Becoming Certified
Board Certification
ACHA provides board certification to architects who specialize in health care within the United States and in countries where NCARB reciprocal licensure can be obtained. The certification process is rigorous and overseen by an independent testing agency, in order to establish a professionally sound, legally defensible standard by which people can identify themselves as healthcare architects.
Eligibility Pre-Requisites for Application
Participation in the ACHA Candidate program.
Licensure for at least 3 consecutive years prior to application within the U.S. or in any country that NCARB recognizes as eligible for a Foreign Architect Path towards NCARB certification.
At least 6,000 total hours of healthcare work experience within the last 5 years. A maximum of 2,000 documented hours of healthcare work experience may be accrued prior to licensure while enrolled in the ACHA candidate program.
Valid pre-licensure work hours in healthcare architecture must be accrued under the supervision of a U.S. or internationally licensed architect and validated by the supervising architect with a signed ACHA work hour eligibility form.
Valid healthcare work hours include professional practice or academic teaching and research in healthcare while employed within an architectural practice, academic institution, governmental, regulatory or healthcare organization. It does not include academic coursework as a student.
Certification Quick Links
Portfolio
Upon verification of the application by the ACHA Executive Office, the individual will be considered as an Applicant and can then proceed to the Portfolio/Exhibit Submission and Examination stage. The overall period of eligibility is five (5) years for completion of both the portfolio/Exhibit Submission and Examination.
Certificate Holders
ACHA Emeritus
Emeritus ACHA status may be granted to a certificant in good standing at the end of one's primary career for years of distinguished service to the profession and no longer plan to maintain their current full-time employment. “Emeritus ACHA” will require that an applicant has been continuously certified in good standing for 15 years minimum and be at least 65 years of age to qualify. An ACHA Emeritus is entitled to use “ACHA Emeritus” or “FACHA Emeritus” after their name.
ACHA Fellow
Fellowship is bestowed upon a certificant of the ACHA who has shown distinction in fulfilling one specific Category of Nomination of their work and has demonstrated an individual impact in healthcare architecture. For consideration, an ACHA certificant must be certified for a minimum of 5 years from the submission deadline, and have been a licensed architect for a minimum of 10 years from the submission deadline. An ACHA Fellow is entitled to use “FACHA” after their name.
ACHA Certificant
An ACHA Certificant is Board Certified in the specialty of healthcare architecture and entitled to use the credentials “ACHA” after their name.