Since 2020, NCARB has been closely monitoring the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on candidates navigating the path to licensure. We recently surveyed members of the architecture community to better understand how candidates were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and received responses from over 2,300 candidates and architects licensed within the past three years.
Key findings from the survey are highlighted in the 2025 NCARB by the Numbers report. Between slowed or canceled projects, economic uncertainty, and the physical and mental toll of a global pandemic, many candidates faced reduced work hours, layoffs, and even rescinded job or internship offers. While NCARB has begun to see the direct impact of the pandemic fade, some candidates who were significantly impacted may feel the pandemic’s effects for years—or even decades—to come.
Impacts on the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®)
Earning and reporting experience in various practice areas is essential to completing the AXP. More than a third (37%) of respondents, who shared their experiences from February 2020 through the present day, reported that the pandemic significantly slowed their progress in meeting AXP requirements. Candidates reported various impacts the pandemic had on their progress in earning experience, including reduced project team sizes, cut projects, and layoffs—with 40% of respondents reporting that they experienced difficulties with workload changes that exposed them to fewer projects or practice areas.
Demographic Disparities
Of the candidates and architects surveyed, people of color were eight percentage points more likely than white respondents to report that the pandemic had significantly impacted their experience progress.
In addition, people of color were 8 percentage points more likely to report that their firm reduced the number of employees working on each project, and 5 percentage points more likely to report that their firm didn’t have new projects to work on than white respondents. Similarly, people of color were more likely than white respondents to indicate that the pandemic negatively impacted their relationship with their supervisor.
Workload and Health Impacts
Many respondents reported changes in their employment status as a result of the pandemic, with 25% of respondents sharing that they were unable to find employment at an architecture firm.
Additionally, nearly half reported that childcare (44%) and other dependent care (48%) responsibilities affected their ability to work, with men and women nearly equally likely to indicate the effects on work presence and performance due to childcare. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents shared that their mental health impacted their ability to work during the pandemic, while 38% reported impacts to their physical health.
Has Architectural Licensure Recovered?
60% of survey respondents believe the pandemic has permanently altered their career trajectory by delaying promotions, reducing licensure support, or impacting their employment. Over half of respondents (54%) also indicated they chose to put their licensure plans on hold as a result of the pandemic, which corresponds with the downtrend in licensure progress seen across NCARB’s programs from 2020 to 2022.
Like the 2008 recession, the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects may linger in reduced job opportunities, firm resources, and construction projects for years to come. NCARB is working to address overall barriers and impediments faced along the path to licensure to increase accessibility within the profession through the Pathways to Practice initiative.
NCARB will continue to monitor candidates’ progress on the path to licensure to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic and identify more opportunities to support candidates’ licensure journey. Explore more of the data and insights in the latest edition of NCARB by the Numbers, which provides an inside look at recent trends along the path to licensure and beyond!
