Applications Due by October 31, 2026
Study materials and exam prep courses covered!
Supporting Your Path to Licensure
The AIA Long Beach/South Bay Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Scholarship supports Associate AIA members as they work toward licensure in California. By helping offset the cost of examinations, study resources, and related licensing expenses, the scholarship invests in emerging professionals as they complete the licensure process and prepare to expand their impact on the architectural profession and the communities they serve.
Up to two (2) ARE Scholarships will be awarded annually.
Scholarship Award
Each Scholarship Recipient is eligible to receive reimbursement of up to $1,000 for eligible licensing expenses.
Eligible expenses include:
- ARE study materials
- ARE preparation courses
- Registration fees for successfully passed ARE divisions
- Registration fee for the successfully passed California Supplemental Examination (CSE)
- NCARB Record fees
- California Architects Board (CAB) licensing-related fees
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a California resident.
- Be an Associate AIA member of AIA Long Beach/South Bay in good standing.
- Hold an active NCARB Record and California Architects Board eligibility, or be enrolled in an NCARB Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program.
- Have not yet completed all divisions of the ARE.
- Remain an Associate AIA member in good standing throughout the reimbursement period.
Applicants must provide one of the following as proof of eligibility:
- NCARB Authorization to Test, or
- Verification of IPAL enrollment.
Submission Requirements
Submit one PDF document that meets the following requirements:
- Maximum 10 pages (including all supporting materials)
- Maximum file size: 10 MB
- 11″ × 17″ landscape format preferred (portrait portfolios will also be accepted)
- Website links and external portfolios will not be accepted
Page 1
Resume
Page 2
Letter of recommendation on professional letterhead from one of the following:
- An AXP supervisor
- An AXP mentor
- An AIA member in good standing
Pages 3–4
Essay (maximum two pages, 12-point font)
Remaining Pages
Design portfolio.
The portfolio may include:
- Academic projects
- Professional work (identify your role and employer or firm)
- Personal design projects
- Creative work demonstrating design thinking, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, music, or other artistic endeavors
One optional additional letter of support may also be included within the 10-page limit.
Essay
In no more than two pages, describe your journey toward architectural licensure and discuss:
- Why becoming a licensed architect in California is important to you.
- How this scholarship will help you achieve your licensure goals.
- How you hope to contribute to the architectural profession and your community after becoming licensed.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed based on the following:
- Commitment to achieving architectural licensure
- Potential to contribute to the architectural profession and the communities we serve
- Demonstrated engagement through leadership, volunteerism, mentorship, or service
- Quality and thoughtfulness of the essay
- Strength of the portfolio and demonstrated design ability
- Quality of the letter of recommendation
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by a jury appointed by AIA Long Beach/South Bay. The jury’s decisions are final. AIA Long Beach/South Bay reserves the right not to award a scholarship if, in the opinion of the jury, the applications do not meet the standards of the program.
Reimbursement Guidelines
Scholarship Recipients may request reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred between August 1, 2026 (three months prior to the application deadline) and October 31, 2027 (twelve months following the application deadline).
Requests for reimbursement must include:
- Itemized receipts for eligible expenses.
- Documentation verifying successful completion of eligible examinations, where applicable.
- Any additional documentation requested by AIA Long Beach/South Bay.
Scholarship Recipients may be awarded the AIA Long Beach/South Bay ARE Scholarship for up to two consecutive years, with a maximum lifetime reimbursement of $2,000.
Receiving financial assistance from another scholarship, employer reimbursement program, or other funding source does not disqualify an applicant.
Timeline
- Application Deadline: October 31, 2026
- Scholarship Recipients Announced: December 15, 2026
Scholarship Recognition
AIA Long Beach/South Bay is proud to recognize Scholarship Recipients through chapter publications, newsletters, the chapter website, social media, and other promotional materials. By accepting the scholarship, recipients grant AIA Long Beach/South Bay permission to acknowledge their selection through these channels.
Submit Your Application
Applications must be submitted through Submittable by October 31, 2026.
Applicants who do not already have a Submittable account will be prompted to create one before submitting.
Questions regarding the scholarship or application process may be directed to aialbsb@aialb-sb.org.
Thank you for your interest, and best wishes as you continue your journey toward becoming a licensed architect!