The official website of the State of Mississippi

Notice to Architect Applicants: If you are offering or proposing architectural services prior to licensure, please review the requirements for solicitation prior to licensure in Rule 2.7. Individuals meeting the conditions of Rule 2.7 are prohibited from rendering additional architectural services beyond the offer or proposal until the individual has an active license.

Students and Career Seekers

Architects, landscape architects and certified interior designers have the rewarding work of designing and creating the spaces in which we learn, work, play, worship, and heal; the places and spaces in which we live. 

If you are interested in a rewarding career as design professional, consider an educational and work experience path that will lead to state licensure or certification. Doing so will provide you the full spectrum of opportunities in your chosen field. 

Architecture

The Board requires an architectural degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (www.naab.org). Visit the NAAB website for a list of accredited programs.  Although other accredited degrees are accepted for licensure, Mississippi State University offers the only NAAB-accredited program in Mississippi (www.caad.msstate.edu).

Mississippi also requires completion of the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and passage of the Architect Registration Examination (the ARE). Both the examination and the experience program are administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (www.ncarb.org).

For additional information on a career as an architect, visit the websites of the American Institute of Architects (www.aia.org) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (www.acsa-arch.org). NCARB and partner organizations have also developed career guides for both K-12 students and school counselors.

Landscape Architecture

The preferred path to licensure includes a four-year or masters degree in landscape architecture from a program accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. Find information on accredited programs through the American Society of Landscape Architects (www.asla.org). Although other accredited degrees are accepted for licensure, Mississippi State University offers the only accredited program in Mississippi (www.lalc.msstate.edu).

Mississippi also requires passage of the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (the LARE), as administered through the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (www.clarb.org).

For additional information on a career as a landscape architect, visit the ASLA website (www.asla.org).

Certified Interior Design

The preferred path to certification includes a four-year or masters degree in interior design from a program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (www.accredit-id.org). Although other degrees are accepted for licensure, the accredited degrees offered in Mississippi are through Mississippi College (www.mc.edu), Mississippi State University (www.caad.msstate.edu), and the University of Southern Mississippi (www.usm.edu). 

Mississippi also requires evaluated experience and passage of the examination (the NCIDQ Exam) through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (www.cidq.org).

For additional information on a career as an interior designer, visit the websites of the American Society of Interior Designers (www.asid.org) and the International Interior Design Association (www.iida.org).