The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP), successfully concluded a two-day virtual Convening on Architectural Education and Competencies for Licensure on May 29-30, 2025.
With over 230 participants, members of the architectural education community from across the country gathered to engage in critical conversations about the continuum of architectural education and student preparation for licensure.
The convening addressed two critical areas: transfer and articulation partnerships between community colleges and universities, and competencies in architectural education. The interactive format allowed participants to learn strategies for enhancing their own transfer and articulation partnerships while sharing their successes, challenges, and practical advice with colleagues from across the country.
During the event, attendees also explored diverse perspectives on how education develops competency for architectural practice. ACSA presented its perspective on the connection between education and professional practice—emphasizing the vital connection between academic preparation and professional practice—while the NCARB Education Committee shared findings from a year-long investigation into which competencies outlined in the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects could be acquired during formal education. Attendees were given the opportunity to react to this work and also share their perspectives on current practices. Lastly, participants heard from competency-based education experts outside architecture, who provided valuable insights on integrating competencies into credit-based educational frameworks.
Watch recordings from the Convening.
Looking Forward
This convening represents the first in what NCARB hopes will be an ongoing series of conversations about architectural education and licensure preparation. The collaborative effort between NCARB, ACSA, and CCCAP demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening the pathways from education to professional practice.
About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
About ACSA
The mission of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is to lead architectural education and research. Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, ACSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association of over 200 member schools in several categories. These include full membership for all accredited programs in the United States and government-sanctioned schools in Canada, candidate membership for schools seeking accreditation, and affiliate membership for schools for two-year and international programs. Through these schools, over 5,000 architecture faculty are represented.
ACSA, unique in its representative role for schools of architecture, provides a forum for ideas on the leading edge of architectural thought. Issues that will affect the architectural profession in the future are being examined today in ACSA member schools. The association maintains a variety of activities that influence, communicate, and record important issues. Such endeavors include scholarly meetings, workshops, publications, awards and competition programs, support for architectural research, policy development, and liaison with allied organizations.
ACSA seeks to empower faculty and schools to educate increasingly diverse students, expand disciplinary impacts, and create knowledge for the advancement of architecture. www.acsa-arch.org.
About CCCAP
The CCCAP is a professional organization of educators dedicated to promoting the value of the Architecture Programs in community colleges and to providing an alternative pathway to the architectural profession. The CCCAP empowers students to pursue their career and academic goals in the field of architecture and the built environment today and in the future.
