Permitting--do I really need an architect???

It’s clear that at least one of the changes hubby and I want to make to our little Bay Ridge brick row jobby requires a city permit, and probably other of the desired changes do, too. This is NOT an exciting design challenge, and we don’t want it to be. So the quote we got today for approximately $12,000 for an architect’s services seemed out of line. Plus, I got the feeling that he would be just plain bored… and I understand that.   So–do we really need an architect?  Would a licensed contractor do just as well??? What kind of credentials are needed to file to turn two windows into one bigger window, for instance?   Thank you again, people.