NCARB’s efforts to reimagine the path to licensure have been underway for several years. Learn more about the steps along the way to developing the new Competency Standard for Architects and what to expect in the coming years.

  • April 2022: NCARB launches an industry-wide survey as part of its Analysis of Practice, investigating the current and near-future practice of architecture. Nearly 20,000 professionals across the built environment participate in the study.
  • July 2022: NCARB’s Competency Task Force and Licensure Process Research & Development Task Force begin their efforts to reimagine the path to licensure.
  • October 2023: The Competency Task Force launches a validation survey, seeking feedback on a draft list of competencies. Nearly 5,000 architects participate in the validation survey.
  • December 2023: NCARB’s volunteer committees provide feedback on the initial draft of the Competency Standard.
  • March 2024: NCARB’s members review a draft of the Competency Standard and provide feedback.
  • June 2024: A draft Competency Standard is shared with NCARB’s members for final feedback.
  • October 2024: After approval from the Board of Directors, the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects is released, initiating updates to NCARB’s experience and examination programs.
  • 2024-2026: NCARB’s Licensure Process Research & Development Task Force collaborates with other NCARB volunteers to explore potential licensure assessment methods.
  • July 2025: NCARB announces upcoming changes to the AXP and ARE.
  • October-November 2025: NCARB conducts a series of focus groups with licensure candidates to gather early feedback on potential licensure assessment methods.
  • November 18, 2025: Updates to the AXP go into effect.
  • January 2026: NCARB conducts a broader validation survey of potential assessment methods with licensure candidates. 
  • April 27, 2026: Updates to the ARE go into effect.
  • July 2026: NCARB releases the latest edition of NCARB by the Numbers, including a new section on the data behind Pathways to Practice.
  • 2026-2027: NCARB’s Education, Experience, and Examination committees refine proposed assessment methods. NCARB will continue to gather additional feedback from architect and licensure candidate communities.
  • 2027 and beyond: NCARB will work with our member licensing boards to validate, approve, and roll out the next licensure model.

There is no current launch date established for the next versions of the ARE and AXP as part of Pathways to Practice. NCARB is committed to ensuring that a supermajority of jurisdictional licensing boards can accept the future licensure system before we will launch these changes.