Good for graduates, a huge step towards discrediting the profession as it erodes an already thin line between the competent/qualified and everyone else...

As much as I'd like that to happen, I will say NO judging from my batch mates in school.  Schools would have to intensify the program and require testing to make sure students are competent and qualified. 

I think it's a good thing to promote competition and good quality architecture built in the USA. I know some Continental Europeans have been doing that for years already, if not all of them. Dutch for example, receive their license upon graduation, and ended up having a wonderfully crafted built environment for their own country.

There is not one MArch program in the US that even comes to close to preparing students for licensure at graduation. We need less school and more practical experience. 

Then schools need to step up as one of recent graduates we hired never drew a framing section while in school!

Also being discussed in the News over here:

http://archinect.com/news/article/100731688/ncarb-announces-it-will-create-program-for-architecture-students-to-graduate-with-licensure