Earning a license is an important step in an architecture career, confirming that an individual has demonstrated the level of knowledge, skill, and ability needed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As the field of architecture evolves, the path to architectural licensure must evolve as well.
The current process of earning a license typically involves earning a degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), documenting professional experience, and passing a national licensing exam.
Through our Pathways to Practice initiative, NCARB is working to expand access to the profession by creating a more flexible yet equally rigorous licensure process. Our goal is to offer a modular, competency-based approach to licensure that fairly and accurately assesses an individual’s ability to practice safely and independently. By offering more flexibility in how candidates demonstrate their competency, NCARB can ensure that individuals of all educational and career backgrounds have a pathway to architectural practice—while still maintaining the level of rigor needed to protect the public.
NCARB’s Pathways to Practice effort is expected to take several years, starting with updates to our existing programs and services. To ensure all licensure candidates are held to the same expectations, NCARB is basing both updates to our existing programs and the development of future programs on the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects. Developed with data and insights from thousands of practicing architects, the Competency Standard establishes the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors necessary at the point of initial licensure.
