Architect Resume Examples: AIA, LEED, and Emerging Architect Templates

Q: How do I list LEED AP on my resume?

List the full specialty, not just LEED AP. The correct formats are LEED AP BD+C, LEED AP ID+C, or LEED AP O+M. Place the credential as a post-nominal beside your name in the header (e.g., Jordan Park, AIA, LEED AP BD+C). LEED AP requires 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years; if your credential has lapsed, do not list it as current.

Q: How should I list software proficiency levels on an architect resume?

Avoid self-rated scales like Revit: Advanced or AutoCAD: Intermediate. Instead, weave software into bullets where you used it on real projects and list all relevant tools in a dedicated Software section. If you want to differentiate primary from secondary tools, use grouping: Primary: Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper. Secondary: SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion. ATS systems parse tool names regardless of the proficiency label, so accurate naming matters more than self-assessment.

Q: What is the NCARB Certificate and should I list it on my resume?

The NCARB Certificate is a credentialing record maintained by NCARB that verifies an architect has met uniform national standards for education, experience, and examination. It streamlines obtaining reciprocal licensure in other states. List it as NCARB Cert. #XXXXX on the contact line or in a credentials section. For architects applying to national or multi-office firms, or any role involving projects in multiple states, the NCARB Certificate is a meaningful differentiator.

Architecture Resume vs. Portfolio: What Goes Where

Many architects submit a portfolio when a resume is requested, or submit a resume that duplicates portfolio content. Each document has a distinct job. The table below separates them clearly.

Resume (triggers the interview)	Portfolio (closes the interview)
Licensure and post-nominals (AIA, NCARB, LEED AP) placed beside your name in the header	Design process sketches, concept diagrams, and iteration history
Project scale in concrete terms: construction value, gross square footage, number of units, project count	Rendered elevations, section cuts, axonometrics, and physical model photography
Software proficiency by name: Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion, BIM 360	Full construction document sets, permit drawing excerpts, and specification sections
Education: accredited degree (B.Arch, M.Arch, B.S. Arch), institution, year	Academic and competition work with jury comments or award citations
Credentials in progress: ARE divisions passed (e.g., "4/6 divisions passed"), IDP/AXP hour totals	Site photography, client-facing presentation boards, and installation documentation
Role on each project: design lead, project architect, architect of record, project manager, intern architect	Materials and detailing close-ups, shop drawing review markups, and RFI responses

The six-second rule for architecture resumes: Hiring managers spend roughly six seconds on the first pass. They look for three things: licensure status (or progress), software stack, and project scale. Put all three in the top third of the page. The portfolio proves the quality; the resume proves the scope.

4 Filled Architect Resume Examples

Each example below shows header placement, a focused summary, and quantified bullets in the style architecture firms look for on first review. Copy the structure and adapt the specifics to your own experience.

Example 1: Project Architect (Mid-Level, Licensed CA + NY)

Jordan Park, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Los Angeles, CA • jordan.park@email.com • CA Lic. #C-XXXXX • NY Lic. #XXXXX

Licensed architect (CA + NY) with 7 years in mixed-use residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse projects. Led design and documentation on 14 completed projects ranging from $2M to $45M construction value. LEED AP BD+C. Expert in Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp. Experienced from schematic design through construction administration.

Experience

Project Architect, Steinberg Hart, Los Angeles, CA (2021 to Present)

Design lead on 48-unit mixed-use residential and retail project ($18M construction value, Los Angeles, CA): led schematic design through design development, coordinated entitlement submittals, and received Planning Commission approval on first hearing
Project architect for $12M commercial renovation of 62,000 sf Class B office to Class A conversion: managed Revit model (LOD 350), coordinated 6 consultants, and issued 100% CDs on schedule
Produced LEED BD+C documentation for 3 projects (2 certified Gold, 1 Silver); managed energy model coordination with MEP and submitted final GBCI applications

Architectural Designer, HMC Architects, Los Angeles, CA (2019 to 2021)

Developed schematic design and design development packages for 8 K-12 educational facilities totaling $94M combined construction value
Passed CA Architectural License on first attempt (2021); subsequently obtained NY licensure via reciprocity (2022)

Education

M.Arch, SCI-Arc, 2019. B.S. Architecture, USC, 2017. NAAB-accredited.

