We spoke with Albuquerque-based architect Ray Vigil, AIA, LEED AP, on his experiences overcoming socio-economic barriers and family tradition to earn his license and eventually start his firm, Vigil & Associates.
What made you interested in pursuing a career in architecture?
As a young boy, I had always been interested in and excelled in every art-related activity or class that was offered in school. I took advantage of every art class I could take. During my high school days, an Introduction to Architectural Drafting class captured my attention. It helped me apply my creativity and talents in an enjoyable and exciting way that I could really relate to, and it felt so natural.
Tell us a little bit about your path to licensure—what did the process look like for you?
I would say my path was pretty unique and very difficult. I was raised in a very low socioeconomic environment. Our family regularly had to work on weekends in and around the local agricultural farms of southern New Mexico. Even though I had taken all the college entrance exams during high school, I understood it was critical to become financially independent at a very young age so as to not burden my family upon graduation of high school.
Since the local university did not have an architectural program and attending college would require relocation, I opted to take the fast lane to a paid career by obtaining a two-year associate’s degree at an Arizona technical-vocational school. This degree focused on specialized training in computer aided drafting and design, which was the hottest Architecture/Engineering industry trend at the time. It was in high demand, so upon graduation I was recruited to work at a major structural engineering firm in Los Angeles and an Mechanical, Engineering, and Plumbing (MEP) engineering firm in the south Los Angeles Bay area.
Several years later, my goal of working in architecture was finally realized when I was recruited to work at an architectural firm in my hometown—the largest architecture firm in southern New Mexico at the time. It wasn’t long before I was running projects and understood the importance of getting licensed in order to reach my full potential on my career path. At the time, my state had just stopped accepting the Broadly Experienced Architect pathway, which provided a path to licensure through a combination of both education and experience for those who didn’t have a degree from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited program. I had missed the opportunity to be “grandfathered” in to that pathway by less than a year, and since I didn’t have a degree from a NAAB-accredited program, I wasn’t eligible to get my initial license in New Mexico.
I enrolled at the local university, which did not have an architectural degree program, but I found myself immersed in continuation of life, work, marriage, and building a family. I sacrificed a lot of my family time to hard work and long hours climbing the leadership at my firm. Thankfully, since our firm was performing work regionally, I discovered that Arizona would allow me to apply for licensure there, as they would allow my years of work experience to offset my years of education. The rest was history—I passed all but two sections of the exam on my first try (including the 12-hour design portion). Six months later, I retested successfully and became a licensed architect in Arizona. After that, I received reciprocal licensure in Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico, where I reside today and successfully practice at both of my regional design studios.
NCARB sometimes hears that graduates of community college programs are more “career ready” than graduates of accredited programs. Do you think that was true for you?
Very true! I’ve probably employed hundreds of individuals, and I’ve found that to be true. You can even see the difference between different programs, where some might have a focus on design theory while others have a bigger focus on technical skills. A lot of people who work at my firm get their university degree and go to the local community college for CAD and BIM training.
How did you stay motivated to get licensed when facing challenges on the licensure path?
Honestly, motivation was pretty hard to come by. Like many others who have had to deal with the challenges and difficulties that life brings you, I had to dig deep inside. It felt like every time I got to a point of advancement, there was another setback or new challenge. Whether it was surviving an economic recession, a moving goal line, or most especially dealing with bureaucracy, you have to persevere against all those who say “No.”
I probably was most motivated by my wife and wonderful family. I’m the only one of my brothers and sisters to have received a post-secondary education degree. Sometimes tradition and cultures write the script for you, but you need to blaze your own path forward. I worked extremely hard to get where I needed to go, because there was no way my two beautiful daughters were going to repeat the same generational challenges that I experienced. And I’m proud to say they have both done well for themselves and are doing fine as university graduates!
How could NCARB make licensure more accessible for applicants like you?
NCARB has made significant advancements to ensure that diverse applicants with background and experience similar to mine have access to licensure. This is most evident in the recent initiatives related to recognizing community college education.
I believe that the NCARB Certificate Portfolio option—which provides a pathway to NCARB certification for individuals without a degree from a NAAB-accredited program—needs to be revamped and reconsidered for individuals who are senior accomplished professionals. A recognition of true “education” gained through real-life practice and experience is often undervalued. For example, my practice has afforded me the opportunity to work and travel internationally and to study education architecture in Europe for an exciting school project.
Do you have any advice for emerging professionals?
Work hard for your goals. Stay positive and seek consultation if you are ever in need of information or advice from those who have been there and done that. When you get the opportunity to work in a firm, make yourself as valuable as you can to the organization by becoming as versatile as possible. Diversify your capabilities and skills so that you can apply them where and whenever necessary. Remember to take notes when receiving training from those who are more experienced than you and especially when you experience any lessons learned. Keep in mind, you never stop learning in this career!
Want more insights on the path to becoming an architect? Check out the rest of NCARB's Architect Spotlight series.
