Young architect shares secrets to lightning-fast licensure

According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), it takes the average architect more than 13 years to obtain licensure. That must mean Drew Haley Smith, a 2023 graduate of Auburn University’s architecture program, is above average: she recently became a licensed architect at the age of 23, making her one of the youngest licensed female architects in the U.S.

A native of Auburn, Alabama, Smith graduated from Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) in 2023 with concurrent degrees in architecture and interior architecture and studied at the college’s famed Rural Studio in Newbern, Alabama. She currently works at SS&L Architects’ Auburn office.

In just one year, Smith completed the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), which includes logging 3,740 hours of professional work under the supervision of licensed professionals, and the Architecture Registration Examination (ARE), a challenging six-section test that draws on knowledge from both academic study and professional experience. According to NCARB, it takes the average candidate 2.6 years to pass all six sections, and the average pass rate per test is 58%. Smith’s feat is even more impressive given the fact that only 27% of all architects are women.

Smith wants to help other licensure candidates work their way through the ARE and AXP faster, so she has recently launched a website to share tips and tricks she learned while completing this impressive feat.

When did you start logging AXP hours, and how did you get them completed so quickly?

I started logging AXP hours during my second year of architecture school. A lot of credit goes to SS&L Architects for helping me obtain those hours. They encouraged me to be intentional about requesting work in the appropriate fields.

When did you start studying for the ARE? Did you pass all six sections on the first try?

I began studying two weeks after starting work full-time. My goal was to treat the tests like a master’s program in hopes that I could maintain my study habits from school. Unfortunately, I did not pass them all on the first try — I failed the first one (Project Management) and the last one (Project Development and Documentation).

The first time I failed, I was pretty discouraged. But the second time I failed, I decided to view it as a challenge instead of a setback.

Alabama’s state licensing board doesn’t track age demographics, but it’s hard to find a licensed architect younger than you. Do you think there’s anyone out there who is younger?

I hope so! I think it is a great idea to get licensed as quickly as possible because life will most likely only get busier. The longer one waits, the harder it will be to finish quickly. That is why I created the areyoureadystudymaterials.com website specifically with recent graduates in mind (although it’s never too late to start).

Were you good at taking tests in college?  What’s your secret?

I am definitely not a great test-taker. In fact, one of the initial appeals of architecture school was the fact that there would not be many tests — or so I thought.

If there is a secret, it would probably be creating a day-by-day schedule to keep myself accountable. Two months after passing the last test, I decided to document my study process to help others get licensed as quickly as possible. I converted my personal study schedules into customizable Excel spreadsheets so others can know exactly where to start and how to stay on track.

How did you feel when you realized you had completed all the licensing requirements? 

At the time, my only goal was to complete everything before my birthday. After finishing the tests, I knew I had to work a ton of overtime to complete the AXP hour requirement in time. After working several weekends and long days, I was fortunately able to finish all hours at 3 p.m. the day before my birthday!

The only thing I could feel after it was all done was complete joy. I felt deeply thankful to the Lord for blessing me with good health, a wonderful family and a supportive team.

It sounds like your employer and co-workers were really supportive – how have they helped you along the way?

Everyone at SS&L has helped me in so many ways. I could ask anybody about a practice question I was struggling with, and they always made time to help me. Not only that, but they also made tremendous efforts to assign me projects that provided the AXP hours I needed most.

Senior Principal Architect Jimmy Seay approved my AXP reports immediately and kept a close watch on any additional hours I might need. They are truly the best.

Completing the licensure requirements within a year had always been a personal goal of mine. I was blessed to be surrounded by encouraging people who invested a lot of time and effort to help me reach that goal.

What kinds of projects do you design?

Right now, I am working on some projects for Auburn Athletics and Auburn University Recreation and Wellness. I am also working on several cottages and a potential building for a local Chamber of Commerce. Before these, I worked on various projects for Maxwell Air Force Base, including a wargaming center, a gym, a training pool and a new recreation district.

What has been your favorite project?

Probably either the wargaming center or Floral Park in Opelika. I also enjoyed working on an event center in Gadsden, Alabama, which was designed entirely with shipping containers.

What do you hope to design in the future?

The type of building I design does not matter to me as much as the people I am designing for. I am happy to help out wherever I am needed.