Opportunities & Resources for Emerging Professionals

Do you want to get involved in an EP Program, Committee or Group? Contact us at info@aiatn.org.

State Architect Licensing Advisor

Kecia Forester, AIA serves as the 2025 state architect licensing advisor for the state and local components in Tennessee. The advisor serves as a resource to AXP participants. If you have questions and/or need guidance on AXP. Please reach out via email info@aiatn.org to be put into contact with Kecia.

Getting started

The path to licensure in the U.S. typically includes education, experience, and examination. Requirements vary by state, so use NCARB’s Licensing Requirements Tool to explore what’s needed where you want to practice.  

If you’re already licensed outside the U.S., visit NCARB’s website to learn about additional pathways to obtaining licensure in the U.S.  

You don’t have to figure it out alone—AIA provides each state with an Architect Licensing Advisor. These volunteer professionals can guide you through the process and offer personalized advice. 

AIA | ArchiPrep

Obtaining your architectural license is a big step in your career. The process is demanding, but the payoff gives you a competitive edge and the power to create your own future.   

ArchiPrep® support  

2021 Emerging Professionals Friendly Firm Award Winners

AIA TN likes to recognize Tennessee firms who offer great support and opportunities to their Emerging Professionals and to suggest more ways that all firms can elevate the level of EP support state-wide. We hope this process helps foster dialogue within firms and communities and across the state to create new and innovative policies and opportunities to support and develop the future members of our profession.

Top Firms were selected by a jury of peers and are as follows:

Outstanding EP Friendly Firm

  • Gresham Smith, Nashville
  • Self + Tucker Architect, Memphis
  • Smith Gee Studio, Nashville

EP Friendly Certified/Top Ten

  • Daniels + Chandler Architects, Nashville
  • CDP Architecture LLC, Nashville
  • McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Knoxville
  • EOA Arcitects, Nashille
  • TMPartners, Brentwood

NCARB Update | August 2019

We are pleased to announce the AIA TN NCARB Licensing Advisor is Cody Rau, AIA, from DIA in Knoxville, Tennessee. Cody recently attended the NCARB summit and has shared an update from the Summit this past August.

NCARB recently held their biennial training summit for Architect Licensing Advisors. Over the course of three days, roughly 250 volunteers & professionals gathered representing nearly all 55 US licensure jurisdictions including students, collegiate faculty & staff, architects & associates in the profession, firm leaders, NCARB staff, & state licensing board members. These volunteer advisors took part in various short sessions, lectures, & roundtable discussions with a focus on how each in their own role could best serve as a resource to licensure candidates. Read on.

AIA TN likes recognize Tennessee firms who offer great support and opportunities to their Emerging Professionals and to suggest more ways that all firms can elevate the level of EP support state-wide. We hope this process helps foster dialogue within firms and communities and across the state to create new and innovative policies and opportunities to support and develop the future members of our profession.

Top Firms were selected by a jury of peers and are as follows

Outstanding EPFF Firms:

  • HGB Design, Memphis, TN – Large Firm Category
  • Smith Gee Studio, Nashville, TN – Medium Firm Category
  • Workshop: Architecture, Chattanooga, TN – Small Firm Category
HBG Design
Smith Gee Studio
Workshop: Architecture

EPFF Firms:
• EOA Architects, Nashville, TN
• Gresham Smith, Nashville, TN
• Hastings Architecture, Nashville, TN
• Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects, Nashville, TN
• McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Knoxville, TN
• Sanders Pace Architecture, Knoxville, TN
• Self + Tucker Architects, Memphis, TN
• TMPartners, PLLC, Brentwood, TN

EOA Architects
Gresham Smith
Hastings Architecture
Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects
McCarty Holsaple McCarty
Sanders Pace Architecture
Self + Tucker Architects
TMPartners, LLC
About the Jury:
Michael Lejong
Brandon Bibby
Patty Opitz
Matt Poe

Jury Chair: Michael Lejong, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Principal
MAHG Architecture, Inc.

Michael became a principal partner at MAHG Architecture in 2001. The Fort Smith, Arkansas based design firm has been practicing for over 85 years in the River Valley and Northwest Arkasnas and currently focuses commercial and sustainable projects. He received his Bachelors of Architecture degree from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1996. While attending architecture school, he studied at the University of Arkansas Rome Center in Italy and was also in the founding studio of the internationally recognized University of Arkansas Community Design Center. Michael is a John G. Williams Fellow and serves on the FJSOA+D Dean’s Circle.

Michael has served the American Institute of Architects for over 15 years, has remained active with the U.S. Green Building Council and was recently appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson to serve the citizens of Arkansas on the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers. In 2020, Michael will chair the AIA National Small Firm Exchange member group.

