Archinect - News

The U.S., Australia, and New Zealand implement an updated reciprocity agreement for architects

2024-11-07T08:00:00-05:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), and the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) have implemented a new Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). It replaces the previous MRA between the countries, created in 2016, further expanding licensure access for international architects.

The new agreement recognizes the professional credentials of architects licensed or registered in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand and acknowledges the value of the various pathways to licensure within each country. As a result, unnecessary barriers to reciprocal licensure, such as extended experience requirements and limited paths to licensure or registration, are being reduced.

As stated by NCARB President Kenneth R. Van Tine, “The updated agreement is pivotal to NCARB’s...

NCARB releases statement on AI and the future of the architectural profession

2024-10-20T09:10:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has announced a consensus opinion regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence technology and its future impact on the architectural profession.

This announcement emerged from NCARB's 2024 Annual Business Meeting in June, where 150 licensing board members convened. The meeting built on earlier discussions held during the March 2024 Regional Summit and the inaugural Futures Symposium in December 2023, which explored AI's impact on the profession. NCARB stated, "Going forward, NCARB will continue to monitor the expanding use of AI across practice and its potential interface with the regulatory mission of NCARB and its members. NCARB remains committed to collaborating with its licensing board members to ensure the best interests of the public are served through the effective and reasonable regulation of architectural practice."

NCARB emphasized that while advancements in AI and computational design are providing a...

U.S., Canada, and Mexico update tri-national reciprocity agreement for architects

2024-10-08T19:22:00-04:00

A new tri-national Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) has been signed by the three largest North American groups representing professional architects in their respective countries.

The updated agreement between the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), Mexico’s Comité Mexicano para la Práctica Internacional de la Arquitectura (COMPIAR), and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) recognizes the competencies latent in the initial licensure/registration processes while removing several post-licensure barriers to eligibility.

Victoria Rodríguez Mosqueda, the President of the Federación de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM), said the latest MRA amendment "includes more accessible requirements that will increase its potential coverage, while reducing the economic burden."

The revised agreement pertains to the existin...

NCARB releases new 16-point Competency Standard for Architects

2024-10-03T16:08:00-04:00

A new framework for establishing competency-based qualifications as the initial basis for architectural licensure in the United States was released today by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

The new NCARB Competency Standard for Architects outlines 16 key competencies that are imperative at the point of initial licensure in order to ensure the public’s health, safety, and overall welfare.

NCARB says it will make updates to its existing programs over the next two years to align with the new standard, which likewise provides a "flexible foundation" for the development of future licensure programs. This, in turn, is supposed to allow NCARB to build more accessible pathways to licensure without compromises to the ardent professional standards that are needed to protect the public.

The organization's President, Kenneth R. Van Tine, says the new standard will "shape the architecture profession for years to come and ensure that the path to licensure is accessible...

NCARB Workforce Readiness Report outlines key skills suggestions for entry-level architects

2024-09-09T15:59:00-04:00

The latest NCARB Workforce Readiness Report for 2024 has outlined a list of imperatives called key knowledge, skills, and abilities (or KSAs) for students of architecture to gain prior to their entering the professional ranks over the next few years.

Leaning on the input of thousands of current entry-level professionals, the survey outlined the following areas as being most critical to the success of young designers working in the architectural field:

Target: Technical Proficiency

Learn as much and as many BIM design programs (2D and 3D) as you can. Demonstrating proficiency in industry-standard design software can lead to many different opportunities as students move away from the relatively more creative confines of academic coursework and into offices that may require them to focus on a specific project component or unfamiliar typology.
Develop an ease at deciphering and assembling technical drawings, construction documents, etc. in addition to their correct applications in AEC....

NCARB signs new reciprocal agreement with counterparts in New Zealand and Australia

2024-08-22T10:41:00-04:00

This week, the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) signed a new Mutual Recognition Agreement with their counterparts at the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB). The agreement expands on an existing one that’s been on the books since 2016, eliminating a requirement for 6,000 hours of post-licensure/registration experience while accepting the qualifications of architects who obtained a license through alternative pathways.

“We know Australian architects are sought after around the world for their high level of skill and creativity. This new agreement provides a wonderful opportunity for architects of all levels of experience to work overseas faster,” AACA President Dr. Giorgio Marfella said.

