Washington, DC— The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) has released the 2025 edition of its annual data report, NCARB by the Numbers. The report, which is based on data from the 2024 calendar year, highlights that the average time to earn an architecture license has decreased for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Explore NCARB by the Numbers 

In addition to the decreased time to licensure, the 2025 edition highlights several recent trends related to the overall health of the licensure pipeline. Key findings from the 2025 NCARB by the Numbers include:  

  • Nearly 40,000 candidates actively worked toward becoming architects in 2024, a 5% increase compared to 2023. This is the highest number of licensure candidates NCARB has seen since 2018, a sign that the pipeline of new architects is healthy and growing.
  • Time to licensure (from start of college) fell below the 13-year mark for the first time since 2016. The average time to earn a license—which typically includes passing the national licensing exam, documenting experience, and earning a college degree—was six months shorter in 2024 than in 2023.
  • The total number of U.S. architects fell by 4% to 116,000. This is likely a result of retirements from the baby boomer generation, who have long made up a significant portion of the architect population. However, as the increased candidate population moves through the licensure pipeline, NCARB anticipates seeing a larger number of new architects in the years ahead, counteracting the impact of baby boomer retirements.
  • Architects are increasingly getting licensed across state boundaries. While the number of architects has fallen, the number of out-of-state (reciprocal) licenses held by U.S. architects increased to over 150,000, a record high.
  • New architects and licensure candidates are increasingly diverse. In 2024, 42% of new architects identified as women, and 33% identified as people of color. The licensure candidate population is even more diverse, with 49% identifying as a person of color and 46% identifying as women—over the coming years, this increased representation should filter into the practitioner population.
  • Time to complete the exam has fallen to 2.3 years on average, two months less than the average time in 2023.

The 2025 edition of NCARB by the Numbers also includes exclusive insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on candidates navigating the path to licensure.

Through NCARB by the Numbers, NCARB ensures that the architecture and regulatory communities have access to clear, concise data that can guide programmatic and policy changes. Moving forward, NCARB will continue to use this data to drive the strategic evolution of its programs and services as it seeks to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

To read the full report and explore interactive data charts, visit www.ncarb.org/nbtn.

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.