To become an architect, you’ll need to meet the specific education, experience, and examination requirements of the state (often called a “jurisdiction”) where you want to work. Get started with our quick guide to becoming an architect.
Sign Up for NCARB Emails
Get the latest updates from NCARB—including the ARE, AXP, news for architects, CE courses, and more—when you subscribe to our emails.
Establish Your NCARB Record
Your NCARB Record is a detailed online account of your professional history that you’ll use to document your education and experience, take the national licensing exam, and earn your license to practice.
When you’re ready, create an NCARB Record to report your work and track your growth.
- Go to my.ncarb.org.
- Click “Establish Record.”
- Create and verify your My NCARB account.
- Add the “NCARB Record” service.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to fill in the required information.
- Select and enter your payment method.
- Click submit and check your email. You will receive a payment confirmation and an email with your Record number, plus instructions for your next steps.
Remember: Once you have graduated college, have your transcript sent to NCARB so we can verify your education. We’ll keep this information in your NCARB Record for when you’re ready to get licensed.
Report Your Experience
NCARB’s Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) provides a framework to guide you through building competency in a broad range of areas and documenting your work. You can start reporting experience as soon as you graduate from high school—find more details in our AXP Guidelines.
Questions?
We’re here to help. Visit www.ncarb.org/contact or call 202-879-0520.
Destination Architect
Find more tips and tools to help you through the process of becoming a licensed architect at destinationarchitect.org.