Patricia Opitz, AIA | Senior Associate | Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects
Juror

A graduate from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Patty is a senior associate and project architect responsible for project management and production at Polk Stanley Wilcox in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently, she is the project architect team manager for the new Bank OZK Headquarters building, one of the largest construction projects in the state. In addition to corporate work, Patty has considerable experience in higher education construction, residential planning, from new residences to additions and renovations. Patty was recently honored with the Young Architect Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), being just one of 22 architects selected from across the country for this prestigious recognition, and the fourth and first female architect from Arkansas to receive this award.

Brandon Bibby, Assoc. AIA | Intern Architect | WER Architects/ Planners
Juror

Brandon joined WER Architects in Little Rock, Arkansas upon graduating from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in 2014 and has become an integral part of the design team on a wide variety of adaptive reuse, historic preservation, K-12, and medical design projects while at WER. Brandon currently serves as one of few associate members on the board of the AIA Arkansas Chapter as chair of the Central Arkansas Section, as well as boards for other community organizations including StudioMAIN, and Create Little Rock, and the Architecture and Design Network.

Matt Poe, AIA | associate | project architect | modus studio
Juror

As an Associate at modus studio in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Matt has designed and completed many K-12 public school projects as well as a Class A commercial office building. As a student at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and design, Matt spent two years expanding his knowledge of the profession in the Design + Build Program (ARKdb). During his studio, the team designed and built two modular homes that were constructed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, then transported to Little Rock, Arkansas for completion. He graduated from the program with a Bachelors of Architecture in 2012. Matt sits on the USGBC Arkansas Market Leadership Advisory Board plus serves AIA Arkansas as the Associate Director managing the AIA Arkansas Emerging Professional committee.

AIA Gulf States Regional Associate Director – Call for Submissions

CLICK HERE to learn more about this position and how you can submit your application!

2019 EP Friendly Firm Awards – Closed. Check back for 2020 Entry Dates.

Re-Think Tank | NCARB Update – November 2018

Katie Lynn, AIA, NCARB, from Memphis was selected one of 12 recently licensed architects from around the country to be a part of the Re-Think Tank. Katie recently shared a summary of the group’s work from the November 2018 Summit. See excerpt and photos below. Read complete summary here.

“I became involved with the Re-Think Tank because I want to share my path to licensure, especially to encourage others to get excited about the profession. I received my license less than two years after graduating with my Bachelor of Architecture degree. I feel as though my young age has allowed me to bring a new perspective to the discussion about architecture, specifically in this region. Therefore, I believe that recent graduates like myself should obtain licensure to allow our strengths in new ideas and technologies to further guide the profession.” Read on.

Members of this group explored challenges and opportunities throughout the licensure process, discussed how architecture firms and NCARB support candidates on the path to licensure, provided feedback on the transition from ARE 4.0 to 5.0, and explored the concept of competency as it relates to architectural practice and licensure.

AIA Gulf States Emerging Professionals Symposium – Postponed until 2019

The EP Symposium has been postponed until 2019 – Dates have yet to be determined. We will post any news/information to this page.

Follow GULF States EPs on Facebook

Do you know about EMERGE?

Emerge by AIAU, a new course series, provides emerging professionals on the path to licensure with experience hours in NCARB’s Architectural Experience Program (AXP). Courses in this series are free for Associate AIA members. You can gain extra experience hours that you might not get in a firm on your own time, on your own terms. Watch these videos to help you complete AXP and jump start your career. Get Started!

2018 EP Friendly Firm Awards 

2018 Top Ten Firms were selected by a jury of peers and are as follows:

Outstanding EPFF Firms:

  • EOA Architects, PLLC, Nashville, TN
  • Haizlip Studio, Memphis, TN
  • HBG Design, Memphis, TN
  • McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Knoxville, TN
  • Smith Gee Studio, Nashville, TN (pictured above)

EPFF Firms:

  • archimania, Memphis, TN
  • Hastings Architecture Associates, Nashville, TN
  • TMPartners, PLLC, Brentwood, TN (pictured above)
  • Self+Tucker Architects, Memphis, TN
  • Studio Four Design, Knoxville, TN
Representatives from EP Friendly Firms across Tennessee.

View the 2018 EPFF Press Release.

Learn more and enter the 2018 EP Friendly Firm Awards.

View 2017 EP Friendly Firm Award Winners

About Video Shorts/Poster Design Challenge

The AIA TN Video Shorts / Poster Design Challenge invites architects and designers to bring their perspective to life through film.  The challenge seeks to give presence, voice, and creative expression through video; capture different perspectives; and highlight what design professionals and community members are doing across our state.

Learn more about 2018 Video Shorts / Poster Design Challenge (now closed).

Check out the 2017 Winning Video

Career Center for Emerging Professionals

Prepping for the ARE

EMERGE by AIAU

AXP Resources

Young Architects Forum

1 2

Start typing and press enter to search