Many senior practitioners may have received their first commissions while they were students or graduates of architecture. The process of taking on a small, low-complexity project can be valuable to gain experience, practise your interactions with clients, and relate the architecture course and the National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA) to the practicalities of the real world.
That said, you need to be aware that taking on commissions as a student or graduate involves risks.
Even a small commission can bring real professional, reputational, and legal risk for students or graduates. There are also legal and professional restrictions which, if not observed, may affect your eligibility for registration as an architect in the future.
This note gives guidance and raises warnings when taking on a commission as a student or graduate. This note is not legal advice.
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