Washington, DC—The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) latest NCARB by the Numbers data report provides exclusive insight into the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on candidates working toward earning their architecture license. The data demonstrates that the pandemic significantly affected candidates’ ability to complete the path to licensure, with more than a third of candidates reporting that the pandemic significantly slowed their experience progress.
Since 2020, NCARB has been closely monitoring how the pandemic affected licensure candidates. In September 2024, NCARB launched a survey designed to better understand the pandemic’s direct and indirect impacts. More than 2,300 candidates and architects licensed within the past 3 years completed the survey and shared their experiences in architecture from February 2020 through the present day.
The results, which are shared in the 2025 NCARB by the Numbers, revealed widespread challenges: project delays and cancellations, layoffs, reduced work hours, rescinded job offers, and concerns related to both physical and mental health. As a result of these disruptions, 37% of respondents reported that COVID-19 significantly slowed their Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) progress. Additionally, 63% believed they would have become licensed sooner if not for the pandemic.
These challenges align with NCARB’s licensure data: between 2020 and 2025, NCARB saw fewer new licensees compared to the previous years, as pandemic-era candidates took longer to complete the licensure path. However, in recent years, NCARB has seen strong growth in the number of individuals beginning the licensure process, signaling that the direct impact of the pandemic has begun to fade. Because the average time to licensure is approximately 13 years, this growth in the candidate population may take several more years to filter into the pool of new architects.
While NCARB’s data shows that many licensure candidates are back on track toward licensure, some candidates whose career trajectories were altered by layoffs or job changes may feel the pandemic’s effects for years—or even decades—to come.
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, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
