Washington, DC—The architecture profession continues to grow along with a gradually recovering economy, based on the results of the 2014 Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

The 2014 survey of U.S. jurisdictions indicates that there are 107,581 architects in the United States, a 1.6 percent increase from 2013. The number of architects has grown 3.1 percent since 2011.

“Our survey documents an architecture profession that is thriving,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong. “NCARB will continue to spearhead changes in architectural licensing standards to support a growing architecture industry.”

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data also points to growing opportunities for architects in the American economy. Architectural and engineering services added 5,000 new jobs in September and 2,900 new jobs in October.

All states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands require individuals to be licensed (registered) before they may call themselves architects or contract to provide architectural services. Data collected for the fall 2014 Survey of Registration Boards are from the 54 U.S. jurisdictions and reflect registration levels from July 2013 through June 2014.

To become licensed, most jurisdictions require a professional degree in architecture and completion of an internship program. NCARB’s Intern Development Program (IDP) is a comprehensive program to provide interns with the knowledge and skills needed to practice architecture. All jurisdictions require completion of the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). Most states also require continuing education to maintain a license.

NCARB assists registration boards by leading the development and application of licensing standards and the credentialing of architects. The NCARB Certificate allows architects to expedite reciprocity—the ability to offer architectural services in different jurisdictions after earning an initial license.

As part of the survey report, NCARB also complies its own data on the number of reciprocal licenses earned each year, reporting 119,200 reciprocal licenses in 2014. That is down slightly—about 2 percent—from the previous year. “As the economy improves, NCARB suspects that many architects are finding new projects close to home without having to go to other jurisdictions,” Armstrong said. “We’ll keep an eye on this indicator as the economy moves forward.”

In total, the NCARB 2014 Survey reports that the 107,581 architects hold 226,181 licenses nationally. California reported the highest number of resident architects, at 16,618 total professionals, as well as the highest number of total registrations (resident plus reciprocal licenses) at 20,595.

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* Counts are from 2012 data
** Counts are from 2013 data

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About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural registration boards of all 50 states as well as those of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB assists its member registration boards in carrying out their duties and provides a certification program for individual architects.

NCARB protects the public health, safety, and welfare by leading the regulation of the practice of architecture through the development and application of standards for licensure and credentialing of architects. In order to achieve these goals, the Council develops and recommends standards to be required of an applicant for architectural registration; develops and recommends standards regulating the practice of architecture; provides to Member Boards a process for certifying the qualifications of an architect for registration; and represents the interests of Member Boards before public and private agencies. NCARB has established reciprocal registration for architects in the United States and Canada.

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