Software

Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp Pro, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Bluebeam Revu, Procore

Example 2: Principal / Design Architect (Senior, NCARB)

Marcus Chen, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB

New York, NY • marcus.chen@email.com • NY Lic. #XXXXX • NCARB Cert. #XXXXX

Principal architect with 15 years and 28 completed projects totaling $180M in construction value. AIA National Honor Award recipient (2024). Led BIM implementation and standards development for a 40-person practice. NCARB Certificate holder enabling multi-state licensure. Expertise in institutional, mixed-use, and large-scale residential design from pursuit through project close-out.

Experience

Principal, Weiss/Manfredi Architecture, New York, NY (2018 to Present)

Principal-in-charge for $42M science and innovation center (65,000 sf, LEED Gold target): led design from competition win through construction administration; project received AIA National Honor Award (2024)
Directed BIM implementation for 40-person practice: established Revit standards, model execution plan templates, and Navisworks coordination protocols, reducing RFI volume by 34% across 6 concurrent projects
Led pursuit strategy resulting in 4 project wins totaling $96M construction value in 2023; prepared and presented design qualifications to municipal and institutional clients

Senior Project Architect, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, New York, NY (2013 to 2018)

Senior project architect on $78M urban mixed-use tower (18 stories, 220 units, ground-floor retail): led design development and coordinated structural, MEP, and facade consultant packages through permit issuance
Managed design team of 7 architects and 2 interns through CD phase; all 18 code consultant comments resolved within one review cycle

Education and Credentials

M.Arch, Yale School of Architecture, 2011. B.Arch, Cornell University, 2009. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB Certificate. Selected Projects List available upon request.

Example 3: Interior Architect (NCIDQ, WELL AP)

Priya Nair, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP

Chicago, IL • priya.nair@email.com • IL Interior Design Lic. #XXXXX

Interior architect with 8 years in corporate workplace and hospitality interiors. Completed 22 projects ranging from $500K to $8M construction value. NCIDQ certified, LEED AP ID+C, and WELL AP. Expert in Revit, Rhino, and Enscape for design visualization and client presentations. Experienced in programming, space planning, FF&E specification, and construction administration.

Experience

Senior Interior Architect, Gensler, Chicago, IL (2020 to Present)

Led workplace strategy and interior architecture for 180,000 sf corporate headquarters relocation ($6.2M construction value): programmed 1,400 workstations, 38 conference rooms, and 12 focus areas; client achieved WELL Silver certification post-occupancy
Design lead for boutique hotel renovation (120 keys, Chicago historic landmark building, $4.8M FF&E and construction): developed interior concept, specified FF&E, and administered construction with zero punch list carryover at project close-out
Mentored 3 junior designers in Revit documentation workflow; reduced drawing coordination errors by 28% on 2 concurrent projects through shared BIM model standards

Interior Designer, HOK, Chicago, IL (2018 to 2020)

Developed schematic design and FF&E packages for 7 corporate interiors projects ($500K to $2M), all delivered on budget

Education and Credentials

B.S. Interior Architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2018. NCIDQ (2020), LEED AP ID+C (2021), WELL AP (2023).

Software

Revit, Rhino, Enscape, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Bluebeam Revu

Example 4: Emerging / Pre-Licensure Architect (M.Arch, ARE in Progress)

Darius Webb

New York, NY • darius.webb@email.com • AXP in progress (4,300 of 5,600 hrs logged) • ARE: 4/6 divisions passed

Associate architect with 3 years of post-graduate experience at a globally recognized practice. M.Arch graduate (Columbia GSAPP). AIA Young Architects Forum Award (NY Chapter, 2025). ARE progress: 4 of 6 divisions passed (PA, PPD, PDD, CE); targeting full licensure by Q1 2027. Revit, Grasshopper, and Rhino expert with parametric facade and massing design experience.

Experience

Associate Architect, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), New York, NY (2023 to Present)

Developed parametric facade system in Grasshopper for 28-story residential tower (310 units, $82M construction value): algorithmic panel optimization reduced unitized curtain wall cost by $420K versus standard grid layout
Produced Revit LOD 300 documentation package for $14M mixed-use podium (retail plus 40 affordable units); coordinated 4 consultants through permit issuance and resolved all 22 city planning comments
Recipient of AIA New York Chapter Young Architects Forum Award (2025) for community design proposal; project concept presented at AIA NY Annual Symposium

Architectural Intern, KPF, New York, NY (Summer 2022)

Contributed Rhino and Enscape massing studies for international competition entry; team advanced to shortlist of 4

Education

M.Arch, Columbia University GSAPP, 2023. B.S. Architecture, University of Michigan, 2021. NAAB-accredited programs.

