What is NCARB, and what's my path to becoming an Architect?

Education  >   Experience (AXP)  >  Examination (ARE)  >  Licensure

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Your path to being an architect
has already begun!
Lawrence Technological University, College of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture offers NAAB-accredited (National Architectural Accrediting Board) degree programs.
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The next step is starting your NCARB Record (AXP)!

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a global leader in architectural regulation, dedicated to helping professionals reach their career goals, providing key data about the path to licensure, and protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare.

Got an internship, job or other experience?
Start recording your work experience!
 
An NCARB Record (AXP)​ is a paid, verified online account of your professional history—including your education, experience, and examination details.

You will need an NCARB Record to complete the AXP, take the ARE, and become NCARB certified. At your request, NCARB can also transmit your Record to a jurisdiction to facilitate reciprocal licensure.

​The Architectural Experience Program® (AXP) is designed to help you gain comprehensive experience in areas of architectural practice related to health, safety, and welfare. You can start earning AXP experience after you graduate from high school or the established equivalent.

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A $100 one time up-front fee paid to NCARB establishes your NCARB Record;
​then $85 per year to maintain your active Record.
Learn more about fees.

Start the AXP

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NAAB-Accrediation at LTU

AXP Guidelines

aRE Guidelines

State Licensing Jurisdictions

Certification Guidelines

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Why be licensed?

To practice architecture in the United States, you must have a license from a U.S. jurisdiction. The jurisdictions include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Each jurisdiction is responsible for regulating the practice of architecture within its borders. NCARB recommends and encourages national requirements for licensure by developing standards for the 55 licensing boards, which then issue licenses to applicants who meet their specific registration requirements.

Licensure Basics

How to Get Licensed

​The licensure process will differ depending on your chosen jurisdiction, but the basics of initial licensure are similar. Before you begin the process, you should check your jurisdiction’s requirements.

1. Earn an architecture degree from a NAAB-accredited program, or meet your jurisdiction’s education requirement.
2. Gain and document the required experience. All 55 U.S. jurisdictions accept the Architectural Experience Program®(AXP®), but some require additional experience.
3. Pass the ARE®. All 55 U.S. jurisdictions require you to pass the Architect Registration Examination®.
4. Meet any extra jurisdictional requirements. Some boards require additional experience or a location-specific supplemental exam before licensure.
5. Have your NCARB Record transmitted to the jurisdiction where you would like to be licensed. Before transmitting your Record, you should contact your board to verify its individual requirements.

Why Licensure Matters
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​The reasons to earn a license to practice architecture are as varied and personal as the path to get there—here are just a few benefits of licensure:

• Title: Once you’ve earned a license, you can officially call yourself an architect.
• Trust: Your license gives firms, clients, and the public confidence in your skills and ability to protect their health, safety, and welfare.
• Skills: Completing your education, experience, and examination requirements helps guide you through continuing your professional growth and development.
• Advancement: Having a license provides you with greater career opportunities.

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Michigan by the Numbers

2018 baseline comparisons for NCARB’s 55 Member Boards, which include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Learn More

Explore Ncarb by the numbers

This page is sourced from www.ncarb.org.