How I became an Architect: Part Five - The Test

We are at part five of this series. I have intentionally skipped Part Three and Four, which represent my architecture college experience and start of my architectural and construction career. The stories in those two sections alone are so elaborate that it would fill a book, which I currently have very little interest in writing. I’ll stick to the random blog which I enjoy much more.

Part Five speaks to the experience of going through the architectural exam process. By this time I had already been working for many years for a large construction firm and various architecture companies. I had been taking the architectural registration examinations slowly during that time. To me this was a big deal and a dream that I have had for many, many years. Thankfully, I was able to fulfill that dream and reach the potential of my capability.

An interesting experience led me to start taking the exams. After graduating college, I went to work for a construction firm rather than remain in architecture. The pay was much better and the learning experiences were much more vivid and intense. I truly enjoy being on the site watching the progress. The economy began to fall and in 201, I lost my job with that company (a pleasant way to say that I was straight up fired!).

What to do now? By this time, I had forgotten about being a registered architect. I was pretty comfortable in construction. Becoming a registered architect requires taking the examinations and fulfilling a work experience requirement. If I would not have been let go by that construction firm, I would still be there today. Leaving that place, a great firm by the way, was one of the best things to happen to me. I took my severance pay, shook everyone’s hand and walked away.

I spent a few days thinking about what to do. I looked into other construction companies and architecture firms but the economy was so bad that no one was hiring. What I needed was stability. I was living with my girlfriend by this time and slowly renovating the interior of my mom’s house. What to do? What to do!

I am going to join the Navy. Yes! That is it. I am going to be an engineer with the Navy. I went to the recruiter for officers and got signed up. Luckily I had just worked on a construction project with the Navy and I received three great letters of recommendation from the major staff leaders on that job. I got an interview and thought I did a good job in conveying my reasonings. I believed I was a good fit even if I was one year away from the entrance age limit of 35. During that interview, the junior officer asked “why haven’t you taken the architecture exams yet?” The answer was that I was working in construction and would only receive partial credits for work experiences.

The interview ended and oddly, the U.S. Navy never contacted me again. No email, no phone call, no letter, nothing. I called and called but got totally stonewalled. It was a strange experience. However, the question about the architecture exams stayed with me and I began to see that experience as a sort of sign that I was missing something. When I started in Community College (see the blog entry about “The Door”) I always wanted to be an architect but it some how fell to the back burner. The timing of these events allowed me to recommit to the path.

The architecture registration examination at the time was composed of seven exams by the national board and one exam for your state; some states have them, some don’t. That entails eight total examinations so that you may be honored to hold the title of Architect.

The National exams is a tough two to three hour multiple choice section and a one to two hour graphic portion with simple drafting, layout, and detailing. I eventually passed all of these exams. It is critical to note that a failing exam requires a six month wait between exams. That is one of the toughest elements to contend with. I know people that took four or five of the seven exams, passed a few and failed a few and never went back to complete the exams. Fortunately, I was motivated enough to keep pressing forward.

The preparation was a lot of work. I would go off to a quiet spot in the city and read, and read, and read. I took thousands of notes and read some more. The amount of information is staggering. I studied before work, at lunch, after work, and after dinner before bed. It was a grueling process. What I later learned that the exams was not the full breadth of the lesson. The most important aspect of the exams was the preparation. An architect spends a tremendous amount of time researching codes, laws, ordinances, and regulations. Reading is a huge part of it and an aspect that they do not really describe in school.

I continued pressing forward and finally, I got through the last National Exam and qualified to sit for the state exam. I was so excited to pass the National section and so eager to claim the title “Architect” that I registered in a state which did not require the state exam(Arizona). Legally, I could call my self an architect, but I could not do any work in my home state.

Next, I started to prepare for the state exam. I worked so hard. I prepared for a couple months for the first try. I went into the testing facility fairly confident and left a bit deflated. I failed my first try, which many do. I accepted it, learned from the experience and soon went back to study. There is a six month wait for the California state exam as well.

I hit the books, took two classes, and continued the quest. I registered for the next exam before the six months was over. I was ready. The day came and I went back to the testing facility. Hours later, I got through the exam and sat down at the proctor’s desk. He was going through various checks and the small printer came alive. As it was printing the proctor continued his checks. The printout came through, he lifted it up, and turned to me. “Congratulations Mr. Williams, you have passed.”

It was a great moment. I signed the final checkout sheet, took the print out, and left the facility. I jumped in the car and drove home. On the highway I got hit with the flood of emotions. I began to well up and I held it together so I would not crash. It was a long, tough journey. A journey when people literally told me too my face that I was not fit for this profession. I was criticized, sometimes unfairly I believed, scoffed, and even laughed at. From the time I started on the road to this day was such a rigorous adventure. I just never stopped and life really forced me to not quit on myself. Maybe there was always a great plan for me to take on some great challenge or just die and fade into obscurity.

I got home and celebrated with my family and cracked open a bottle of single malt scotch with two of my close friends. It was truly a moment.

I returned to the architecture firm I was working at the next day. I did not mention a thing. The place where I was working was a bit strange and I wanted to ease my way into things. Holding the title of architect carried more responsibility and commands more pay. I was running two projects at the time, asked for a raise and was denied. I needed to be more strategic I thought. What worried me was having the title of Architect and what responsibility it would carry if my firm did not know. Was I required to tell the partners?

I called the California Architect Board to find out. The tech who answered took my question paused and asked me to hold. He came back on the line: “Mr. Williams, I have some news. It shows that you passed the exam last week but there was a technical error and you actually failed.”

