The National Organization of Minority Architects Is Where Black Architects Find Paid Internships, Licensure Hours and Each Other

If you are an architect, a designer, or a student headed into either, you should check out the National Organization of Minority Architects.

Whitney M. Young Jr. stood in front of the American Institute of Architects in 1968 and told the profession it had not distinguished itself on civil rights, and that it was most distinguished instead by its thunderous silence. The AIA still marks that speech. Three years later 12 Black architects founded NOMA at the AIA convention in Detroit, then met again that November in Nassau, Bahamas to formalize it.

Architecture runs on referrals and supervised hours, which is why the chapter matters more here than in most fields. NOMA now has more than 4,000 members across 46 professional and 128 student chapters, and a chapter is where a young designer meets the principals who staff projects and sign off on the hours licensure requires. NOMA also lists members in the Directories of Diverse Architects and Designers, which firms use to find people.

Students get paid to be there. The NOMA Future Faces Fellowship is an eight-week paid summer internship, fellows can claim up to $2,450 in reimbursements for relocation, lodging and technology, and there is another $1,000 for anyone who completes licensure within five years. Students from the seven NAAB-accredited HBCUs are encouraged to apply. Student chapters also compete each year in the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition, which puts their work in front of practicing architects.

The 2026 conference runs October 14 through 18 at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry, and it is still ahead.

Student dues are $60 a year, emerging professionals pay $188 and licensed professionals $336, plus local chapter dues.

Membership details are at membership.noma.net.