To become licensed, an architect must complete a professional degree program from an accredited university. This process takes between five and seven years depending on the program and the course of study. After graduating, he or she works under a licensed architect as an "intern" for a minimum of three years, demonstrating proficiency in a variety of skill areas. The intern logs his or her hours and submits them to the national accreditation board where the official records are kept.

Once the intern has accumulated the required hours, he or she is allowed to sit for a series of tests that attempt to gauge whether or not the intern has mastered a predetermined set of skills. Licensing of architects is administered state by state. Some states require licensed architects to demonstrate knowledge of how to deal with local issues (earthquake design in California, for example).

A licensed architect has an individualized seal with his or her license number. Actually, "licensed architect" is redundant - in order to call oneself an architect, one MUST have a valid license. Often, unlicensed design professionals will use titles like "designer", "intern architect", and "design consultant".

A licensed architect is required to place his or her seal and signature on all drawings he or she submits to the City of St. Louis for permit. Drawings that were prepared by an architect, but are not sealed will be rejected. If your drawings were not prepared by a licensed architect, it should be clearly stated on the drawings so the plan reviewer is aware.

The City of St. Louis does not require sealed drawings prepared by an architect in all cases. The current criteria include:

• Buildings with four units or less
• Buildings that have not been condemned
• Buildings without major structural modification
• Buildings that are not subject to CDA design review

If your project meets all these criteria, you may be able to have your drawings prepared by a non-licensed design professional or even prepare them yourself. All drawings must meet current building code and local ordinance requirements regardless of who prepares them. Architects and professional designers do provide a valuable service. Particularly if you are new to the renovation process, you should seek the advise and services of a professional.

The City of St. Louis has prepared a series of "Guidelines" that illustrate the types of information required on drawings for a variety of common building activities.