Washington, DC— The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) twelfth annual data report, NCARB by the Numbers, provides a current look into the health of the licensure pipeline and offers key insights into data shaping the architecture industry.
The 2023 edition also builds on the enhanced demographic reporting launched the previous year and includes an expanded examination section that allows readers to explore the impact of NCARB’s recently launched practice exams on pass rates for various demographic groups.
Key findings from the latest edition, which is based on data from the 2022 calendar year, include:
- The number of candidates working toward an architecture license rose by 9% in 2022, with over 35,000 reporting experience, taking the exam, or both.
- The average candidate took 13.3 years from starting college to receiving a license, with women finishing on average 11 months sooner than men.
- Over 145,000 reciprocal licenses—which allow architects to practice in more than one jurisdiction—were held in 2022, a 6% increase from 2021.
- New architects are increasing diversity in the profession: one in every three new architects is a person of color, and two out of every five are women.
- Individuals who used NCARB’s free practice exams saw an average 12% increase in pass rates—and people of color saw greater gains in pass rates than their white peers.
“While growth in the architect population has slowed, we have seen an uptick in Record holders who are licensed in multiple jurisdictions and abroad, demonstrating the continued value of professional mobility,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong. “To meet our customers’ needs, we’ve continued to keep pace with an increasingly interconnected global economy by enhancing the value of the NCARB Certificate as a passport to global licensure.”
The findings in NCARB by the Numbers are pulled from NCARB’s database of over 128,000 licensure candidates and architects, making this annual report the most comprehensive source for licensure statistics.
To read the full report and explore interactive data charts, visit www.ncarb.org/NBTN2023.
About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
