Shaping the Future: 2026 NCARB Annual Business Meeting

On June 25-27, members from the 55 U.S. architecture licensing boards convened for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) 2026 Annual Business Meeting. The meeting serves as a forum for NCARB members to elect the incoming Board of Directors, vote on resolutions, and shape the agenda for the Council’s next fiscal year (which begins on July 1).

During the meeting, attendees discussed the ongoing evolution of the licensure process through NCARB’s Pathways to Practice initiative. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the criteria that will be used to evaluate competency in the future and provide input that will shape the development of the organization’s Strategic Plan.

Celebrating FY26

On Thursday, FY26 President Edward T. Marley, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, reflected on NCARB’s accomplishments over the past year. Marley provided a high-level overview of the organization’s Pathways to Practice efforts, saying, “NCARB has been facilitating licensure with a relatively similar approach for over 100 years. It is beyond time to take an important next step.”

Evolving Pathways

Attendees heard a more detailed update on Pathways to Practice. Chief Programs Officer Jared Zurn, AIA, NCARB, CAE, shared the steps NCARB has taken to develop assessment criteria for each of the competencies detailed in the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects; he also highlighted the methods the organization is considering using to assess competency in the future. Next, Zurn moderated a panel of NCARB’s volunteer experts who are involved in developing Pathways to Practice.

“We want to assess each competency individually. That provides clear measurement for our licensing boards,” said Zurn. “Regardless of how someone demonstrates competency, you can feel confident that they were measured exactly the same as everyone else.”

On Friday, NCARB Vice President of Council Relations Josh Batkin moderated a panel focused on implementation of Pathways to Practice, including an overview of the organization’s strategy for working with licensing boards to adopt change at the jurisdictional level.

End-of-Year Updates

Attendees also received an update on NCARB’s current financial status from Secretary/Treasurer Miguel A. Rodriguez, FAIA, NCARB, NOMA. This report will be available later in 2026 as part of NCARB’s FY26 Annual Report.

NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong provided updates on the organization’s efforts during the past fiscal year—including recent improvements to our programs and services, engagement with the broader architecture community, and opportunities to leverage data to make future-focused decisions.

“We are in a huge moment of societal churn and change,” said Armstrong. “We can either embrace this as a reality and try to stay ahead of it, or we can retract and try to hide. I suggest that we need to move forward.”

Preparing for FY27

Incoming FY27 President John Patrick Rademacher, NCARB, AIA, NOMA, shared his vision for the organization in the year ahead. As president, Rademacher will prioritize expanding access to the profession through NCARB’s Pathway to Practice initiative. The multi-year effort is reimagining the licensure process by refreshing core programs and increasing accessibility for candidates—all while preserving high standards that protect the public.

“We believe that licensure can evolve into something even more meaningful, more practical, and more reflective of the world we serve, while remaining grounded in rigor, integrity, and defensible in science-based standards,” said Rademacher. “We are guided by new knowledge, deeper awareness, and emerging technologies that allow us to better serve the public.”

Resolutions

During the meeting, members voted on several resolutions, including an updated Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the United Kingdom. The updated MRA will enable architects of all backgrounds—including those who don’t hold a degree from an accredited architecture program—to pursue reciprocity.

Members also passed an update to the examination requirements for NCARB certification outlined in the Certification Guidelines. The amendment addresses longstanding inequities resulting from historical examination variances and ensures that architects who have been licensed and practicing responsibly for decades are not unduly burdened by outdated or inconsistent examination and scoring structures.