Architecture Licensing & Accreditation

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards. Master's degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

National Architectural Accrediting Board - NAAB Web Site

Licensing for Architects:
In the state of New Mexico and in most other states an applicant for examination for registration as an architect must have a professional degree from an architectural program accredited by the NAAB and also a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate showing compliance with Intern Development Program (IDP) training requirements.

Landscape Architecture Licensing & Accreditation

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Landscape Architectural Accrediting Board (LAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in Landscape Architecture, grants accreditation to programs in the US, dependent on conformance with established educational standards. The Master's degree in Landscape Architecture at UNM was granted a 6 year accreditation in August, 2003.

The state of New Mexico requires landscape architects to be licensed and registered. Licensing is based on the Landscape Architects Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), sponsored by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). Specific requirements vary among different State boards, but for the New Mexico State Board admission to the exam normally requires a degree from an accredited school plus 1 year of work experience.

Landscape Architectural Accrediting Board - LAAB Web Site

Community + Regional Planning Accreditation

By the spring of 1985, the program had sufficient full-time faculty and CRP graduates to apply for accreditation from the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). In preparation for this review, the curriculum was strengthened to focus on community development and natural resources, particularly in the context of the Southwest region and Albuquerque’s proximity to Mexico. The curriculum was also reorganized to prepare students to practice in both rural and urban settings. In 1986, the program was accredited and lauded for its work and its relevance to both New Mexico and the Southwes region.

Historic Preservation + Regionalism Accreditation

While there are no formal accreditation bodies for preservation or regionalism programs, the UNM program is a member of the National Council of Preservation Educators - (NCPE) , which thoroughly reviews institutional members for the range and quality of their program.