I can’t speak on Engineering but regarding Architecture…
Job postings will always have “must have 999 years of experience and 12 degrees for entry level position” for the exact purpose of weeding out anyone who is intimidated or far away from those expectations and if you’re an employer and you have options, why wouldn’t you want the “perfect” candidate that checks every bell and whistle if you could?
More importantly, in AEC there are MANY people not certified that work in the field and even make their entire careers there without being licensed. Licensing is one of those things you need to consider based on how and what you want to do with your career.
In the states, you must be licensed to be an Architect or Engineer that can stamp drawings and the liability of those drawings falls under you to meet the building codes, life safety, and such and you carry fees, insurance, and other things to maintain this.
Most firms will encourage as many employees as possible to become licensed as it only stands to benefit the firm BUT in reality, they have few people that do QA/QC and actually stamp the drawings legally and then those architects are sort of “legal representatives” of the company so it’s like saying the company approved the drawings and the liability falls on them even though it may have a specific Architect’s seal on it. Where as solo practitioners, the Architect IS the company as well and everything falls on and goes through them.
There are entire teams of technical teams, design teams, rendering teams, etc. that are not licensed, nor required to be licensed but still contribute meaningfully and wholistically to the project or even lead design depending on their capabilities, skills, the projects, etc.
You can become licensed (as an architect in the states) by passing the exams and the requirement is completed schooling in architecture accredited program (master’s degree) or a certain amount of vetted hours in the industry of applicable experience where other’s can sign off on your hours and say “yes they meet the requirements based on the work they have been doing” essentially…
Now, to @TomTom’s point, “Just apply” absolutely agree. Like I said most of those job postings are “this is ideal” but it’s being posted by someone in an HR position to fill a hypothetical. The reality is the design teams or leadership teams are often more “flexible” as they are creative and looking for someone who is creatively nimble and talented and care less about degrees, licensure, and more about talent. Mileage may vary by personality there… but I do think most creative teams can “see” raw talent and value this most, even if it doesn’t “meet” the on paper posting. The trick is getting your portfolio in front of those people and not the HR wall of first refusal.
I will echo and warn this as well… AEC will only value you as much as you value yourself. Let yourself be overworked, underpaid, and your creativity undervalued and sadly the industry will let you live in that space and never save you from it. However, staying humble while valuing your self and growth, further developing your craft, inspiring others, and not letting your creativity, experience, and skill be undervalued or underpaid, WILL find you the better positions and experience the most growth and reward.
But it is an industry that is sort of “set up” for burn out based on the tight deadlines, complexity of projects, lack of pay in comparison to what is required, and “subjective” nature of what is good vs what “I” say is good (replace I with… whoever).
But it’s also a beautiful industry in what it aims to and does achieve when it goes right. Not many jobs strike a balance between nature, machine, math, science, art, building/drawing with your hands, etc. There is something for everyone in this space.
The potential and the allure is great, the reality is a challenge but rewarding if you stick it out and don’t let yourself be undervalued in the process.
Not trying to push you in or away from AEC, just sharing what I see.
Good luck!!
If you’re in a country where it’s not allowed to use the title without, check to see if it’s possible to get licensed on merit alone. In the US I seem to remember that it’s an option, at least in some states, and with your work experience, I would think/hope that you would be an obvious candidate. Hopefully some of the US people here can answer more in-depth.
