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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

SOC 17-1011.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full professional practice of licensed architects in formal design firms and organizational settings, from entry-level project support through executive leadership, spanning residential, commercial, institutional, and large-scale complex project environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Scale drawings and basic architectural layouts — produce using CAD software under direct supervision on entry-level residential or commercial projects.
  2. Client functional and spatial requirements — gather and document through structured interviews under the guidance of a licensed architect.
  3. Architectural design standards and building codes — recognize and apply basic provisions when preparing preliminary design documents in a professional firm.
  4. Aesthetic representations of proposed structures — draft using desktop publishing and graphics software following established office templates and style guides.
  5. Material specifications and construction details — compile from standard reference sources under senior architect review for straightforward building types.
  6. Construction cost estimates and project timelines — assist in preparing preliminary figures using office-provided spreadsheet tools and historical cost data.
  7. Engineering elements such as structural and mechanical systems — identify and flag for integration into architectural drawings with guidance from project leads.
  8. Technical drawings and design documents — review for completeness and consistency against project briefs under close supervision in a studio environment.
  9. Communication with clients during drawing review meetings — participate by presenting assigned drawing sets and recording feedback under architect oversight.
  10. Analytical and scientific software tools — apply to basic site analysis and performance modeling tasks as directed within a multidisciplinary design team.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Final construction plan sets including aesthetic and technical details — coordinate and produce using CAD software with limited oversight on mid-scale commercial projects.
  2. Client consultation sessions — conduct independently to clarify functional and spatial requirements, documenting outcomes for project team review.
  3. Design specification packages covering materials, color, equipment, and finishes — prepare and assemble for client approval on routine project types within established firm protocols.
  4. Architectural layout plans for structural projects — develop and iterate in response to code, site, and program constraints with periodic senior review.
  5. Specialist consultants including mechanical and electrical engineers — monitor work products and coordinate drawing coordination meetings to ensure design intent is maintained.
  6. Construction drawings and design narratives — write and revise to professional standard, adapting language for technical and non-technical audiences.
  7. Integrated engineering systems within architectural designs — resolve routine conflicts between structural, mechanical, and architectural elements using systems analysis techniques.
  8. Building and construction regulations — apply comprehensively when preparing permit submission packages for mid-complexity projects in multiple jurisdictions.
  9. Project databases and document management software — maintain and update to ensure version control and accessibility across distributed design teams.
  10. Critical design decisions regarding form, program, and structure — evaluate using deductive reasoning and documented decision matrices, escalating complex cases to senior architects.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complete construction document sets for complex, large-scale projects — author and coordinate autonomously, ensuring full integration of all engineering disciplines within the architectural design.
  2. Architectural designs of high aesthetic and technical complexity — develop from concept through construction administration, using advanced CAD and computational design tools.
  3. Client briefing, design review, and approval processes — lead across all project phases, negotiating scope, budget, and schedule trade-offs with confidence and authority.
  4. Non-routine structural and spatial challenges — resolve through original problem-solving, applying inductive and deductive reasoning across unfamiliar building typologies.
  5. Multi-disciplinary specialist teams including structural, mechanical, electrical, and acoustic engineers — direct and evaluate to ensure optimal functional and formal outcomes.
  6. Comprehensive project information packages — prepare covering design rationale, material specifications, regulatory compliance, cost analyses, and construction schedules for diverse stakeholders.
  7. Public safety, accessibility, and sustainability requirements — interpret and integrate proactively into all design decisions across the full project lifecycle.
  8. Procurement and contract documentation — oversee using specialized procurement software, ensuring contractor selection aligns with design quality and project requirements.
  9. Emerging design technologies and construction methodologies — evaluate and selectively adopt to improve design outcomes and office efficiency, sharing findings with the project team.
  10. Complex regulatory and zoning environments — navigate independently, preparing variance applications and presenting design justifications to planning and building authorities.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Firm-wide design vision and architectural standards — define and articulate, establishing a distinctive design culture that guides project teams across all building typologies and scales.
  2. Strategic client relationships with major institutional, governmental, and commercial clients — cultivate and steward, translating high-level organizational goals into transformative architectural briefs.
  3. Organizational project delivery frameworks — design and implement, including document management protocols, CAD and BIM standards, and quality assurance systems across multiple studios.
  4. Junior and mid-level architects and interns — mentor and develop systematically, creating structured learning pathways that accelerate licensure and professional growth.
  5. Cross-disciplinary design and engineering teams on landmark or highly complex projects — lead at program level, resolving systemic conflicts and setting integration strategies.
  6. Architectural innovation agenda — drive by championing new computational tools, sustainable design methodologies, and emerging construction technologies at industry forums and within the organization.
  7. Regulatory, political, and community stakeholder environments — engage authoritatively, shaping public policy discussions and advocating for design excellence and urban quality.
  8. Business development and proposal strategy — lead for major pursuits, directing fee negotiations, team composition, and competitive positioning to win high-profile commissions.
  9. Organizational risk management in design and construction — oversee, establishing policies for legal compliance, professional liability, and contract administration across all active projects.
  10. Long-term organizational capability and market positioning — set direction for, identifying emerging practice areas, forging strategic partnerships, and shaping the firm's multi-year growth strategy.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Architect · Building Architect · Building Consultant · Building Information Modeling Specialist (BIM Specialist) · Commercial Green Building Architect · Commercial Green Building Designer · Commercial Green Retrofit Architect · Design Architect · Facilities Planner · Facility Designer · Green Building Architect · Green Building Design Specialist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionOperations AnalysisSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringActive LearningCoordinationMathematicsSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionNegotiationQuality Control AnalysisInstructingTime ManagementManagement of Personnel Resources
Knowledge domains
DesignBuilding and ConstructionPublic Safety and SecurityEngineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentMathematicsMechanicalSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingFine ArtsPhysicsEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingPersonnel and Human Resources
Abilities
VisualizationOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingCategory FlexibilityOral ComprehensionWritten Comprehension
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityInnovationIntellectual CuriosityAchievement OrientationCautiousness
Technology
Procurement softwareDocument management softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareDesktop publishing softwareData base user interface and query softwareData base management system softwareDevelopment environment softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareOffice suite software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
  2. Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
  3. Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
  4. Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
  5. Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
  6. Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.
  7. Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
  8. Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.
CIP education codes
04.020104.020204.040104.0801

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.