The Michigan LARA Architect License Application is the official form filed with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs by anyone who wants to practice architecture in Michigan, whether by examination, endorsement (reciprocity), or relicensure after a lapse. The form lives inside the MiPLUS online licensing portal, and getting any field wrong can stall your file for months and push back the day you can stamp drawings or sign a contract under your own seal.
Architecture is one of the slowest-processing professional licenses in Michigan because LARA cross-checks your file against your NCARB Record, your school’s transcripts, and the Board of Architects roster before issuing a license number. According to LARA’s published service-level data, roughly 1 in 4 architect applications gets returned for a missing document or unanswered Good Moral Character question on the first review, which is why this guide walks you line by line through the current 2026 revision of the form.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every field on the Michigan LARA Architect License Application without triggering a deficiency notice
- 📚 Which transcripts, NCARB transmittals, and AXP/ARE records you must gather before you log in to MiPLUS
- 🧭 How the three pathways — Examination, Endorsement, and Relicensure — change the questions you must answer
- 💳 Exact fees, deadlines, and the proof-of-filing you should keep after you submit
- ⚠️ The most common field-level mistakes architects make and the consequences each one carries
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Michigan LARA Architect License Application is the regulatory document the Michigan Board of Architects uses to decide whether you meet the education, experience, and examination standards in Article 20 of Michigan’s Occupational Code, Public Act 299 of 1980. The form is not optional. Practicing architecture, using the title “architect,” or sealing drawings in Michigan without an active license is a misdemeanor under MCL 339.601, and unlicensed practice can also void your professional liability coverage.
Three groups of people file this form. First-time applicants who finished a NAAB-accredited degree and want to take or have already passed the Architect Registration Examination file the Application for Architect Licensure by Examination. Architects already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction or holding an active NCARB Certificate file the Application for Architect Licensure by Endorsement. Architects whose Michigan license expired more than 60 days ago file the Architect Relicensure Application under Mich Admin Code R 339.15401.
The form’s purpose is to verify that you meet three standards: a NAAB-accredited professional degree, completion of the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), and a passing score on all six divisions of ARE 5.0. The agency that receives the form is LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing. The deadline that governs first-time exam applicants is 60 days from passing the final ARE division, and the penalty for late filing is having to re-document AXP hours that may have aged out of NCARB’s six-month rolling experience reports.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Open MiPLUS only after you have every item below in front of you, because the portal times out after 20 minutes of inactivity and will discard partial entries. Architects who try to “fill as they go” almost always lose a session and have to restart, which is the single most common reason an application takes three weeks instead of three days.
- Government-issued photo ID matching the legal name on your NCARB Record, because LARA cross-references the name and date of birth and a mismatch puts your file on a name-verification hold.
- Social Security Number, required under MCL 339.204 for child-support enforcement; missing this number causes an automatic rejection.
- Official NAAB-accredited transcript sent directly from your school’s registrar to LARA, because student-issued copies are treated as unofficial and rejected.
- NCARB Record transmittal, which you order through your NCARB dashboard and which LARA will not accept by email forwarding from you.
- AXP completion verification showing all six experience areas closed by your supervisor, because partial AXP closure freezes the file until NCARB updates.
- ARE 5.0 score reports for all six divisions, since LARA matches the pass dates against the 5-year rolling clock in NCARB’s ARE Guidelines.
- Good Moral Character disclosures, including certified court records for any felony, misdemeanor (other than minor traffic), or prior disciplinary action in another state.
- Credit or debit card for the application fee, because MiPLUS does not accept paper checks for online filing and rejects ACH transfers from non-U.S. banks.
- Current home and business addresses, because the license certificate is mailed to the address on file and undeliverable mail triggers a 30-day cure period.
- Prior license numbers from every state where you have ever held an architect license, even expired ones, because LARA pulls a national disciplinary check through NCARB’s broadcast and undisclosed licenses are treated as misrepresentation.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The current revision of the Michigan LARA Architect License Application is dated January 2026 and lives in two places. The fillable PDF version is hosted on the Architects forms and publications page, and the interactive online version is built into MiPLUS. Always confirm the revision date in the lower-left footer of the PDF before you start, because LARA periodically pushes minor changes (for example, adding a question about telehealth-style remote practice) that an old PDF will not reflect.
To reach the online version, create a free MiPLUS account, click Apply for a License, choose Architect under the Bureau of Professional Licensing, and select the pathway that matches your situation. The portal walks you through the same questions as the paper PDF, but it also runs real-time validation on your Social Security Number, NCARB number, and prior license fields. Paper filers must mail the signed PDF and a check to Bureau of Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.
