Developed with input from thousands of practicing architects, the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects establishes 16 knowledge areas, skills, abilities, and behaviors—called competencies—that describe the capabilities necessary at the point of initial licensure for an individual to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
Download the Competency Standard
About the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects
This standard establishes the level of proficiency needed in each competency to qualify an individual for initial licensure, as assessed by NCARB’s programs. The competencies are organized into three domains:
- Design & Documentation
- Construction Administration
- Practice & Project Management
Over the next two years, NCARB will make updates to its existing programs to align with the new Competency Standard. Once implemented, candidates for licensure will demonstrate their capabilities in each independent competency to earn a license to practice architecture. After becoming licensed, architects must ensure they maintain the capabilities described to remain competent. In addition, architects should strive to continually grow their competency in these and other areas to provide quality service and public protection.
Why create the Competency Standard?
In addition to informing changes to the existing AXP and ARE, the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects provides the foundation for the organization’s Pathways to Practice initiative. As NCARB works to envision the future of licensure—including the possibility of multiple pathways to licensure—it is essential that our programs share a core expectation of what competency looks like at the point of initial licensure. The NCARB Competency Standard for Architects provides that foundation and lays the groundwork for a flexible, accessible path to licensure.
Pathways to Practice seeks to expand licensure access to individuals of all backgrounds by creating a more flexible licensure model. NCARB’s Licensure Process Research & Development Task Force will use the competencies defined in the Competency Standard to envision new pathways to become an architect, including expanded options for individuals who don’t hold a degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
How the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects Was Developed
The NCARB Competency Standard for Architects is the outcome of work of NCARB’s Competency Task Force. Using findings from NCARB’s 2022 Analysis of Practice—which had nearly 20,000 architect participants—as a foundation, the task force researched which competencies were necessary at the point of initial licensure to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The task force also explored the competency level required for licensure in similar professions before releasing a draft list of competencies for public feedback in October 2023.
After receiving feedback from nearly 5,000 architects, the task force further refined the draft Competency Standard throughout 2023 and 2024. The Competency Standard was shared with NCARB’s members for final comments in June 2024, and was finalized by NCARB’s Board of Directors in September.
