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Architecture profession is expanding and becoming more diverse, says NCARB

2024-07-08T17:19:00-04:00

A shift toward a more diverse and prepared architecture profession has been documented in the latest NCARB by the Numbers report from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

The council’s annual survey revealed the total number of licensed practitioners to have grown by 1% to 121,368 in the past year. Another 37,708 are on their way to obtaining licensure. In 2023, there were 3,734 new architects reported to have earned a license, reversing last year’s decline by a total of 6% nationally.

It now takes candidates an average of 13.3 years to earn a license — slightly longer than the average pre-pandemic frame. This comes after NCARB instated several “pragmatic” changes to the ARE exam.

Related Feature on Archinect: Let's Talk About Architectural Licensure

In terms of a demographic sample, the survey found architecture to have shown broad-ranging improvements in a number of key representational categories, indicating a greater overall diversity along race and gender...

NCARB shares feedback on rolling clock policy phase-out and the ARE 5.0

2024-05-07T12:22:00-04:00

Since phasing out several exam policies in last year's update to the ARE, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has shared positive news about implementing the retirement of its former five-year Rolling Clock Policy.

The change mandates that scores from all previously expired divisions be added to the ARE 5.0. With the reinstated ARE 4.0 results, over 6,658 credits have been added for ARE 5.0 version learners. Of the 7–8 years inactive group affected, about 20% have restarted their licensure. The organization says 70 candidates have now completed their exams and that it has benefitted women and candidates from minority backgrounds at a higher rate.

NCARB President Jon Baker stated that the new policy emphasizes their commitment to removing the barriers to licensure while still upholding exam integrity and increasing equity.

However, only 52 of the 55 NCARB ju...

NCARB updates ARE 5.0 Guidelines

2024-03-01T08:00:00-05:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has shared an update to its official ARE guidelines effective this week (February 27).

The updated ARE 5.0 Guidelines include changes to exam security policies and the ARE 5.0 Reference Guide. The revision also covers new building code references and the retirement of quantitative-fill-in-the-blank (QFIB) items that were announced previously in December.

A new set of exam data forensics protocols has been introduced to enhance existing data analysis. NCARB notes this will impact the timing of test scores results being released. Official score reports will now take between seven and ten days to process. Exam security and candidate misconduct policies have been updated as well.

Importantly, all code-related items on the ARE 5.0 will now reference the 2021 International Code Council (ICC) family of codes and related standards...

NCARB launches free practice exams for ARE ensuring 'equitable access to exam prep'

2022-06-17T08:10:00-04:00

NCARB has announced the launch of a suite of free practice exams for ARE candidates. The full-length, fully-scored tests have been created for each of the six divisions which comprise the ARE exam.

"The availability of high-quality, free practice exams will help ensure equitable access to exam preparation materials, leading to a more equitable experience for diverse candidates,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong upon the initiative’s announcement.

Questions within the practice exams were developed using the same method as the real ARE, and can be taken in two modes. A test mode mimics the experience of the real exam with a score report afterwards, while a practice mode provides the correct answer and supporting notes for each item as the candidate proceeds through the test.

The resource was launched in response to findings from the NCARB/NOMA Baseline on Belonging study, which fo...