If you are a foreign-trained architect, you must first obtain an NCARB Education Evaluation before MiPLUS will let you proceed past the Education section, because the system blocks non-NAAB degree codes. Pro se filers without an NCARB Record can still apply by examination, but the Endorsement pathway is locked unless you upload an active NCARB Certificate number.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Michigan LARA Architect License Application Line by Line
The line-by-line walkthrough below follows the 2026 revision of the form in the order MiPLUS presents it. Each H3 covers one field, the reasoning behind it, an example entry, a nuance, the consequence of a common mistake, and a misconception filers often carry into that box. Use the exact field names printed on the official form when you read along.
Section 1 — Application Type
The form asks you to pick one of three radio buttons: Examination, Endorsement, or Relicensure. In plain English, this question is asking how you qualify for a Michigan license, not whether you qualify. To answer it, click the single button that matches your situation and do not check more than one, because MiPLUS will not let you save the page if multiple boxes are selected. Jordan Reed, a 2025 University of Michigan M.Arch graduate who just passed her sixth ARE division, would select Examination.
A common nuance is the architect who is licensed in Ohio and has an active NCARB Certificate but never took ARE 5.0; that filer still selects Endorsement because the NCARB Certificate substitutes for direct ARE verification. The most common mistake on this field is selecting Examination when you already hold a license elsewhere, which forces LARA to reject the file and refund the application fee minus a $25 processing charge. The misconception people hold is that Relicensure is for any expired license, but it is only for Michigan licenses lapsed beyond 60 days; an out-of-state filer with a lapsed Ohio license still uses Endorsement if their NCARB Certificate is active.
Section 2 — Full Legal Name
This field asks for your name exactly as it appears on your government ID and your NCARB Record. Enter your last name, first name, and middle name in the boxes provided, with no nicknames, no initials unless your legal middle name is a single letter, and no suffixes in the first-name field. Priya Anand Krishnan writes Krishnan in Last Name, Priya in First Name, and Anand in Middle Name.
The nuance most filers miss involves a recent name change, such as marriage or divorce; you must enter your current legal name and then list your prior name in Section 3 (Other Names Used) so LARA can match your transcripts and AXP records. The common mistake is entering a preferred name like Pri instead of Priya, which causes the NCARB transmittal name-match to fail and puts the file on a 30-day verification hold. The misconception is that you can “fix it later” by emailing the analyst, but a name mismatch requires a notarized affidavit and a corrected NCARB transmittal, which usually adds three weeks to processing.
Section 3 — Other Names Used
This field asks whether you have ever used another legal name, including maiden names, prior married names, or court-changed names. Type each prior name on its own row with the approximate dates of use, and write None if you have never used another name. David Okafor-Bell writes David Okafor with the date range 2001–2018 if he hyphenated his surname after marriage in 2018.
The edge case is a transgender filer whose transcripts were issued under a former name; you list the former name here, and you may also request a transcript reissue from your school in your current name to streamline matching. The mistake of leaving this blank when prior names exist is treated as misrepresentation under MCL 339.604, which carries discretionary discipline up to license denial. The misconception is that childhood nicknames count, but only legal names that appear on government records or academic transcripts belong here.
Section 4 — Social Security Number
The SSN field asks for your full nine-digit Social Security Number. Enter it as 123-45-6789 with the dashes that MiPLUS auto-formats, and do not leave the field blank or write Refuse to disclose. Marcus Bell writes 123-45-6789 exactly as it appears on his Social Security card.
The nuance for non-citizens is that an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is not accepted for licensure under 42 USC 666; you must hold a Social Security Number to be licensed in Michigan. The common mistake is transposing two digits, which causes the child-support enforcement cross-check to fail and freezes the application until you submit a correction signed under penalty of perjury. The misconception is that LARA publishes your SSN; it is collected only for enforcement purposes and is redacted from the public license record.
Section 5 — Date of Birth
This field asks for your full date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format. Enter the month, day, and four-digit year exactly as printed on your birth certificate or passport. Aisha Thornton writes 03/14/1990 if she was born on March 14, 1990.
The nuance is that MiPLUS validates the date against your NCARB Record; a one-digit typo (writing 1980 instead of 1990) creates a date-of-birth mismatch flag. The mistake of using a two-digit year (03/14/90) causes MiPLUS to reject the entry as invalid and lose the page if you do not correct it before timeout. The misconception is that the date of birth is optional for privacy reasons, but Michigan requires it under the Occupational Code for identity verification and disciplinary cross-matching.
