Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Program

The AIA Mississippi Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Program was introduced in 2023. Less than a third of AIA Chapters Across the country have EP Friendly Firm programs, but it has an ever-growing presence across the United States. The establishment of the EPFF Program here in Mississippi is part of AIA Mississippi’s initiative to be a leader in the growth and support of the next generation of architects.

There are two primary objectives of AIA Mississippi’s Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Program.

First, the program aims to highlight firms in the state that are providing emerging professionals (those who are unlicensed and/or graduated from college less than ten years ago) with notable benefits, guidance on the path to licensure, and awesome work cultures. This objective enables students, recent graduates, and other emerging professionals to identify firms that may best support their growth in our industry.

Secondly, the program will publish an annual review of all the applications, noting strengths that were typically seen among Mississippi firms and identifying common opportunities for firm improvement, guiding firms on how they can better help emerging professionals in the future. While the short-term objective informs applicants of advantageous places to apply and work in the immediate future, the long-term and most important objective is to improve support and benefits for emerging professionals in all firms across the state and establish Mississippi as a key leader in architectural education and experience.