designer job market in both Lagos, NG, and throughout the entire state is not very active as few companies are currently hiring. An Entry-Level Architectural Designer in your area makes on average $48,617 per year or the same as the national average annual salary of $48,617. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Entry Level Architectural Designer salaries.

Cheapest Architecture Schools In Canada

Most affordable universities in Canada

Check the list of Canadian universities with the most affordable tuition fees:

• Memorial University of Newfoundland – tuition fees: 2,150 – 11,460 CAD/year
• University of Regina – tuition fees: 1,715 – 20,050 CAD/year
• Royal Roads University – tuition fees: 3,750 – 27,600 CAD/year
• University of Saskatchewan – tuition fees: 4,110 – 24,000 CAD/year
• Athabasca University – tuition fees: 1,625 – 17,250 CAD/year

Even at these affordable universities you can find several study programmes that cost over 30,000 CAD/year. They are usually Master’s degrees in Business, Law, Dentistry or MBAs (Master of Business Administration). An MBA is particularly expensive, with tuition fees that go above 50,000 CAD/year.

study architecture in canada with scholarship

Canadian Architecture and Architectural Awards, Bursaries, Prizes and Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP	UNIVERSITY	FACULTY	DEPARTMENT	MAJOR
Nicholas C. Scolozzi Scholarship in Architecture	Carleton University	Faculty of Engineering and Design	School of Architecture
Nick Barbieri Memorial Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Civil Engineering
Norbert Schoenaur and David Farley Fellowship in Architecture	McGill University	Faculty of Engineering	School of Architecture
North American Die Casting Association Chapter 10 Ontario Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Northern Sky Architecture Award for Environmental Stewardship	University of Manitoba	Faculty of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Architecture		Master of Architecture
Nova Scotia Association of Architects – Ojars Biskaps Award	Dalhousie University	Faculty of Graduate Studies	School of Architecture	Master of Architecture
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Prize	Dalhousie University	Faculty of Graduate Studies	Faculty: Architecture and Planning	Master of Architecture
Nova Scotia Association of Architects Scholarship	Dalhousie University	Faculty of Graduate Studies	Faculty: Architecture and Planning	Master of Architecture
Nova Scotia Planning Directors Association Award (NSPDA)	Dalhousie University	Faculty of Graduate Studies: Architecture and Planning	School of Planning
Ontario Association of Architects Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Architectural Science
Ontario Association of Architects Awards	Carleton University	Faculty of Engineering and Design	School of Architecture
Ontario Association of Landscape Architects Scholarship	University of Guelph			Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Ontario Association of Landscape Architects Scholarship (MLA)	University of Guelph	Ontario Agricultural College		Master of Landscape Architecture
Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors (GTA Chapter) Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Architectural Science	Quantity Surveying/Construction Economics
Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education Awards	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science
Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education Entrance Awards	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science
Opus Building Corporation Graduate Entrance Scholarship in Architecture	University of Calgary	Faculty of Environmental Design		Master of Architecture
Osvalds Brakmanis Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Civil Engineering
Page & Steele Architects Award	Ryerson University	Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science	Department of Architectural Science
Page and Steele School of Architecture Scholarship	Carleton University	Faculty of Engineering and Design	School of Architecture

Architectural Designer Jobs

The architecture industry is constantly growing. The computer and access to information have significantly changed the way architecture has been practiced for the past 100 years. 15 years ago, there was no such thing as an architecture blog! Now there are hundreds of architecture blogs.

The word “architecture” is as general as the word “music.” We call it music, but there are subcategories within the music. Types of music could be classical, country or even something specific like east coast straight edge hardcore from the 80’s.

Just like music here are a million little niches or subcultures within architecture. Those could be sustainability, hospital design, CAD/Rendering, architects who specialize in some kind of engineering speciality, interiors, tiny houses, waterproofing, building envelope fanatics, masonry experts and the list can go on forever.

What I love most about the architecture industry is that it is soo vast, there is plenty of work for everyone to thrive using whatever skills, talents and interests they may have, as long as they are willing to work hard.

A highly regulated profession.
Did you know, it is technically illegal to call yourself an architect in the US, if you do not have an active license with the National Council Architecture Registration Board and with whatever state architectural you happen to be in.

Unlike a US driver’s licence, it doesn’t work everywhere. A licenced architect in New York is not a licenced architect in California unless they have a California architecture licence.

Architects carry a tremendous amount of responsibility for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and if an individual has not fulfilled the requirements, they should not be calling themselves an architect. Many people have a hard time understanding this, but this is due to the lengthy education, experience, and licencing requirements. Unlicensed individuals may call themselves, designers, project managers, job captains, or anything else that really works, but “architect” is off limits. State architectural licensing boards regularly take action against unlicensed individuals calling themselves architects or practicing without a licence.

Having an architecture licence is not a prerequisite to having a successful career in architecture. Many people graduate from architecture school and have very successful careers without obtaining their licence to practice. Architectural training is an extremely valuable education and can be effectively used in and outside of the profession.

What are the steps to become a licensed architect?
It’s a 3 part process which consist of:

Education – Earning an accredited architecture degree. (5-7 years)
Experience – Documenting on the job experience, under the supervision of a licensed architect. (5,600 Hours)
Exam – Passing a 7 part licensing exam, each test completed on various aspects of the profession.
This process is lengthy and is no easy feat. However, it is not impossible and the rewards you can reap by becoming a licensed architect are numerous.