Section 6 — Mailing Address
The mailing address asks where LARA should send your license certificate and any official notices. Enter your street address, city, state, and ZIP code in the boxes provided; a P.O. Box is allowed for mailing only if you also list a physical address in Section 7. Jordan Reed writes 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
The nuance for filers who are between residences is that you should use the most stable address for the next 90 days, because the certificate is mailed only once at no charge. The mistake of using a temporary address means an undeliverable certificate triggers a 30-day cure period and a $25 reissue fee. The misconception is that updating your address later requires a new application; you can update it free of charge inside MiPLUS at any time after licensure.
Section 7 — Physical Address
This field asks for the street address where you actually live, even if it differs from your mailing address. Enter the residential street, apartment number if any, city, state, and ZIP. Priya Krishnan writes 812 Maple Avenue, Apt 3B, Royal Oak, MI 48067.
The nuance is for military filers stationed overseas; you may list your APO/FPO address with documentation of active duty under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The mistake of leaving this blank when you used a P.O. Box in Section 6 causes an automatic deficiency. The misconception is that the physical address becomes public; only the city and state appear in the public license lookup.
Section 8 — Telephone and Email
This field asks for a current daytime phone number and an email address LARA can use to send licensing notices. Enter a 10-digit phone number and an email you check at least weekly. David Okafor-Bell writes (313) 555-0142 and dokafor@architectsmi.com.
The nuance is that LARA’s primary communication channel is email; if your email goes to spam, you will miss the deficiency notice and the 60-day cure window can run out. The mistake of using a school email that expires after graduation locks you out of analyst correspondence. The misconception is that LARA will call you for missing items; the agency rarely phones, so the email field is functionally the most important contact box on the form.
Section 9 — Education
This section asks for every post-secondary degree you hold, with the most recent listed first. Enter the school name, city, degree title (for example, Master of Architecture), graduation date, and NAAB accreditation status. Jordan Reed enters University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Master of Architecture, 05/04/2025, NAAB-accredited.
The nuance for foreign-educated filers is that you must attach the NCARB Education Evaluation Services (EESA) report, because LARA does not evaluate foreign degrees in-house. The mistake of listing an unaccredited pre-professional degree as your qualifying degree causes immediate rejection, since only the professional NAAB degree qualifies. The misconception is that a B.S. in Architecture alone is sufficient; Michigan requires a NAAB-accredited professional degree (B.Arch or M.Arch) for licensure by examination.
Section 10 — Architectural Experience Program (AXP)
This field asks whether you have completed all six AXP experience areas through NCARB. Click Yes and enter your NCARB Record number if AXP is fully closed; click No only if you are applying under a pre-AXP grandfather pathway, which is rare in 2026. Marcus Bell enters NCARB Record #123456 and clicks Yes.
The nuance is that AXP must be closed, not merely “in progress”; partial completion (for example, 3,500 of 3,740 hours) is treated the same as zero. The mistake of submitting before NCARB transmits the closure causes a 30-day re-verification cycle. The misconception is that LARA accepts a screenshot of your NCARB dashboard; only the official transmittal sent directly from NCARB to LARA satisfies this field.
Section 11 — Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
This field asks whether you have passed all six ARE 5.0 divisions and the date of your final passing division. Enter Yes and the date in MM/DD/YYYY format if you are applying by examination. Jordan Reed enters Yes and 11/12/2025.
The nuance is the 5-year rolling clock under NCARB rules; if your earliest passing division is more than 5 years old when LARA reviews your file, the expired division must be retaken. The mistake of misreporting a fail as a pass triggers an investigation and possible denial under MCL 339.604. The misconception is that ARE 4.0 scores are still accepted; ARE 4.0 was retired in 2018 and only the converted credits inside your NCARB Record carry forward.
Section 12 — Other State Licenses
This field asks you to list every state or jurisdiction where you have ever held an architect license, including expired and inactive ones. Enter each state, license number, issue date, and current status. Priya Krishnan enters Illinois, #001-024567, 06/15/2020, Active and Indiana, #AR12345, 09/01/2022, Inactive.
The nuance is that lapsed licenses still count; do not omit a license simply because it expired. The mistake of leaving out a prior license is treated as misrepresentation when LARA’s NCARB broadcast catches it. The misconception is that licenses from non-U.S. jurisdictions go here; foreign registrations belong in Section 13 (Other Credentials), not here.
