Fees

Find information regarding the fees associated with NCARB's programs and services:

• NCARB Record Fees for Licensure Candidates
• NCARB Record Fees for Architects
• Examination Fees
• NCARB Certificate Fees
• Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Fees

We work to keep our costs low for licensure candidates beginning their professional careers, which is why the fees for some programs and services increase after initial licensure. All fees are non-refundable. On August 1, 2024, NCARB increased fees for licensure candidates, architects, and NCARB Certificate holders, as well as exam-related fees.

NCARB Record Fees for Licensure Candidates

You will need an active NCARB Record to participate in the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), take the Architect Registration Examination^® (ARE^®), and have your Record transmitted to an architectural licensure board for initial licensure. Once you're licensed, you'll also need a Record to apply for the NCARB Certificate. 

• Application fee for licensure candidates: $100
  Covers your initial application for an NCARB Record, maintains your active Record for one year, and includes one free Record transmittal to support your application for initial licensure.
• Annual renewal fee for licensure candidates: $100
  Maintains your active Record for one year.
• Reactivation fee for licensure candidates: $100 annual renewal fee for each year or partial year lapsed, up to $200
• Transmittal: Free
  As a licensure candidate, your initial licensure transmittal is free. 
• Paper processing fee: $20
  Covers the additional cost of renewing your NCARB Record via paper form. To avoid this charge, renew your Record online through My NCARB.

NCARB Record Fees for Architects

You will need an active NCARB Record to report prior experience, take the ARE (if necessary), have your Record transmitted to an architectural licensure board for licensure, and apply for and maintain an NCARB Certificate.

• Application fee for registered architects: $1,345
  If you are already licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction, but have never held an NCARB Record, this application fee will cover the costs of evaluating your credentials for the NCARB Certificate. If you are approved for certification within 12 months of your application, your renewal date will be extended one year at no extra cost.
  Please note: If you are registered in a country other than the United States, contact our Customer Relations team at 202-879-0520 to get details on the application process.
• Annual renewal fee for registered architects: $285
  Maintains your active Record for one year.
• Reactivation fee for non-certified architects: $305 plus the cost of all outstanding annual renewal fees, up to $1,345
  Reactivates an expired Record.
• Transmittal: $475
  Includes one transmittal of your NCARB Record to a U.S., Canadian, or other international licensing authority. 
• Paper processing fee: $20
  Covers the additional cost of renewing your NCARB Record via paper form. To avoid this charge, renew your Record online through My NCARB.

Examination Fees

In addition to the cost of an NCARB Record, each administration of an ARE division has a separate fee.

• Total cost (six divisions): $1,500
• Individual divisions: $250
• Retakes: $250
• Cancellation fee: $100

About exam rescheduling fees:

• The first time a candidate reschedules a previously scheduled exam appointment, it will be free
• The second reschedule of the same appointment will cost $50
• The third and all subsequent reschedules of the same appointment will cost $100
• This policy applies to individual exam appointments. For example, if a candidate had Practice Management and Project Management scheduled, the first time they rescheduled both appointments would be free

You can reschedule an existing appointment up to 48 hours in advance of an in-person appointment and up to 24 hours in advance of an online-proctored appointment. You can also cancel an appointment and retain your exam seat (seat credit) for a $100 fee. Learn more about rescheduling and canceling in the ARE 5.0 Guidelines.

Note: Any purchased seat credits not used to schedule a division will expire one year after the date of purchase.

NCARB Certificate Fees

The NCARB Certificate provides you with the freedom and mobility to go wherever your career takes you. You’ll also receive free continuing education opportunities through our Continuum Education Program.

Licensure candidates who maintain an active NCARB Record will not have to pay a separate application fee and will receive their first year of certification free.

• Certificate application fee: $1,345
  Covers the cost of processing your application and verifying your credentials, and maintains your active Certificate for one year.
• Annual renewal fee: $285
  Maintains your Certificate for one year.
• Reactivation fee: $305 plus the cost of all outstanding annual renewal fees, up to $1,345
  Reactivates an expired Certificate. 
• Foreign Architect Path to NCARB Certification: $1,345
  The Foreign Architect Path has the same cost associated with an NCARB Certificate application. This fee will not be billed to your account until after your required credentials are approved and you have been made eligible for the program. You will also need to pay a Record transmittal fee of $475 to have your Record transmitted to the U.S. jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure.
• Education Alternative Path to NCARB Certification: $1,345 
  The Education Alternative Path has the same cost associated with an NCARB Certificate application.

Mutual Recognition Agreements

NCARB offers mutual recognition arrangements/agreements (MRAs) with Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Through these MRAs, NCARB Certificate holders can pursue reciprocal licenses internationally. 

Australia and New Zealand

Australia/New Zealand Architects:

• Architects from Australia or New Zealand will need to establish an NCARB Record and pay a $3,500 USD fee to NCARB. They will also need to pay a $475 transmittal fee to have their NCARB Record sent to the U.S. jurisdiction where they are seeking licensure, and will need to pay additional licensure fees to the relevant jurisdiction. Jurisdictional licensure fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are set by the jurisdiction.

U.S. Architects:

• U.S. Certificate holders will need to pay a $475 transmittal fee to have their NCARB Record sent to Australia or New Zealand. The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia also charges a fee of $4,100 AUD. The New Zealand Registered Architects Board charges a fee of $724.50 NZ.

Canada

Canadian Architects:

• Architects from Canada will need to establish an NCARB Record and pay a $500 USD fee. They will also need to pay a $475 transmittal fee to have their NCARB Record sent to the U.S. jurisdiction where they are seeking licensure, and will need to pay additional licensure fees to the relevant jurisdiction. Jurisdictional licensure fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are set by the jurisdiction. 

U.S. Architects:

• U.S. Certificate holders will need to pay a $475 transmittal fee to have their NCARB Record sent to the Canadian jurisdiction of their choice. Canada may charge additional fees. 

United Kingdom

U.K. Architects:

• ARB will need to issue you a certificate, which costs £120.00. You will need maintain an active ARB certificate in order to have your record transmitted to a U.S. jurisdiction. 
• U.K. architects will need to establish an NCARB Record and pay a $3,500 USD application fee to NCARB. If the U.K. architect has already established an NCARB Record, the Record fee the architect has already paid will be deducted from the $3,500 USD application fee and the architect will be responsible for the balance of the fee—contact NCARB at www.ncarb.org/contact for more information about the balance of your application fee. 
• U.K. architects will also need to pay a $475 transmittal fee to have their NCARB Record sent to the U.S. jurisdiction where they are seeking licensure, and will need to pay additional licensure fees to the relevant jurisdiction. Jurisdictional licensure fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are set by the jurisdiction. 

U.S. Architects:

• You will need to pay the Record transmittal fee of $475 to have your Record transmitted to ARB. 
• After your Record is transmitted, you will be required to pay ARB the U.K. Adaptation Assessment fee of £2950.00.