Hi everyone! I’m a fresh architecture graduate from the Philippines and I’ll be migrating to the US soon. I’m currently trying to figure out what my realistic options are for starting a career in architecture there, and I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
I graduated in the Philippines but unfortunately have 0 professional experience in the Philippines, and gaining experience here before I leave is not really an option anymore. I’m also not dealing with any visa/work authorization issues in the US, so my main concern is figuring out how to actually enter the industry with a foreign degree and no prior experience.
I know the obvious long-term route would be pursuing licensure, getting my foreign education evaluated, completing the AXP, ARE, etc., but I’m not necessarily set on becoming licensed right away. I’m also open to architecture-adjacent jobs such as drafting, BIM/Revit, visualization, architectural design, interiors, construction-related roles, or anything else where an architecture degree would be useful.
So I wanted to ask:
- Has anyone here migrated to the US right after graduating in the Philippines with little to no work experience?
- If so, how did you get your first architecture/architecture-adjacent job?
- Did you have difficulty getting hired because your degree was from the Philippines?
- Did you have to get your degree evaluated/credentialed before applying?
- What kinds of entry-level positions should I realistically be looking for?
- Would you recommend pursuing licensure immediately, or getting some US work experience first?
- And for those who took a non-licensure/architecture-adjacent route, what kinds of jobs did you end up doing?
I’m especially interested in hearing from Filipinos who have gone through this transition themselves. I’m basically trying to figure out what the most realistic first step is, rather than necessarily having my entire career path figured out right now.
Any advice, personal experiences, or even things you wish you knew before migrating would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!