Section 13 — Good Moral Character Disclosures
This section asks five yes/no questions about felonies, misdemeanors, professional discipline, civil judgments involving fraud, and pending investigations. Click Yes or No for each, and if you click Yes, attach a written explanation and certified court documents. Aisha Thornton, who had a 2015 misdemeanor for disorderly conduct, clicks Yes on the misdemeanor question and uploads the certified disposition.
The nuance is that minor traffic offenses (speeding, parking) do not need to be disclosed, but a DUI does because it is a misdemeanor. The mistake of clicking No when a record exists is grounds for license denial under Mich Admin Code R 339.15301, even if the underlying offense would not have prevented licensure. The misconception is that expunged records are invisible; LARA’s background check still surfaces sealed dispositions, so disclose and explain.
Section 14 — Continuing Education Attestation (Renewal/Relicensure Only)
This field, which appears only on the Relicensure pathway, asks whether you have completed the 24 hours of continuing education required under Mich Admin Code R 339.15203, including the mandatory hours in health, safety, and welfare. Click Yes and upload course certificates if you are reinstating a lapsed license. David Okafor-Bell, relicensing after a 6-year lapse, uploads 24 hours of HSW course certificates from AIA Michigan.
The nuance is that lapsed-over-3-years filers must complete additional CE catch-up under the rule. The mistake of attesting Yes without keeping the actual certificates triggers an audit and potential discipline. The misconception is that AIA membership equals automatic CE; only courses with documented HSW credit count.
Section 15 — Signature and Affirmation
The final field asks you to sign under penalty of perjury that all answers are true and complete. In MiPLUS, this is an electronic signature box where you type your full legal name and click I agree; on paper, you sign in blue or black ink and date it. Jordan Reed types Jordan Marie Reed and clicks I agree on 01/15/2026.
The nuance is that an electronic signature carries the same legal weight as a wet signature under Michigan’s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. The mistake of having someone else (a spouse, paralegal, employer) sign for you voids the application. The misconception is that you can sign before completing the form; the signature must be the last action, because it certifies everything above it.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three scenarios below show how three different filers move through the same form. Each table has two columns and walks the named filer from Section 1 through signature.
Scenario A — Jordan Reed, Licensure by Examination
| Form Section | What Jordan Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | Examination |
| Full Legal Name | Reed, Jordan, Marie |
| Other Names Used | None |
| Social Security Number | 123-45-6789 |
| Date of Birth | 07/22/1999 |
| Mailing Address | 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
| Education | University of Michigan, M.Arch, 05/04/2025, NAAB |
| AXP Status | Yes — NCARB #234567 closed 10/15/2025 |
| ARE Status | Yes — final pass 11/12/2025 |
| Good Moral Character | No to all five questions |
| Signature | Jordan Marie Reed, 01/15/2026 |
Scenario B — Priya Krishnan, Licensure by Endorsement
| Form Section | What Priya Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | Endorsement |
| Full Legal Name | Krishnan, Priya, Anand |
| Other Names Used | None |
| Social Security Number | 234-56-7890 |
| Date of Birth | 02/09/1988 |
| Physical Address | 812 Maple Avenue, Apt 3B, Royal Oak, MI 48067 |
| Education | IIT, B.Arch, 05/2010 + EESA evaluated NAAB-equivalent |
| NCARB Certificate | #078912, issued 03/01/2021, active |
| Other State Licenses | Illinois #001-024567 active; Indiana #AR12345 inactive |
| Good Moral Character | No to all five questions |
| Signature | Priya Anand Krishnan, 01/20/2026 |
Scenario C — David Okafor-Bell, Relicensure After Lapse
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | Relicensure |
| Full Legal Name | Okafor-Bell, David, James |
| Other Names Used | Okafor, David James (1998–2018) |
| Prior Michigan License | #1301045678, lapsed 10/31/2019 |
| Social Security Number | 345-67-8901 |
| Date of Birth | 11/30/1972 |
| Mailing Address | 5500 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202 |
| Continuing Education | 24 HSW hours via AIA Michigan, 2025 |
| Good Moral Character | Yes to misdemeanor (2015 DUI), explanation attached |
| Reinstatement Fee | $210 plus catch-up CE certificates |
| Signature | David James Okafor-Bell, 02/03/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Michigan accepts the architect application through three channels, and the channel you pick changes the processing time and the proof-of-filing you should keep.