Software

Revit, Grasshopper, Rhino 7, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Enscape, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam Revu

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Architecture Credentials and Licensure Guide

Architecture has more credential pathways than most professions. Each credential below signals something distinct to a hiring manager. List only what you have earned or are actively pursuing; listing a credential you are not enrolled in is misrepresentation.

Credential	Description	What it signals to a hiring firm
NCARB IDP / AXP	NCARB Architectural Experience Program. 5,600 hours across 6 experience areas required before ARE eligibility in most states. Replaced the older IDP (Intern Development Program) in 2016.	Shows structured post-graduate experience under a licensed architect. Log hours consistently; gaps raise questions about continuity.
ARE (6 divisions)	Architect Registration Examination. Six computer-based divisions: Practice Management (PM), Project Management (PjM), Programming and Analysis (PA), Project Planning and Design (PPD), Project Development and Documentation (PDD), Construction and Evaluation (CE). Administered by NCARB.	Progress (e.g., "4/6 divisions passed") is valued by firms hiring emerging architects. Passing all 6 plus meeting AXP and education requirements earns licensure eligibility.
Licensed Architect	State-issued license after passing all ARE divisions, completing AXP, and meeting state education requirements. License must be maintained via continuing education (state-specific hours).	Required for architect of record responsibilities, signing and sealing drawings, and most senior roles. List state, license number, and year obtained.
AIA (Member)	American Institute of Architects membership. Three levels: Associate AIA (pre-licensure), AIA (licensed), and AIA Fellows (FAIA). The AIA post-nominal requires active licensure.	Demonstrates professional engagement and commitment to the field. AIA membership alone does not equal licensure; "Associate AIA" is not a license.
NCARB Certificate	NCARB Certification issued after meeting uniform national standards. Streamlines comity (reciprocal licensure) in other states through the NCARB Record system.	Critical differentiator for architects who practice in multiple states. Firms that operate nationally prioritize NCARB Certificate holders for senior roles.
LEED AP BD+C	Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, Building Design and Construction specialty. Administered by USGBC/GBCI. Requires continuing education every 2 years.	Standard sustainability credential for commercial and institutional projects. Expected at the project architect level on firms pursuing LEED certification for their projects.
LEED AP ID+C	LEED AP specialty for Interior Design and Construction. Applicable to commercial interiors, corporate workplace, and tenant improvement projects.	Differentiator for interior architects and designers. Signals fluency in LEED credit categories specific to interior scopes.
LEED AP O+M	LEED AP specialty for Operations and Maintenance. Focuses on existing buildings rather than new construction.	Valued by facilities, sustainability, and owner-side roles. Less common among design-firm architects; more relevant for building operations and real estate firms.
PHIUS / Passive House	Passive House Institute US certification. PHIUS+ Certified Consultant or CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant). Focuses on ultra-low energy building design.	Growing differentiator as energy codes tighten. Particularly valued in New York, Massachusetts, California, and Pacific Northwest markets. Niche but increasingly required on affordable housing and Passive House projects.
NCIDQ	National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam. Required for interior designer licensure in 27 U.S. states and DC. Different from an architectural license.	Required credential for licensed interior designers and interior architects. Signals rigorous professional preparation for interior-focused roles.
WELL AP	WELL Accredited Professional credential from the International WELL Building Institute. Focuses on human health and wellness in the built environment.	Growing requirement on corporate workplace, healthcare, and residential projects. Pairs naturally with LEED AP for full-spectrum sustainability and wellness positioning.

Header placement rule: Put active credentials directly beside your name (e.g., "Jordan Park, AIA, LEED AP BD+C"). Put in-progress credentials (ARE divisions, AXP hours) on the contact line or summary, clearly labeled as in progress. Never list a credential without specifying whether it is active, in progress, or lapsed.

Architecture Project Listing Format

Architecture resumes frequently include a project list, either embedded in experience bullets or as a separate "Selected Projects" attachment. A consistent format makes project scale immediately scannable. The six-field standard below is used by most major firms in RFQ and QBS submittals, and it translates directly to a resume context.

