Episodes four and five of the NCARB Podcast about Pathways to Practice are now available. Subscribe to the series to stream new episodes as they become available.
Episode 4: Earning Experience
Gaining real-world experience is an essential step to becoming an architect. But access to meaningful experience is not always equal. Join host Andy McIntyre for an inside look at how candidates earn experience today, where the current system creates challenges, and how firm culture plays a critical role in shaping future architects.
Andy speaks with Gabriella Bermea, chair of NCARB’s Experience Committee, about recent updates to the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), as well as how experience might be evaluated in the future. These efforts are “about bringing everyone to the table, allowing for them to see architecture as a viable career, and [making] our built environment more representative of the communities that we serve,” said Gabriella.
Next, Jenny Kawecki, NCARB’s assistant vice president of Data, Analytics, and Research, joins to discuss what our data reveals about attrition, supervisor relationships, and firm support. For example, Black or African American candidates are less likely to receive AXP support from their firm. “There's a degree to which candidates can't really control the experience they're going to get,” said Jenny. “For those candidates, they might have to choose: Do I look for another job, even though I really like this one, or do I stay here and not earn my license?”
Episode 5: Evolving the Exam
The Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) is one of the most visible parts of the licensure process. Andy speaks with Jared Zurn, NCARB’s chief programs officer, about the evolution of the exam, recent accessibility improvements, and why the future of licensure requires a more holistic approach.
Then, Brent Lance, chair of NCARB’s Examination Committee, discusses upcoming ARE updates, case study changes, competency alignment, and the research-driven process behind exam development. “NCARB collects so many metrics from the exam administrations … and that data sometimes shows trends that indicate things we’re not really comfortable with,” said Brent, referencing candidates who speak or read English as a second language. “When we get certain groups of people taking the exam [who] are performing substantially different than other groups, it's time to step back, reassess something, and then figure out how to move forward.”
About This Podcast
Season two of the NCARB Podcast focuses on our ongoing Pathways to Practice initiative, which aims to create a more accessible yet equally rigorous licensure process. This podcast series explores the history of architectural licensure and regulation in the United States, as well as the evolution of NCARB’s current education, experience, and examination licensure requirements. It also provides a preview into the future of architectural licensure: a competency-based framework that allows for several different types of assessments to ensure that qualified candidates can enter the profession, regardless of their professional or educational background.
Don’t miss an episode and catch up on season one—which focused on NCARB by the Numbers—by subscribing to the NCARB Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.
