Over the next two years, NCARB will use the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects to develop and implement changes to the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) and Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). These updates will focus on aligning the AXP and ARE with the competencies defined in the Competency Standard.
Currently working on the AXP and/or ARE? Don’t worry.
The updates to the AXP and ARE won’t affect the current AXP experience areas or ARE divisions, and you’ll retain full credit for all your existing AXP hours and passed ARE divisions. If you have ARE 5.0 credits from passed ARE 4.0 divisions, those credits will not be impacted by the 2026 updates.
What’s changing?
NCARB’s Experience and Examination committees are working to finalize changes to the AXP and ARE. The changes will likely include clarifying the descriptions of the AXP’s six experience areas and updating some of the ARE’s test objectives. However, the updates will not include changes to the AXP’s experience area structure or hours requirement, and they will not include changes to the ARE’s divisional structure or length.
We plan to share the changes at least six months prior to the launch of each updated program, ensuring that you have plenty of time to plan a work strategy with your AXP supervisor or prepare for any new exam content.
What’s next?
NCARB anticipates launching the changes to the AXP in early 2026, and the changes to ARE content in summer 2026. We’ll provide more details around the expected launch timeline in early 2025, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletters to receive the latest information.