Field	What to include	Notes
Project Name	Use the project name as the firm calls it (not the client's internal name)	Omit confidential client names if NDA applies; describe by type and location instead
Type / Use	Mixed-use residential, corporate interiors, K-12 education, adaptive reuse, hospitality, civic	Use the type descriptor that matches the posting's project type keywords
Construction Value	Estimated or contracted construction cost in USD	Use "approx. $12M" if exact figure is confidential; never omit entirely on a senior resume
Role	Design Lead, Project Architect, Architect of Record, Project Manager, Design Architect, Intern Architect	Be precise: "design lead" and "project architect" are different roles even within the same project
Status	Completed, Under Construction, In Design, Entitlement, On Hold	Firms weight completed projects more heavily; in-progress projects are still valid if your role was substantial
Year	Year completed (for built work) or year of your involvement (for in-progress or on-hold projects)	Consistency matters: if listing completion year, do so for all projects

Formatted example project list (resume body or attachment):

Selected Projects

48-Unit Mixed-Use, Los Angeles, CA • Mixed-Use Residential/Retail • $18M • Design Lead • Completed • 2024

Class B to Class A Office Conversion, Downtown LA • Commercial Renovation • $12M • Project Architect • Completed • 2023

K-12 STEM Academy, Pasadena USD • K-12 Education • $14M • Project Designer • Completed • 2022

Urban Mixed-Use Tower, Brooklyn, NY • Mixed-Use/Residential • $42M (est.) • Project Architect • Under Construction • 2025

Community Health Clinic, East Los Angeles • Civic/Healthcare • $6M • Design Architect • Completed • 2021

Credits convention: On a project where multiple firms contributed (design architect plus architect of record, for example), specify your firm's role and your personal role. Format: "Design Architect (firm) / Architect of Record (partner firm) • Your role: Project Designer." This is standard on design-build and large institutional projects and prevents misrepresentation.

ATS Keyword Grid for Architecture Roles

ATS systems at Greenhouse, Lever, and BambooHR parse architect resumes for software names, credentials, and project type terms as discrete tokens. Use the exact product and credential names below; do not substitute generic terms like "BIM software" for "Revit" or "sustainability certification" for "LEED AP."

Software and BIM	Credentials and Specializations	Project Types
Revit	Licensed Architect / Registered Architect	Mixed-use residential
AutoCAD	AIA (American Institute of Architects)	Adaptive reuse
Rhino (Rhinoceros 3D)	NCARB Certificate	Historic preservation
Grasshopper	LEED AP BD+C	Institutional (civic, education, healthcare)
SketchUp Pro	LEED AP ID+C	Corporate workplace / tenant improvement
Enscape	WELL AP	Hospitality (hotel, restaurant)
Lumion	NCIDQ	Affordable housing / multi-family residential
BIM 360 / Autodesk Construction Cloud	Passive House (PHIUS / CPHC)	Ground-up commercial
Navisworks	ARE (Architect Registration Examination)	Design-build
Bluebeam Revu	AXP / IDP (NCARB hours)	Transit-oriented development (TOD)
Adobe InDesign / Illustrator / Photoshop	LEED AP O+M	Master planning / urban design
Procore	Architect of Record (AOR)	Science and laboratory
Vectorworks	Design-Build Institute (DBIA)	K-12 and higher education

List software you have used on real projects. Fabricating proficiency in tools you have not used is discovered during portfolio review or technical interviews and disqualifies candidates immediately.

Before and After Bullet Rewrites

Architecture resume bullets fail most often by describing duties instead of deliverables and outcomes. Every project has a construction value, a team size, and a result. Use all three. Here are three pairs specific to architecture roles.

Before (weak):

"Worked on mixed-use residential projects from schematic design through construction documents."

After (strong):

"Design lead on 48-unit mixed-use residential and retail project ($18M construction value, Los Angeles): led entitlement submittal package through Planning Commission, achieving approval on first hearing; managed 6-consultant Revit model from SD through 100% CDs."

Before (weak):

"Responsible for BIM coordination and Revit model management on various projects."

After (strong):

"Directed BIM implementation for 40-person practice: authored Revit standards, model execution plan templates, and Navisworks clash detection protocols; measurable outcome was a 34% reduction in RFI volume across 6 concurrent projects in year one."

Before (weak):

"Used parametric design tools for facade development on a high-rise project."

After (strong):

"Developed parametric facade system in Grasshopper for 28-story residential tower (310 units, $82M construction value): algorithmic panel optimization reduced unitized curtain wall fabrication cost by $420K versus standard grid approach, accepted by structural and facade consultants at 60% SD review."

