Washington, DC—Last week, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) convened its new Future Title Task Force, which is comprised of interns and architects from across the country, to discuss the profession’s title debate. The task force is charged with discussing the terminology used for those who are candidates for licensure and those who are architects.

“The discussions of this task force are the first step,” said NCARB President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB, who announced the task force in his address at the 2014 NCARB Annual Business Meeting. “This is a diverse group of people with a lot interesting opinions, and I look forward to seeing where they take this discussion.”

The task force engaged in two days of discussion that covered everything from the difference between what states currently allow for unlicensed professionals, how other professions identify career stages, data from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Intern Titling Survey, and blue-sky options going forward.

“These discussions are very aspirational,” said 2013-2014 NCARB President and Task Force Chair Blakely C. Dunn, NCARB, AIA. “Many of the 54 jurisdictions have laws and rules related to what interns can and cannot call themselves, and change at that level will take time.”

The group will next meet in October to continue its discussions and research.

Future Titles Task Force Members:

  • Blakely C. Dunn, NCARB, AIA; El Dorado, AR; Chair
  • Tyler W. Ashworth, Assoc. AIA, LEED APBD+C; Washington, DC
  • Tamarah R. Begay, AIA, NCARB, AICAE, CDT, APBD+C; Albuquerque, NM
  • Westin Conahan, Assoc. AIA; AIAS Past President
  • Suni Dillard, LEED APBD+C; Cambridge, MA
  • Rick Engebretson, AIA, Fargo, ND
  • Shannon French, Assoc. AIA, LEED GA; New Orleans, LA
  • Haley M. Gipe, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP; Fresno, CA
  • Kingsley J. Glasgow, Little Rock, AR
  • Damon Leverett, AIA, LEED APBD+C; Washington, DC
  • Jeff Pastva, AIA; Philadelphia, PA
  • Anne K. Smith, AIA, LEED APBD+C; Savannah, GA
  • Scott C. Veazey, AIA, NCARB; Evansville, IN
  • Jennifer Workman, AIA; Dallas, TX