Chief Architect’s User Certification Program is designed to provide an achievement process for demonstrating competency in using Chief Architect software. Certification is available to Builders, Remodelers, Architects, Designers, Academic Instructors and Students.

With User Certification, professional designers can convey verified experience to clients. For student users, it provides a demonstrated level of competency they can use on their resume for the next step in their career. And finally, for the academic instructors, it is an education credential that can assist them for course work. Certification can establish credibility and confidence for our users in an increasingly competitive market.

The Certification Exam is valid for current versions of Chief Architect. Users can re-certify for new versions of Chief Architect by taking that version’s exam. Dates and signup information for Certification Exams are available on our Training Seminar page. Please contact our training department at or 208.292.3400 with any questions.

Certification Levels

Chief Architect offers three levels of certification:

Exam Details

The Professional Certification exam for home design is a four hour proctored test consisting either online or in-class. It is a project based exam covering the competency areas listed below. The Interior and Student exams are a subset of the home design exam (the Student exam is two hours).

A certificate and certification logo will be provided for those that pass the exam. The exam fee for the Professional Certification is $195 (a 50% discount is available for SSA users); academic fee for students* is $45.

* Available to students enrolled in drafting, design, and architectural programs with at least six (6) relevant credit hours.

Exam Competency Areas – View Detailed Exam Outline