Side Note:
First of all, I hope that this entry seems a bit more
organized than the previous ones. Don’t
count on anything but I mean I’ll try. If
there’s something that anyone’s unhappy with, just leave a comment addressing
your opinion and possible improvements, or anything else for that matter. Due note that I read all comments. And due note that I probably won’t change a
single thing that you propose. That’s just
the way I am. Alright thank you!
Overview:
So this time on my blog, I will be talking about becoming an
architect. This has been one of those
options that I always leave in the back of my head, kind of like a back-up
plan. I find being an architect would be
very interesting and would never get boring.
There are so many different ways to design a building or house or
anything for all I care that I feel you will always keep yourself
guessing. This would bring out the
artistic side of me and test my creativity.
Also, this job may involve traveling, which is something I do not mind
at all. Real quick, for those of you
that don’t know (most likely none of you), an architect is someone who designs things and often
supervises their construction. The type
of architecture that I am interested in is a building designer, also a home
designer (there are a bunch of different positions in architecture).
What Professional Building
Designers Do:
Professional
Building Designers, or Home Designers, specialize in designing single family
homes. In some cases, they may also design other light frame residential
buildings, agricultural buildings, and decorative facades for larger buildings. Unlike architects, Home Designers are not
legally required to pass examinations or receive special licenses to design.
However, a designer who carries the title "Certified Professional Building
Designer" or "CPBD" has completed training courses, passed a
rigorous certification exam, and practiced building design for at least six
years. Typically, they begin by creating working drawings, which are later
turned into actual construction plans, or “blueprints”. However, CPBDs follow a strict code of
professional ethics and discipline, as governed by the American Institute of
Building Design. So the only real bummer
so far is that I cannot do ANYTHING I want… technically.
What to Study in School:
There are no
specific education requirements for building designers. Many building designers train as architects
but have not completed the licensing requirements. So they generally don’t work as hard, nice! Although, developing building designers take
classes in architecture or structural engineering to study construction, architectural
design, and even analytical problem solving. These courses are usually
completed at vocational schools, community colleges, or other schools of
architecture. Some schools to keep in
mind that are known to have good programs for this profession are Michigan
University, Arizona State University, Northcentral University, and ITT
Technical Institute.
How Much They Make:
Money is of course
something to be aware of. I mean it’s
great if you love what you do for a living, but you need some sort of financial
stability. Anyways, I was at my desk crunching some numbers, and apparently,
according to a study done by Salary Expert, the median salary of a professional
building designer is just shy of $70,000.
However, this number may rise or lower depending on how well business is
booming… or if it isn’t, cuz maybe you’ll get a bonus, maybe you won’t. Nobody knows.
Architects on the other hand, the guys with more pre-requisites, make
just under $80,000, so maybe that might be better for me. I would have to pay more in school however to
take the best classes and pass the exams.
Final Thoughts:
I think being an
architect could be really cool! (:
