I agree with Mark Robin, let's face it with HGTV everyone believes they are great designers and they can do our jobs just like many nurses believe they can do what the doctors do, the difference is they can't write prescriptions so you have to see the doctor. Trying to convince the world that an Architect license means someone is a great designer will fall on deaf ears, mine included, some of the best designers I know are not licensed Architects.
The AIA needs to work on requiring a licensed Architect to stamp every plan requiring a building permit, believe me this would cause Architects to be greatly sought after and push the interns to obtain their licenses which they have no urgency to do. The one item I would add to Mark's comment would be that the AIA needs to push municipalities to require the Architects have Professional liability insurance (just like the Plumbers, Electricians, General Contractor...), this would eliminate the "Basement Architect" who undercuts the legitimate firm and keeps our fees from rising. I am baffled when I go in for a permit and the municipality doesn't require the Architect to produce their insurance certificate. If some of the insurance companies knew the homes and buildings they are insuring have an unlicensed and uninsured person designing them they should be worried, get them involved to push our initiative.
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Christopher Walsh AIA
Tandem Architecture
Buffalo Grove IL