In October, NCARB released the new Competency Standard for Architects. Since then, we’ve seen questions and comments from the architecture community regarding what exactly the Competency Standard is—and what it’s not. So, let’s explore how NCARB will use this new resource to guide changes to our programs and services in the future.
What is the Competency Standard?
The NCARB Competency Standard for Architects is a document that establishes 16 knowledge areas, skills, abilities, and behaviors—called competencies—necessary for initial licensure as an architect.
Rather than being a program on its own, like NCARB’s Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) or Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), the Competency Standard creates a shared foundation for NCARB’s programs. This framework will help us ensure that programs and services work toward the same level of competency at the point of initial licensure.
For NCARB and our member licensing boards, the Competency Standard is an essential reference point as we update existing programs (like the AXP and ARE) and develop new pathways to licensure in the future. Currently, NCARB is in the middle of a multi-year effort to expand access to licensure by offering multiple flexible licensure pathways. The Competency Standard will ensure that licensing boards can be confident in architects’ competence when it comes to the public health, safety, and welfare, no matter the pathway they took to demonstrate that competence.
For candidates, the Competency Standard can help guide your professional development as you work toward licensure. What skills should you focus on while completing the AXP? What should you expect to be tested on when taking the ARE? Over the next year and a half, NCARB will update those programs to better align with the competencies established in the Competency Standard while not changing the overall structure of AXP or ARE. As a licensure candidate, you should continue on your journey uninterrupted.
For architects, the Competency Standard can guide your continuing education efforts. While architects shouldn’t expect any direct impact to renewal requirements based on the Competency Standard in the near future, focusing on building skills in any competencies that you don’t currently feel confident in can help make you a more well-rounded practitioner. By ensuring you have a strong foundation across all 16 competencies, you can also serve as a more resourceful mentor and supervisor to the next generation of architects.
What isn’t the Competency Standard?
We know that hearing about future updates to licensure programs can be stressful, so let’s set the record straight: the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects is not an additional program that candidates need to complete in order to become licensed.
While NCARB finalizes our more immediate updates to the AXP and ARE to better align with the Competency Standard, candidates won’t see the 16 competencies manifested in 16 categories across our licensure programs (like the AXP and ARE). The updates to the ARE and AXP will not result in ARE 5.0’s six divisions being replaced with 16 new competency exams, or in the AXP’s six experience areas being replaced with 16 competency areas.
Updates to existing programs are expected over the next 12 months: updates to the AXP are expected to launch in late 2025/early 2026, and updates to the ARE are expected to launch in spring 2026. For both programs, we anticipate the impact to candidates will be minimal—the structure and experience areas/divisions for both programs won’t change.
NCARB is committed to using competency-based qualification as the driver both to update our existing programs and design a future licensure process that incorporates assessment tools that may be more varied and designed differently from our current programs. However, NCARB is still working with our Member Boards to design these programs. New licensure programs that evolve our utilization of experience and examination are not expected to be finalized for several years. NCARB will provide candidates with sufficient advanced notice to prepare for the launch of any new programs, as well as tools and resources to help navigate any changes.
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