More on the important issue of architectural licensure can be explored in our ongoing Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series, including a detailed look at another reciprocal agreement between NCARB and th...

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 to explore ‘multiple pathways to practice’ frameworks

2023-10-13T16:45:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has outlined a commitment to creating a diversified framework that offers multiple avenues for attaining architectural licensure. The statement acknowledges not only the conventional route of obtaining an accredited education but also alternative pathways, such as community college education or professional experience replacing formal education.

While a significant majority of architects acquire their licenses through degree programs endorsed by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), 15% — which translates to over 18,000 architects — have secured their licenses through other routes. NCARB's consideration of these “multiple paths to licensure” seeks to ensure the various pathways are “afforded appropriate value through essential rigor,” the body says.

“There are many individuals working in or wishing to pursue architecture as a career who do not hold a degree from a NAAB-accredited program, but who clearl...

NCARB and ARB release reciprocal licensure guidelines for architects in the US and UK

2023-10-02T12:30:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has released information containing guidelines for architects attempting to find work authorizations in the United Kingdom through the newly-signed Mutual Recognition Agreement between them and the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

The two systems now offer registered architects in each country the chance to obtain reciprocal licensure and pursue contracts after a four-year-long research and negotiation process determined their educational and professional work experience in both are compatible side-by-side.

Speaking in February, NCARB's CEO Michael Armstrong said the agreement will “enhance the value of the NCARB Certificate as a facilitator of domestic and international mobility for many U.S.-licensed practitioners.”

Under the new agreement, architects must hold a valid license in their home country, hold a work visa or other permissions in the location where they are operating, and either an NCARB or ARB certifi...

It takes over 13 years to become an architect, according to new NCARB data

2023-07-18T11:41:00-04:00

NCARB has released its twelfth annual data report, NCARB by the Numbers, highlighting key trends in architectural education and licensure.

The report, derived from NCARB’s database of over 128,000 licensure candidates and architects, shows a 9% rise in the number of architecture license candidates in 2022, exceeding 35,000. The average time from starting college to licensure was 13.3 years, with women achieving licensure about 11 months faster than men. New architects are also increasing diversity in the profession, with one in three new architects being a person of color and two out of five being women.

NCARB By The Numbers 2023 summary chart. Image credit: NCARB

The report indicates that in 2022, there were nearly 120,000 licensed architects in the U.S. Licensed architects held about 145,000 reciprocal licenses, a 6% increase from the previous year, which NCARB explains as a demand for professional mobility due to COVID-19.

Despite the 9% increase in licensure candidates, there wa...

Work and study agreement signed between architectural registration bodies of the UK, Australia, and New Zealand

2023-03-31T13:19:00-04:00

A new Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) has recently been signed between the UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB), the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), and the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB).

This follows the MRA reached between the ARB and the United States’ National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) in February.

Starting May 25th, a streamlined registration process, resulting in reduced costs and examinations, will make it easier for architects to register to work in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, architects educated up to and including a master’s degree will be able to complete their training in another partner country.

Previously on Archinect: NCARB and ARB sign Mutual Recognition Agreement affecting architects in the US and UK

“This is another welcome step that opens up the world for architects and architecture,” RIBA President Simon Allford said in response to the agreement. “Through these agreemen...

NCARB and ARB sign Mutual Recognition Agreement affecting architects in the US and UK

2023-02-16T14:15:00-05:00

Today, a landmark Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) has been reached between the UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) and United States’ National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) that will streamline the registration process for architects in both countries beginning on April 25, 2023.

Under the new agreement, qualified architects will be able to cross-register in the opposing country in an effort to reduce costs and the need for examinations while “upholding and maintaining the high standards and safety that help to protect the public in both nations.”

“Signing this MRA — creating a reciprocal arrangement whereby UK architects can register and practice in participating jurisdictions within the United States — is an exciting moment for the sector,” Hugh Simpson, the Chief Executive and Registrar of the Architects Registration Board said in a statement. “The agreement helps to open up opportunities for cooperation between individuals and firms in the UK and Un...

