Skip to content
UC Berkeley logo
  • Resources
  • Apply
  • Give
    • CED
      • About CED
        • Vision
        • People
        • Community
        • Our Spaces
        • Work at CED
        • Giving
        • Visit Us
        • Contact Us
      • Academics
        • Degrees + Certificates
        • Summer Programs
        • Study Abroad
        • Courses
      • Admissions
        • Undergraduate Admissions
        • Graduate Admissions
        • Fees & Financial Aid
      • Advising
        • Undergraduate Advising
        • Graduate Advising
      • News + Events
        • News
        • Events
      • Explore
        • Student Work
        • Publications
      • Research + Design
        • Centers & Institutes
        • Research Collaborations
      • Resources
        • Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships
        • Student Support
        • Environmental Design Library
        • Environmental Design Archives
        • Fabrication + Materials
        • IT + Computing
        • Internships + Careers
        • Student Fees and Waivers
        • Student Organizations
        • Facility Services
        • Building Safety
    • ARCH
      • About Architecture
        • Diversity
        • Leadership
        • Accreditation and Licensure
      • Degrees + Admissions
        • Admissions
        • Bachelor of Arts
        • Minor in Architecture
        • Minor in Environmental Design and Urbanism in Developing Countries
        • Minor in the History of the Built Environment
        • Minor in Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design
        • Minor in Sustainable Design
        • Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
        • Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
        • Master of Science
        • Ph.D.
        • Concurrent Programs
      • Courses
        • 2023 Spring Courses
      • People
        • Faculty
        • Emeriti
        • Students
        • Staff
      • Gallery
      • Advising
    • LAND
      • About LAEP
      • Degrees + Admissions
        • Admissions
        • Bachelor of Arts
        • Minor in Landscape Architecture
        • Master of Landscape Architecture
        • Ph.D.
        • Concurrent Degrees
      • Courses
      • People
        • Faculty
        • Emeriti
        • Students
        • Staff
      • Gallery
      • Advising
    • CITY
      • About DCRP
      • Degrees + Admissions
        • Admissions
        • Ph.D.
        • Master of City Planning
        • Bachelor of Arts
      • Courses
      • People
        • Faculty
        • Lecturers
        • Emeriti
        • Students
        • Staff
      • Gallery
        • Student Work
        • Faculty Work
        • Studio Work
      • Advising
    • URBANISM
      • About IURD
      • Real Estate Development + Design
        • About MRED+D
        • Admissions
        • Courses
        • People
      • Urban Design
        • About MUD
        • Admissions
        • Courses
        • People
      • Sustainable Environmental Design
        • About SED
        • Courses
        • People
      • People
      • Gallery
      • Advising
  • CED
    • About CED
      • Vision
      • People
      • Community
      • Our Spaces
      • Work at CED
      • Giving
      • Visit Us
      • Contact Us
    • Academics
      • Degrees + Certificates
      • Summer Programs
      • Study Abroad
      • Courses
    • Admissions
      • Undergraduate Admissions
      • Graduate Admissions
      • Fees & Financial Aid
    • Advising
      • Undergraduate Advising
      • Graduate Advising
    • News + Events
      • News
      • Events
    • Explore
      • Student Work
      • Publications
    • Research + Design
      • Centers & Institutes
      • Research Collaborations
    • Resources
      • Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships
      • Student Support
      • Environmental Design Library
      • Environmental Design Archives
      • Fabrication + Materials
      • IT + Computing
      • Internships + Careers
      • Student Fees and Waivers
      • Student Organizations
      • Facility Services
      • Building Safety
  • ARCH
    • About Architecture
      • Diversity
      • Leadership
      • Accreditation and Licensure
    • Degrees + Admissions
      • Admissions
      • Bachelor of Arts
      • Minor in Architecture
      • Minor in Environmental Design and Urbanism in Developing Countries
      • Minor in the History of the Built Environment
      • Minor in Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design
      • Minor in Sustainable Design
      • Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
      • Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
      • Master of Science
      • Ph.D.
      • Concurrent Programs
    • Courses
      • 2023 Spring Courses
    • People
      • Faculty
      • Emeriti
      • Students
      • Staff
    • Gallery
    • Advising
  • LAND
    • About LAEP
    • Degrees + Admissions
      • Admissions
      • Bachelor of Arts
      • Minor in Landscape Architecture
      • Master of Landscape Architecture
      • Ph.D.
      • Concurrent Degrees
    • Courses
    • People
      • Faculty
      • Emeriti
      • Students
      • Staff
    • Gallery
    • Advising
  • CITY
    • About DCRP
    • Degrees + Admissions
      • Admissions
      • Ph.D.
      • Master of City Planning
      • Bachelor of Arts
    • Courses
    • People
      • Faculty
      • Lecturers
      • Emeriti
      • Students
      • Staff
    • Gallery
      • Student Work
      • Faculty Work
      • Studio Work
    • Advising
  • URBANISM
    • About IURD
    • Real Estate Development + Design
      • About MRED+D
      • Admissions
      • Courses
      • People
    • Urban Design
      • About MUD
      • Admissions
      • Courses
      • People
    • Sustainable Environmental Design
      • About SED
      • Courses
      • People
    • People
    • Gallery
    • Advising
  • Resources
  • Apply
  • Give

Accreditation and Licensure

  • ARCH
    • About Architecture
      • Diversity
      • Leadership
      • Accreditation and Licensure
    • Degrees + Admissions
    • Courses
    • People
    • Gallery
    • Advising
  • ARCH
    • About Architecture
      • Diversity
      • Leadership
      • Accreditation and Licensure
    • Degrees + Admissions
    • Courses
    • People
    • Gallery
    • Advising

In the United States, most 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 professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

Accredited Programs

The College of Environmental Design's Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

M. Arch Option 372 Graduate Credits
M. Arch Option 2120 Credits + 48 Graduate Credits

Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2024

  • 2020 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation (present conditions for accreditation)
  • 2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation (present procedures for accreditation)
  • 2014 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation (in effect at time of last visit)
  • 2015 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation (in effect at time of last visit)
  • NCARB ARE Pass Rates

Past Reports

  • 2022 NAAB Decision Letter + Architecture Program Report
  • 2020 Interim Progress Report
  • 2019 NAAB Program Annual Report 
  • 2018 Interim Progress Report
  • 2018 NAAB Program Annual Report
  • 2017 NAAB Program Annual Report
  • 2016 NAAB Program Annual Report
  • 2016 NAAB Visiting Team Report

In addition to NAAB criteria and information, the UC Office of the President has issued a notice regarding professional licensure and certification.

  • Architectural Licensure Information
  • National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
  • The California Architects Board
Berkeley CED Logo

COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
University of California, Berkeley
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820
Berkeley, CA 94720-1820

  • ARCH
  • LAND
  • CITY
  • URBANISM
  • Contact
  • Visit
  • For Faculty & Staff
  • Linkedin
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Privacy

© 2023 UC Regents; all rights reserved.     Credits