The Educational Requirements
For licensure in most states a candidate must hold a professional degree in architecture from an institution accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). There are currently over 100 architecture schools to choose from.

There are currently three different professional architecture degrees available.

The Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) requires a minimum of 150 credit hours in professional studies and electives.
The Master of Architecture (MArch) degree requires a minimum of 168 credit hours, 30 of which must be graduate level.
The Doctor of Architecture (DArch) requires a baccalaureate degree or 120 undergraduate credit hours in addition to a minimum of 90 graduate credit hours.
Experience Requirements
The Intern Development Program (IDP) represents a program designed to aid architecture students in learning and developing within the work force. Most states require that a student complete this type of internship before they can become licensed in that state.

The IDP is a thorough and comprehensive program that requires experience in several different settings. Its purpose is to ensure that architecture graduates gain the professional experience, knowledge and skills to practice effectively as independent architects. The intern architect student is closely supervised by a licensed architect or professional in another discipline.

Interns most commonly work within architecture firms where they begin to become familiar with the application of their education. They may assist in design projects, prepare documents as well as research specific building codes and many other projects.

The IDP requires the completion of 5,600 field experience hours within 17 different categories. The experience hours are documented by the intern and the discussed with and signed off by the supervisor. This information is submitted to NCARB on a regular basis.

The Architect Registration Exam
The Architect Registration Exam (ARE) is required in all 54 jurisdictions within the United States. The exam is broken down into seven different sections;

Construction Documents and Services (CDS)
Programming, Planning, and Practice (PPP)
Site Planning and Design (SPD)
Schematic Design (SD)
Structural Systems (SS)
Building Systems (BS)
Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS)
Each exam is formatted differently, but multiple-choice and graphical vignettes are distributed throughout.

Architectural Designer vs Architect

Completing the Architecture Registration Exam is a very unique experience. The process is a self-guided experience where ARE candidates (what you call people taking the exam) study and take the exams on their own schedule. Some people do them all in under a year, but most people take at least 2 1/2 years to complete the process.

Taking the ARE is drastically different then attending architecture school, due to the massive amounts of information that is being tested through the seven exams. Learning how to handle such a challenging exam is often the hardest part.

Recently YoungArchitect.com published a book called How To Pass The Architecture Registration Exam to help ARE Candidates wrap their head around the entire ARE process and set themselves up for success in moving through this crazy multi year, self guided, test taking journey towards becoming a Licensed Architect

Becoming Licensed
After the ARE additional interviews or exams may be required. Registration requirements vary between each state, so it is recommended that individuals contact their specific registration board for the requirements in that jurisdiction.

Continuing education is then required by all architects to keep their licenses active.

The dynamic industry
Becoming a licensed architect is a lengthy process and definitely not for everyone. However, it is an incredible industry that is constantly changing. The internet and modern technology have impacted how this industry conducts business, further expanding the world of opportunities available. Versatile and innovative, the field of architecture can offer vast possibilities and endless options for anyone willing to work hard and contribute to the progress of the profession.

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a design architect. The best states for people in this position are Massachusetts, Maryland, Arizona, and California. Design architects make the most in Massachusetts with an average salary of $86,479. Whereas in Maryland and Arizona, they would average $77,841 and $76,403, respectively. While design architects would only make an average of $76,032 in California, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we’ve found all of the skills you’ll need so even if you don’t have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 15.0% of design architects listed revit on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.

In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what’s a career path you ask? Well, it’s practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of project architect you might progress to a role such as construction manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title senior project manager construction.

Architects are some of the most respected professionals in building and construction. In collaboration with engineers, they are responsible for creating remarkable structures like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. A design architect’s job is to create blueprints for a building project. But their job may often extend beyond that to managing teams of employees and communicating with clients. Occassionally, design architects may also oversee projects.
Architects often function as project managers to discuss client needs, ensure that the project is completed within time and budget, meet state codes, and many other concerns. A renowned architect has even been quoted saying that designing buildings is only 15% of his job.
As you can tell, design architects require a wide range of skills, including creativity, communication, teamwork, and of course, design. To become an architect, you’ll need a bachelor of architecture degree as well as state licensing.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a design architect. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.66 an hour? That’s $65,857 a year!

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 11,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What Does a Design Architect Do
There are certain skills that many design architects have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and creativity.

When it comes to the most important skills required to be a design architect, we found that a lot of resumes listed 15.0% of design architects included revit, while 8.8% of resumes included construction documents, and 5.5% of resumes included architecture. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.

When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn’t even think offered positions related to the design architect job title. But what industry to start with? Most design architects actually find jobs in the technology and professional industries.

How To Become a Design Architect

If you’re interested in becoming a design architect, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We’ve determined that 50.0% of design architects have a bachelor’s degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 34.4% of design architects have master’s degrees. Even though most design architects have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school diploma or GED.

Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a design architect. When we researched the most common majors for a design architect, we found that they most commonly earn bachelor’s degree degrees or master’s degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on design architect resumes include associate degree degrees or diploma degrees.

You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a design architect. In fact, many design architect jobs require experience in a role such as an architect. Meanwhile, many design architects also have previous career experience in roles such as project architect or architectural internship.