UK ends EU licensure reciprocity with new Architects Act 1997 amendments

2023-01-23T15:03:00-05:00

A pair of unprecedented changes to the UK’s Architects Act 1997 has been announced jointly by the British Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Architects Registration Board (ARB), ending the reciprocal acceptance of qualifications for EU-trained architects that has been observed since it was first established by Parliament.

Under the new guidelines, the UK will “end, in law, the automatic recognition of architectural qualifications listed in the EU’s Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications.” It will also enable the ARB to enter into “regular-led” recognition agreements with international counterparts, in effect leaving the door open for reciprocity agreements to be negotiated with professional bodies from other individual countries on a case-by-case basis.

This comes after the ARB finally hammered out a deal last year with the American National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to ratify a Mutual Recognition Agreement that...

Architectural profession is recovering from COVID, and becoming more diverse, says NCARB

2022-06-23T12:55:00-04:00

The path to licensure within the U.S. is becoming more diverse from gender, race, and ethnic standpoints, according to NCARB’s annual NCARB by the Numbers report. The report also notes that the profession is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of candidates on the licensure path also increasing.

2021 saw a 23% increase in the number of candidates completing the path to licensure compared to 2020, when the pandemic saw a significant decline in participation in the licensure path. There was also a 39% increase in exams taken, and a 26% increase in exams completed.

The number of new architects increased by 23% from 2020, but is still 24% lower than pre-pandemic averages, suggesting the impact of the pandemic has still not waned.

The report also found that the average candidate takes 13 years to complete the path to licensure from starting college to receiving a ...

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...

Deal reached for US/UK reciprocal architectural licensure

2022-06-14T18:49:00-04:00

Two of the most influential professional architectural associations in the western hemisphere have pushed forward with their plans for a reciprocal licensure agreement between the US and UK. The UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the American National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have recently ratified a new Mutual Recognition Agreement that will make the registration and licensure process much easier for practitioners in both countries.

The agreement makes it possible for architects to obtain business contracts, network with peers, and pursue new projects in new markets. This forthcoming arrangement is modeled after existing pacts between the American organization and Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The basis of the agreement is three-pronged, and hinges on each architect’s ability to hold an active NCARB certificate, be lawfully permitted to work in the country in which they are registered and hold a valid license from their home country’s reg...

NOMA/NCARB report exposes exam disparities for people of color and older candidates

2021-09-13T13:28:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) have released a report focused on disparities in architectural licensing examination. Titled Baseline on Belonging: Examination Report, the study seeks to explore factors that impact equity, diversity, and inclusion for candidates taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

Infographic via NOMA/NCARB

The 100-page report is centered on survey data from the experiences of people preparing for or taking the ARE, including obstacles in the areas of financial support, mentoring, and overall cost. More than 5,000 people submitted responses to the survey, including over 2,800 people of color and almost 2,500 women. The report also features an analysis of a multi-year collection of NCARB data, which as we previously reported, indicates that people of color have significantly lower pass rates in the ARE than their white peers.

Infographic via NOMA/NCARB

Among th...

Total number of U.S. architects is still growing despite COVID-19 disruption

2021-08-11T12:27:00-04:00

The total number of registered architects in the United States has continued to grow over the past year, despite the pressures of COVID-19 disruption on both the professional industry and licensing pathways.

New data from the National Council of Architectural Registrations Board (NCARB) has found that the number of licensed architects in the United States grew to 121,997 by the end of 2020, representing a 5% increase on 2019. The continued increase in U.S. architects last year is notable, given that the number of newly licensed architects during 2020 was 40% lower than the rolling three-year average.

Recently on Archinect: COVID led to 40% drop in new architects last year, says NCARB report

Despite the shutdown of construction sites and transition to remote working, there remained a strong increase in both initial (in-state) licenses and reciprocal (out-of-state) licenses. There were 140,342 reciprocal licenses reported in 2020, a 2% increase on the 2019 figure. The number of rec...

White and male candidates more likely to pass the ARE, says NCARB study

2021-07-22T12:23:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has, for the first time, published data on Architect Registration Examination (ARE) pass rates that are broken down by demographics. The statistics show that white candidates are more likely to pass the ARE than candidates of color, that men are more likely to pass than women, and that younger candidates have higher pass rates than older candidates. The findings will also be included in an upcoming joint report between NCARB and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).

