Washington, DC—Effective September 1, 2026, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) Architect Licensing Advisors Community now includes two levels of participation: architect licensing advisors and senior architect licensing advisors.

  • As ambassadors to their communities, architect licensing advisors engage with licensure candidates to promote awareness of the licensure process and connect individuals with accurate information and resources.
  • Senior architect licensing advisors provide deeper guidance; lead outreach efforts across institutions, organizations, firms, and broader professional communities; and support other advisors within their network.

The Architect Licensing Advisors Community Guidelines includes additional information regarding the training and outreach requirements for both positions, as well as updated funding policies.

Why This Change?

Through a 2024 survey of licensure candidates, NCARB found that while about half of respondents had a mentor, only one in five connected with a licensing advisor—and most mentors did not provide guidance regarding the path to licensure. To ensure candidates have the information and guidance they need to become licensed, NCARB has evolved the licensing advisors program to strengthen advisor engagement, expand collaboration across the community, and establish clearer expectations for participation.

These updates were developed in response to feedback and discussions shared by advisors over the years, including requests for defined role expectations, more training opportunities, and additional tools and resources to support you in your role.

 As NCARB’s Pathways to Practice initiative reimagines the pathways to licensure, NCARB is ensuring that licensing advisors have the information, training, and support needed to communicate and guide licensure candidates, architects, and other members of their communities through these changes. The redesigned program structure is also intended to strengthen advisor-to-advisor collaboration, create additional layers of support within the community, and expand our collective ability to reach licensure candidates and architects across a broader range of professional and educational environments. 

To support these efforts, NCARB will enhance training resources for both levels of advisors through a new Learning Management System (LMS), which will launch later in fall 2026.

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 licensure standards, 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 Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.