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Listing ARE progress is expected and valued for pre-licensure architects. Format it as "ARE: X/6 divisions passed" and optionally name the passed divisions in parentheses (e.g., "PA, PPD, PDD, CE passed"). Put this on the contact line beneath your name, not in a certifications section, so it is visible immediately. Firms hiring associate architects want to see momentum toward licensure; a candidate who has passed 4 or 5 divisions is close to licensed and that is a concrete signal.

The resume triggers the interview; the portfolio closes it. The resume communicates credentials (licensure, ARE status, LEED AP), project scale (construction value, square footage, unit counts), software proficiency by name, and your role on each project. The portfolio shows design thinking, rendering quality, detailing ability, and process. Never substitute one for the other. When a posting asks for a resume, send only the resume; attach the portfolio link separately or wait until requested. Sending an unsolicited 40-page PDF as a resume is a common mistake that causes ATS rejection before any human reads it.

List the full specialty, not just "LEED AP." The correct formats are "LEED AP BD+C," "LEED AP ID+C," or "LEED AP O+M." "LEED AP" alone is an older credential (pre-2009 exam) and does not specify a specialty. Place the credential as a post-nominal beside your name in the header (e.g., "Jordan Park, AIA, LEED AP BD+C"). In a credentials or certifications section, add the issuing body (USGBC/GBCI) and credential ID if the posting is from a firm that verifies credentials. LEED AP requires 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years; if your credential has lapsed, do not list it as current.

A licensed architect resume leads with the license: state, license number, and AIA post-nominal in the header. It emphasizes architect-of-record experience, project signing authority, and client-facing project management. A pre-licensure resume leads with ARE progress and AXP hour completion, emphasizes the breadth and scale of supervised project experience, and highlights software and design skills. Pre-licensure resumes should never imply signing authority or refer to themselves as "Architect" in the summary line without the qualifying context; most states restrict use of the title "architect" to licensed individuals. Use "Associate Architect," "Architectural Designer," or "Intern Architect" instead.

Avoid self-rated scales like "Revit: Advanced, AutoCAD: Intermediate." These add noise without context. Instead, weave software into bullets where you used it on real projects ("produced Revit LOD 350 documentation package for $14M project") and list all relevant tools in a dedicated Software section. If you want to differentiate primary from secondary tools, use grouping: "Primary: Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper. Secondary: SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion." ATS systems parse tool names regardless of the proficiency label, so accurate naming matters more than the self-assessment.

Two pages is standard for architects with more than 5 years of experience. One page is appropriate only for new graduates and students. Senior architects and principals typically submit a two-page resume plus a separate Selected Projects list (one additional page) that catalogues completed work by type, construction value, role, and year. The Selected Projects page is common in QBS submittals and design-build RFQ packages but is also accepted by private firms for principal-level candidates. Federal architecture positions (GSA, DoD, VA) follow the OPM two-page rule effective September 2025.

The NCARB Certificate is a separate credentialing record maintained by NCARB that verifies an architect has met uniform national standards for education, experience, and examination. It is not required to be licensed in your home state, but it dramatically streamlines obtaining reciprocal licensure in other states. List it as "NCARB Cert. #XXXXX" on the contact line or in a credentials section. For architects applying to national or multi-office firms, or for any role that involves projects in multiple states, the NCARB Certificate is a meaningful differentiator. For architects practicing only in one state and not anticipating multistate practice, it is optional to list but never harmful.

Architecture Resume vs. Portfolio: What Goes Where

4 Filled Architect Resume Examples

Example 1: Project Architect (Mid-Level, Licensed CA + NY)

Example 2: Principal / Design Architect (Senior, NCARB)

Example 3: Interior Architect (NCIDQ, WELL AP)

Example 4: Emerging / Pre-Licensure Architect (M.Arch, ARE in Progress)

See how your architect resume scores against real job descriptions

Architecture Credentials and Licensure Guide

Architecture Project Listing Format

ATS Keyword Grid for Architecture Roles

Before and After Bullet Rewrites

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I list ARE progress on my resume if I have not passed all 6 divisions?

What is the difference between a portfolio and a resume for an architect?

How do I list LEED AP on my resume?

What is the difference between a pre-licensure and licensed architect resume?

How should I list software proficiency levels on an architect resume?

Does a licensed architect resume need to be one page or two pages?

What is the NCARB Certificate and should I list it on my resume?

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