WHAT THE F___! I thought. “Wait a minute, there must be something wrong. I have an official letter from the board and testing facility that says that I passed.” After a little back and forth, there was no changing the situation. I had failed the exam. I went back to my desk at work and sat there. “OK, here we go.” I thought.

A few days later, I received a letter from the architect’s board with the failing exam document. I might be one of few people, possibly the only person, that has both a passing and failing letter for the same State of California architecture registration examination. Same date, same exam, different result. This all occurred from a Technical Error, which was told to me over the phone without any specifics as to what happened.

Other than the fail letter, which you receive when you fail an exam at the exam facility, I did not receive anything else official. I did not receive any notice from a board member or anything from the testing facility saying that there was indeed a technical error. What was the technical error? To this day, I do not know. I don’t really care. So many things passed through my mind. Was this some arbitrary thing? It just seemed like one of those things that can control who gets in and who does not. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but in a situation like this you mind can wander.

I called an architect I once worked for and explained the situation. He suggested that I consider legal action. Something did not seem right with that. I learned from an architect-developer here in San Diego, that you want to take legal action only when necessary. Was this a necessary situation? Was this a good situation to sue the body that governs the registration and examination process. Is it a good idea to take legal action against the board especially when I am not in the position of being licensed.

I paused to review the situation and review the case. After reading all the material, I had a solid case. Even with that I realized that going that route would take a great deal of time and chose to attack the exams again. I’m going to show all these M______ F_______!!

Here is where I will make a longer story short. I attacked the exam study again, but maybe not as hard. Six months went passed and I sat in the exam chair again. I was confident the third time, completed the exam, and sat at the proctor’s desk. “Sorry Mr. Williams, you did not pass this time.” I took the white letter and went home deflated.

I could have easily let this situation get out of hand. I could have easily went down the path of no return. I started to see it as sort of a set up. Maybe, this was the test. An Architect needs to be in control. An Architect needs to have a great understanding of many situations from many angles simultaneously. I started to believe that the words on the exam screen were meaningless, this was the test.

The six month wait was brutal this time. Was this what I was supposed to be doing? The doubt started to creep into my mind. Maybe I am supposed to be doing something else. What does it mean to win? Am I a winner or am I just hanging around in a place where I do not belong?

Man, fuck that, I belong. I belong just as much as the next person. I’ve worked for this just as much as they had. I’ve put in the work. I’ve read what I needed to read. I am intelligent and I am qualified. With all the disadvantages I have, I also have some great advantages. I am a guy from the other side of the tracks. I am the guy that bucked the system and questioned things and forced criticism when it was necessary. I didn’t allow superiors in the office push me around. I stood my ground when I watched the people around me bow themselves and then try to devalue me. I belong and I am not going anywhere.

I am going to take this exam again. I am going to take it and fail again if necessary. I am going to wait six months and take it again, and again, and again. Each time I take it, I am going to be creating a story that is better and better. I am going to live and write a story about the guy that never gave up. I am the guy that the university said “look, we don’t care if you come here or not.” I am the guy they said would never make it. Yeah, well I am going to make it. I am not going to sue the board, I am going to show them what I am all about. Yes, I am different. I’ve swung hammers and dug holes for a living, but I’ve also understood and interpreted the code and negotiated with regulators and inspectors. I am truly unique and have the advantages.

I hit the study books harder than ever. I took two courses and got after it again. The six months went by and the doubts hung over me like a cloud. I passed though that S— like it was nothing. I scheduled my exam almost two hundred miles outside of the city. I drove up there in a quiet car. Prior to the exam, I took a morning visit to the ocean. I sat and listened to the wave crash on the sand. I watched the surfers glide on the waves. I did not even take the exam yet, but this experience was awesome. I was calm. I was not worried about passing or failing. I was just here, present in the moment. I remembered that I had the fortune of competing college and working on some great projects. I remembered that I have travelled throughout the world and had amazing experiences. I remembered that there are a few people that support and care about me.

Here I was, north of Los Angeles, in Ventura County, in a small town where the agriculture fields meets the sea. The exam time was ready. I drove to the exam facility. On the way, there was this massive John Deere tractor on the road. I don’t know why but I remember that vividly, maybe because it was so green and huge. I took the exam without any thought or pressure. It was truly a breeze.

“Congratulations Mr. Williams.”

I took the nice printout. Politely thanked the proctor, got in the car, and drove back home about 200 miles in a quiet car. There was no emotion or prayers answered. I had done it, but more important, I knew that I had earned it and no one could ever doubt or devalue me.

There have been many great Architects in history. There are many great Architects that have come through this world. There are many great Architects that have come out of my university. There are many great Architects that have come out of my city. I am one of them. As far as I know, there is one Architect that has come out of my neighborhood, me. With that, I can say with tremendous confidence that I am the best Architect that has ever come out of my neighborhood. That stands alone and I do not really care about the rest of it.

I have been to places in the ancient world. What remains is not what is pristine and preserved. What remains has been severely weathered, broken, blasted by artillery fire, collapsed, and ruined. Even the sight of ancient foundations, stacked over a millennia ago, are revered as the solidity that once was.

What you obtain in life has some significance, but the most importance is placed on how that significance relates to you, personally, in your life. What matters is that you did indeed obtain it, even if just for a moment.

I passed the examination, I also passed the test. A couple of weeks later, I received a package in the mail from the California Architect Board. Inside was an official certificate, an application to receive my architect’s stamp, and the documents with my registration number. That was a pretty cool day. It was all official - I had done it.

On that document was the official date of my registration as an Architect: my birthday. They say that the two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.