The fastest channel is the MiPLUS online portal, where you upload all documents, pay the $110 application fee plus the $157.08 initial license fee by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express, and receive an instant confirmation number. Processing time runs 10–20 business days when the file is clean. Save the PDF receipt and the confirmation email as your proof-of-filing.
The mail channel sends the signed PDF, supporting documents, and a check or money order payable to State of Michigan to Bureau of Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909. Processing time runs 6–10 weeks, and the only proof you have is the certified-mail return receipt, so always send it certified. The fee is the same as online.
In-person filing is available at the Ottawa Building, 611 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933, by appointment only, and is generally reserved for filers who need a same-day verification letter. Fax filing is not accepted for new architect licensure as of the 2026 revision. Whichever channel you pick, keep a complete PDF copy of the submitted application, every uploaded attachment, and the fee receipt for at least seven years, because LARA can audit a license file under MCL 339.509.
What Happens After You File
Once the file lands in MiPLUS, an analyst opens it within 5 business days and runs three checks: identity verification, education and experience matching, and Good Moral Character review. If everything matches, your file moves to the Board of Architects’ next consent agenda, where the Board issues licenses in batches roughly every two weeks.
If something is missing, you receive a deficiency letter by email with a 60-day cure window under Mich Admin Code R 339.15103. Common deficiencies include a missing NCARB transmittal, an unsigned Good Moral Character explanation, or a transcript that the school sent late. Failure to cure within 60 days closes the file and forfeits the application fee, so respond fast and upload the missing item directly through MiPLUS rather than emailing the analyst.
Once approved, your license number is issued the next business day and the certificate is mailed within 10 business days. The license is immediately active in the LARA license verification lookup, which is what clients, contractors, and building officials check. The license then runs on a biennial cycle, expiring on October 31 of odd-numbered years, with renewal opening 90 days before expiration.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Selecting the wrong Application Type (Examination vs. Endorsement), which forces a full restart and a partial fee refund only.
- Entering a preferred name instead of your legal name, which fails the NCARB name-match and adds 3 weeks of verification.
- Leaving the SSN blank or writing Refuse, which causes an automatic rejection under federal child-support rules.
- Listing an unaccredited pre-professional degree as your qualifying degree, which gets the application denied at the Education review.
- Submitting before AXP is fully closed in NCARB, which triggers a 30-day reverification cycle each time NCARB updates.
- Forgetting to disclose an expired out-of-state license, which the NCARB broadcast surfaces and which is treated as misrepresentation.
- Clicking No on a Good Moral Character question when a record exists, which is independent grounds for denial regardless of the underlying offense.
- Using a school email that expires after graduation, which causes you to miss the deficiency letter and blow the 60-day cure window.
- Uploading a screenshot of the NCARB Record instead of an official transmittal, which the analyst cannot accept under LARA policy.
- Attempting to fax the new application, which is no longer an accepted channel and which the agency does not log.
- Paying the application fee with an ACH transfer from a non-U.S. bank, which MiPLUS rejects and which leaves the application unsubmitted.
- Having a third party sign on your behalf, which voids the affirmation and forces a refile.
Dos and Don’ts
Dos
- Confirm the revision date in the form footer is January 2026 before you start, because outdated PDFs miss new questions.
- Order your NCARB transmittal before opening MiPLUS, because the transmittal often takes 5–7 business days to arrive at LARA.
- Use a personal email you will keep for years, because LARA’s deficiency notices are time-sensitive.
- Save a PDF copy of the completed application before clicking submit, because MiPLUS does not let you reprint after submission.
- Pay with a credit card rather than a check, because card payments clear instantly and check payments delay the file 1–2 weeks.
- Disclose every prior name and license, because undisclosed records discovered later are treated as fraud.
Don’ts
- Do not start the application until AXP is closed in NCARB, because partial closure freezes the file.
- Do not paraphrase Good Moral Character explanations, because LARA wants the certified court disposition, not a narrative.
- Do not leave Section 7 blank if you used a P.O. Box in Section 6, because LARA needs a physical residence on file.
- Do not rely on a school email, because expired addresses cause missed deficiency letters.
- Do not submit without the application fee, because unpaid applications are not queued for analyst review.
- Do not assume silence is approval; if you have not heard from LARA in 30 days, log into MiPLUS and check the file status.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of Filing Pro Se
- You save the $300–$1,500 a licensing service or attorney charges, because the form itself is straightforward for a clean record.
- You learn Michigan’s Occupational Code, which helps you mentor future AXP candidates.
- You control the timing and the file directly inside your MiPLUS account.
- You avoid the 1–2 week delay of routing documents through a third party.
