Intern no more: AIA supports two new titles for professionals pursuing licensure. A new position statement from AIA seeks to move architecture beyond the outdated use of ‘intern.’

In December of 2016, AIA’s Board of Directors updated the Institute’s position statements to clarify the term “intern.” The newly approved statement specified that, while “intern” remains a supported title for students working in an architectural office while pursuing an architecture degree, it should not apply to those who have already earned a NAAB-accredited degree and are currently working for a firm while pursuing licensure. For those individuals, AIA strongly supports two titles: “architectural associate” and “design professional.”

The statement is AIA’s response to a lengthy debate on using “intern” to describe graduates on the path to licensure, an issue of importance to many emerging professionals. And while the two terms come with their own complications on a state-by-state basis, there’s a consensus across the profession that this statement is a much-needed step in the right direction.

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