Broadly Experienced Architect Program

NCARB certification requires satisfaction of education, training, and examination requirements outlined in the NCARB Handbook for Interns and Architects:

• Good character – Verified by employers and an NCARB Member Board where you are registered
• Education – Completion of a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) or hold a professional degree in architecture, certified by the CACB, from a Canadian university
• Training – Satisfaction of the Intern Development Program (IDP) Training Requirement or satisfaction of alternate requirements as specified in the Handbook for Interns and Architects
• Examination – Pass the NCARB Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) or past equivalent 
• Registration – Current registration to practice issued by an NCARB Member Board

BEA Eligibility – Architects who do not hold a professional architecture degree from a NAAB-accredited architecture program are eligible to apply for an NCARB Certificate through the Broadly Experienced Architect (BEA) program if they:

• Hold current registration from a NCARB Member Board
• Have comprehensive practice experience as a registered architect over a prescribed number of years:

• Six years for architects who hold a pre-professional degree in architecture that is a component of a NAAB-accredited, CACB-accredited, or CACB-certified professional degree program
• Eight years for architects who hold any other baccalaureate or higher degree 
• Ten years for architects who do not hold a degree 

The BEA Program allows architects to demonstrate learning through experience as a registered architect to satisfy the education requirement defined by the NCARB Education Standard. The BEA Program is an alternative to completion of a professional architecture degree.

To learn more about the BEA Program Process, click here.