- You build a direct relationship with LARA’s analyst, which helps for future renewals and firm registrations.
Cons of Filing Pro Se
- You bear the full risk of a Good Moral Character disclosure mistake, which can be irreversible.
- You lose access to a service’s quality-check on transcript and NCARB transmittal timing.
- You may misread the 60-day post-exam window or the 5-year ARE rolling clock.
- You handle every deficiency letter alone, including those involving foreign credential evaluations.
- You carry the burden of recordkeeping for a seven-year audit window without help.
Key Entities and How They Interact
The Michigan Board of Architects sits inside LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing and votes on every architect license. NCARB maintains your Record, administers the ARE, and certifies AXP completion. NAAB accredits the professional degree programs Michigan accepts. The Michigan Department of Treasury processes child-support enforcement cross-checks tied to your SSN. The Michigan Office of the Attorney General prosecutes unlicensed-practice cases referred by LARA’s enforcement division.
The Board sets the rules in Mich Admin Code R 339.15101 et seq., but LARA’s analysts apply them daily. NCARB’s Record is the evidence that satisfies most Board rules, which is why a clean NCARB Record is the single biggest predictor of fast Michigan approval.
Examination vs. Endorsement at a Glance
| Feature | Examination | Endorsement |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | First-time licensee with NAAB degree, AXP, and ARE | Architect already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction |
| Education proof | Official transcript directly from school | NCARB Record or transcript |
| Experience proof | Closed AXP via NCARB transmittal | NCARB Certificate substitutes |
| Examination proof | All six ARE 5.0 divisions passed | NCARB Certificate or direct ARE transmittal |
| Application fee | $110 | $110 |
| Initial license fee | $157.08 | $157.08 |
| Typical processing | 10–20 business days online | 15–30 business days online |
| Most common deficiency | Late transcript from registrar | Undisclosed inactive out-of-state license |
FAQs
Do I need to take ARE 5.0 if I already hold an NCARB Certificate?
No. An active NCARB Certificate substitutes for direct ARE verification on the Endorsement pathway, so you do not retake the exam to obtain a Michigan license.
Can I apply before I finish AXP?
No. Michigan requires AXP to be fully closed in NCARB before LARA accepts the application; partial completion will not pass the analyst’s experience check.
Is a B.S. in Architecture enough to qualify by examination?
No. Michigan requires a NAAB-accredited professional degree, which means a B.Arch, M.Arch, or D.Arch; a non-accredited pre-professional B.S. alone does not qualify.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the Full Legal Name field?
No to maiden name if you have legally changed it; enter your current legal name in Section 2 and list the maiden name in Section 3 (Other Names Used).
Should I check Yes on the misdemeanor question for a 10-year-old expunged DUI?
Yes. Disclose it because LARA’s background check surfaces expunged records, and undisclosed records are independent grounds for denial.
Can I list “Refuse to disclose” in the Social Security Number field?
No. The SSN is mandatory under federal child-support enforcement rules, and any refusal results in an automatic application rejection.
Is a P.O. Box acceptable as my address on the form?
Yes, but only in Section 6 (Mailing Address); Section 7 still requires a physical residence street address.
Do foreign-trained architects need a special evaluation?
Yes. Foreign degree holders must obtain an NCARB EESA evaluation before MiPLUS will accept the Education section of the application.
Can my employer or spouse sign the application for me?
No. Only the applicant may sign under penalty of perjury, and a third-party signature voids the affirmation and the entire submission.
Is the application fee refundable if I withdraw?
No. The $110 application fee is non-refundable once the file is opened by an analyst, even if you later decide not to pursue licensure.
Do I need to register a separate architect corporation if I want to practice as a firm?
Yes. A separate Architect Corporation or Professional Limited Liability Company registration with LARA is required before the firm can offer architectural services in Michigan.
Can ARE 4.0 divisions still count toward Michigan licensure?
Yes, but only through the converted credits already inside your NCARB Record from before ARE 4.0’s 2018 retirement; new candidates must use ARE 5.0.
Is fingerprinting required for the architect application?
No. Michigan does not currently require fingerprint-based criminal background checks for architects, but the Good Moral Character disclosures still apply.
How long do I have to apply after passing my final ARE division?
Yes, there is a window — apply within 60 days of passing your final ARE division to keep AXP and exam timing aligned and avoid re-documentation.
Will my license number appear in the public LARA verification lookup?
Yes. Your name, license number, status, issue date, and expiration appear in the public LARA license verification lookup as soon as the Board approves the file.
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