Is it possible to get the expirience without the credentials?

All you can do is try. Part of that is networking – doing things that put you in contact with or get you noticed by people in the areas of work that you want to do.

This profession is so diverse and the edges are so broad that there is no “right way” or definitive answer to how you might get involved. Part of that is what areas of the profession are you interested in. The roads to different places take different paths (you can quote me on that in that other thread), so what does not work for one may work for another and what worked for someone else might not work for you.  … just make sure that whatever you do enhances your ability to do what you actually want to do.

a genius, he will be missed

… but, if you want to go into a traditional office in a traditional position it is going to be pretty darn hard to get through the front door without “credentials” as there are so many out there looking for work who do have them.

If you have an unconventional background, you will need an unconventional way of getting in. There are many people out there with skills and abilities. They don’t translate into a job or into projects until/unless you give someone a good reason to want to give you money. Most of us are programmed to think that if we have skills we deserve a job – the problem is that we need someone to want to give us money to use our skills. When you start thinking how to make people want to give you money instead of holding on to it or giving it to someone else, you can then successfully plan your career path.   …. looking to offer the same skills that people with credentials have to people being constantly approached by those credentialed people is probably not going to be effective. You need to bring something big.

You need to bring a car to a bike race to compete without “credentials”.  The alternative is that you will be on foot.

Find out what is needed that is not being delivered enough in todays work place or market place, bring your skill set up to do those things, position yourself to build a track record doing such, position yourself to be noticed by those who value these skills in thetype of work that you actually want to do. It will be a lot of work, a little luck, and a ton of awareness and perseverance to come in sideways.

Like Sara said you can get there, it is just a little easier and faster when you do have an accredited degree. Also when it comes time to move up you may be passed over for someone less experienced that does have credentials. So make a goal of what you want and see how far you can go with what you have.

I know from experience with colleagues that not having the right degree come time to get licensed is a really big problem. Also in Design/build I worked with a lawyer turned landscape designer that was terrible with the basic design princepals, never hurts to know the basics and an education can really be a benefit no matter if you need it to get the job. Though the lawyer knew her plants, just could not make them work harmoniously together. Good luck and see what you can do. I know of other people that are doing the civil drafter route so give it a shot. 

I am in Minnesota and one of my study partners for the LARE passed his tests at the same time I did. We both applied for registration and I recieved my number right away and he was denied for only having an unaccredited Envrionmental Design Degree(LA undergrad degree) and not a BLA or MLA. He was able to get registered in a different state, but not where he works. So he will have to work another 4-5 years to get enough experience so that his degree is not a factor.

I would talk to the registration board for the states that you want to be licensed and see what they tell you about the prospects of getting licensed with an undergrad arch degree.

It is really difficult to quite a good job when you have it to go back for a degree, to get the job you currently have. Is there a school that you can take some la classes nearby that you could get your la while still working? Most things you can learn on the job, but many things it is nice to learn in school and many of those you probably learned getting your BS in Arch. I would also hate to go back and sit through a bunch of classes that the same or similart to those you took for your Arch degree. How close would you be to getting a BLA with the classes you have already taken? Do you necesarily need a MLA. Tuition is something like double or triple for a degree that in private firms holds no more value than a BLA.  

There are some classes that I am sure you would be helped by, but with that said if you can get through the tests and get registered you will be just as valuable as someone with an MLA. Your job options are a little more limited if you want to teach or work in some government jobs.

Honestly. I would not get the MLA. You are correct that even internships are hard to get…including for people with masters degrees. If you really must go into the field I would make sure that the MLA program gives you the same skills a BLA does. My husband went to a boot camp to study for the LAREs and met people that had gotten MLAs with no BLAs that had no idea how to do grading and drainage.

My advice would be to find a job with a design/build firm. My husband started his own business and he has an interview next week with another design/build firm. It is very hard for firms that are just doing the design work right now and I do think the experience gained by constructing designs is very relevant.