FAQs

NCARB continues to view accredited education as a viable way to learn about the profession and the HSW responsibilities of licensed architects. It is a requirement in most U.S. jurisdictions and is the most frequently used pathway to gaining a license today—and will likely remain so far into the future. However, NCARB asserts that for the profession to be accessible for individuals of all backgrounds, licensure options should be flexible, diversified, and obtainable.

NCARB is currently reviewing potential adjustments to the leadership path to help support equity, diversity, and inclusion within our organization. The process to implement these adjustments may take time, but we hope they will result in increased diversity in our Board and larger volunteer community not only in terms of race, but also in age, gender, background, education, experience, and more.

Yes. You can take the ARE online from anywhere in the world, as long as your testing environment meets the technical and environmental requirements for online proctoring. Note: Some countries may have restrictions in place that do not allow online proctoring.

NCARB has enhanced the information provided on ARE 5.0^® score reports with our migration to PSI. The new score reports are designed to provide you with clearer feedback on failed division performance so you understand where to focus your test prep before retaking a division. You may view your score report at my.ncarb.org after you have completed a division of the ARE.

NCARB takes the security of ARE content seriously. You are required to accept the Candidate Agreement before each division to protect the exam and ensure you are aware of the potential consequences of violating the exam’s security. Learn more about the Candidate Agreement.

As NCARB works to envision the future of licensure—including the possibility of multiple pathways to licensure—it is essential that our programs share a core expectation of what competency looks like at the point of initial licensure. The NCARB Competency Standard for Architects provides that foundation and lays the groundwork for a flexible, accessible path to licensure.

If you would like to pursue licensure through one of our mutual recognition arrangements, review the signatory jurisdictions to ensure your jurisdiction is a participant. If you would like to earn a reciprocal license in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, please contact our Customer Relations team once you have met the requirements for eligibility.

Your AXP supervisor manages you on a daily basis and is ultimately responsible for your work. In most cases, your supervisor must be an architect licensed in the U.S. However, there are certain experience settings that allow for engineers, landscape architects, and unlicensed individuals to serve as your supervisor. Learn more about your supervisor.

The ARE is developed by NCARB with the help of hundreds of volunteer architects from across the country. Throughout each year, these volunteers write new questions and review current questions to ensure they meet quality standards.

To serve on most positions on the NCARB Board of Directors, you must have served on a U.S. architectural licensing board. However, the two at-large director positions are open to individuals who have served two years on a U.S. licensing board or NCARB volunteer effort (committee, subcommittee, etc.). Learn more.