Effective April 27, 2026, NCARB is making several changes to the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) to align the program with the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects.

These updates focus on minor adjustments to some exam objectives and formatting adjustments to case studies. The changes will not impact the ARE’s overall division structure, number of items per division, or testing time per division. Candidates’ passed divisions, including divisions reinstated through the retirement of the former rolling clock policy, will not be impacted.

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An updated version of the ARE 5.0 Guidelines that reflects these upcoming changes to the exam will be available in January 2026. NCARB will release updated practice exams that reflect these changes in early 2026.

Exam Objective Adjustments

NCARB will make minor adjustments to 12 of the 91 exam objectives identified in the ARE 5.0 Guidelines. These adjustments are limited to small clarifying updates and, in some cases, narrowing the competency expectations assessed in the exam to align with the Competency Standard. NCARB does not expect that these changes will affect how you prepare for the exam.

Refreshed Case Studies

The format of the exam’s case studies will also be refined, with an end goal of making case studies more efficient for candidates. Effective April 27, case studies will feature fewer total resources and fewer items per individual case study—reducing exam loading times as well as time spent reviewing case study resources during the exam. You should still expect to see the same total number of case study items per exam division.

AXP Changes

As a reminder, NCARB is also making updates to the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) on November 18, 2025, including:

  • Refreshed descriptions of each of the program’s six experience areas
  • Replacing the reporting requirement with a more flexible reporting policy
  • Expanding the setting O opportunity that allows candidates to gain AXP experience by completing professional development courses

Learn more about changes to the AXP.

More About the Competency Standard for Architects 

The NCARB Competency Standard for Architects is a document that establishes 16 knowledge areas, skills, abilities, and behaviors—called competencies—necessary for initial licensure as an architect. Rather than being a program on its own, like the AXP or ARE, the Competency Standard creates a shared foundation for NCARB’s programs.