The ARE, which is developed and administered by NCARB, is a key step on the path to professional licensing and is required by all state licensing boards in the United States. To generate the latest statistics, NCARB analyzed the pass rates from more than 32,700 ARE exam participants, studying information on race, ethnicity, gender, and age. NCARB says that releasing the findings is an effort to “help inform essential discussions about eq...

COVID led to 40% drop in new architects last year, says NCARB report

2021-06-16T12:14:00-04:00

There was a 40% decrease in the number of newly licensed architects during 2020 relative to the previous three-year average, according to a report published today by the National Council of Architectural Registrations Board (NCARB). The statistic is one of many findings contained within the special report, which examined the impact of COVID-19 on architectural licensing and mobility across the United States between January and December of 2020.

According to the report, a combination of license test center closures, a transition to remote work, and a fluctuating, unpredictable demand for architectural services all impacted the career progress of licensure candidates in 2020. For instance, the delivery of Architect Registration Examinations (AREs) dropped by 44% last year, largely due to the closure of test centers between March and June.

Decline in new architects during 2020. Read the full NCARB report here.

The number of newly licensed architects dropped by 40% versus the previou...

New Mexico architect Robert M. Calvani inaugurated as new NCARB President

2020-06-25T16:26:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has inaugurated New Mexico architect Robert M. Calvani, FAIA, NCARB as its 2020 President.

For the next year, Calvani will lead the nation's 55 architectural licensing boards amid seismic upheavals taking shape within the architectural profession amid the economic and social tumult resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.

In a statement announcing his inauguration, Calvani writes, “I am honored by the trust placed in me to lead the Council this year. NCARB has built up great momentum in the past several years, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to be agile, embrace new approaches, and raise awareness of our important work to protect the public.”

According to the announcement, Calvani aims to focus his tenure on "exploring issues related to regulating incidental architecture practice, architects’ responsible charge when signing and sealing documents, and ethics in the profession" while also expanding "efforts to ...

NCARB opens new path to certification for architects from non-accredited schools

2017-06-05T12:06:00-04:00

If you don’t have a degree from an accredited architecture program, getting certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is no easy task. It’s now a bit easier, as NCARB has announced a new “Certificate Portfolio” path for architects with “significant professional experience and degrees with non-accredited design programs.”

If you’re an architect licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction but hold a degree in something besides architecture—or even no college degree at all—you can complete an online portfolio and, if it meets certain requirements, you can get certified.

“This revised path makes the goal of professional mobility achievable for a broader range of licensed individuals, while maintaining the quality standards expected by our boards and the public,” says NCARB President Kristine A. Harding, NCARB, AIA.

Find out more here.

Can you guess how many architects there are in each state?

2017-04-28T12:22:00-04:00

The National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB) has tallied up the number of architects practicing in the United States, as well as each individual state. According to their 2016 survey, there are 109,748 architects in the U.S. It’s a drop from the previous year, although pretty minimal (0.4%).

The survey also shows that more and more architects are licensed in multiple states (a 3% increase since 2015). Another finding is that the rate of new architects appears steady, with more than 41,400 candidates taking the Architectural Registration Examination and/or reporting Architectural Experience Program hours.

“Our data confirms that the economy is generating strong demand for initial and reciprocal licensees,” states NCARB CEO Michael J. Armstrong. “We’re also seeing continued growth in the number of architects who hold an NCARB Certi cate, which facilitates reciprocal licensure across the United States and in several countries.”

So how many architects are there in each ...

NCARB announces major changes to IDP program

2014-09-22T19:05:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) announced today that it will be making significant changes to its Intern Development Program (IDP). Separate from other considerations to change the IDP's terminology, this decision chiefly includes two phases: (1) the removal of "elective" hourly requirements, and (2) condensing IDP's experience areas from the current 17 into six "practice-based categories", linked to future sections planned for the revised Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 5.0. These changes will be implemented beginning mid-2015 and mid-2016, respectively.

By removing the "elective" IDP hours, NCARB is decreasing the total required from 5,600 to 3,740 (still based on the seventeen "core experience areas", until ARE 5.0 is in place). NCARB reportedly made this decision to cut down on the average amount of years it takes "interns" to become licensed. The current average is more than seven — five years for IDP and another 2.2 to complete the ARE...