do you call yourself an architect?

question: "so what do you do?"

answer: "i work in an architecture firm."

question: "oh, so you're an architect."

answer: "?"

so i've been following this thread on the A.R.E. forum, if you are not licensed, what do you call yourself? this has been an ongoing, never ending debate about what to call oneself during architecture school and after.

me, personally, i have used the term junior architect, architect associate, unlicensed architect, etc., all of which are "illegal" because of the use of the term "architect." i believe the law says, and correct me if i am wrong, that in no way, shape or form am i allowed to use the term "architect" to describe what i do.

i've even used the term "designer," which i'm sure a lot of people call themself because it sounds good, even though we all know that most of us are cadmonkeys working for the man.

then i read this article, judge rules for councilman in 'architect' case. it talks about how Jack Johnson, a coucilman in aspen, colorado, was directed by the colorado board of examiners of architects "to cease calling himself an architect or face possible criminal sanctions." Johnson then repsonded with a lawsuit, which he won.

the judge in the case concluded that "Johnson did not describe himself as an architect to solicit business but to educate the voting public as to his educational background." you see, Johnson referred to himself as an architect, but explained that he had a degree in architecture but was not licensed as an architect in colorado.

there is a time and place in which you can "legally" call yourself an architect as long as you use that term in a "noncommerical context."

so whether you call yourself an architect to family and friends, because it's just easier and makes you look all "professional" and all rather than explaining to them what you truly do or to that girl in the bar whom you just described yourself as a "sexy architect," just to get her number..... it's all good.

call yourself an architect. i mean, c'mon, do we really have to wait through 5 years of school, 3 years of work, and 9, some 10, exams, just to be called architects? by that time, i could've called myself a doctor.