National Council Of Architectural Registration Boards

NCARB, IN COLLABORATION WITH LICENSING BOARDS, FACILITATES THE LICENSURE AND CREDENTIALING OF ARCHITECTS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC.

MEMBER SERVICES - THE COUNCIL STRENGTHENED ITS SUPPORT FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL LICENSING BOARDS WITH NEW SERVICES RELATED TO ADVOCACY AND REGULATION, AS WELL AS ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE ALIGNMENT OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS. NCARB PARTNERED WITH STATE AND TERRITORIAL LICENSING BOARDS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ARCHITECT COMMUNITY IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE COUNCIL'S MISSION TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC:NCARB ACTIVITIES INCLUDED:- SECURELY MAINTAINED RECORDS FOR ACCESS BY STATE AND TERRITORIAL MEMBERS REGARDING ALL PHASES OF AN ARCHITECT'S CAREER, FROM EDUCATION THROUGH LICENSURE TO NCARB CERTIFICATION AND INTERSTATE RECIPROCITY. - CONTINUED TO EVOLVE THE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND EXAMINATION OF ARCHITECTS.- EVALUATED AND TRANSMITTED RECORDS AND OTHER DATA ESSENTIAL TO THE LICENSING FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE AND TERRITORIAL LICENSING BOARDS WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY. - SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM(R)(AXP(R)) AND THE ARCHITECT REGISTRATION EXAMINATION(R)(ARE(R)) FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS TO SATISFY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE 55 U.S. JURISDICTIONS.- VERIFIED THAT LICENSURE CANDIDATES HAD MET THE INITIAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS DEFINED BY THE RELEVANT LICENSING BOARD.- PROACTIVELY SOUGHT TO PROVIDE INSIGHT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES DEBATING THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE.- COLLABORATED WITH OTHER RELATED REGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING NATIONAL SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS AND SUPPORTING DATA AND ANALYSIS REGARDING THE STATE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION. - HELPED FOUND A COALITION OF REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, WITH THE GOAL OF ADVOCATING FOR REASONABLE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR TECHNICAL PROFESSIONS SUCH AS ARCHITECTURE.- A MODEL LAW TASK FORCE ENTERED THE FOURTH YEAR OF A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE NCARB LEGISLATIVE GUIDELINES AND MODEL LAW/MODEL REGULATIONS; AN EXTENSIVE EFFORT THAT WILL UPDATE THE MODEL LAW/REGULATIONS, CREATING A SIMPLIFIED AND MORE ACCESSIBLE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE LICENSING BOARDS TO REVIEW AND ADOPT.- A SPECIALLY APPOINTED FUTURES COLLABORATIVE CONTINUED ITS ASSESSMENT OF FUTURE INFLUENCERS ON THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE AND REGULATION. THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO LIKELY TRENDS THAT WILL IMPACT THE COUNCIL, ITS PROGRAMS, AND ARCHITECTURAL REGULATION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL HELP POSITION THE COUNCIL TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.- STARTED A NEW LICENSURE ADVISORY FORUM, COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, TO EVALUATE AND EXPLORE THE PATH TO LICENSURE. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ENABLES A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS. - CONDUCTED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FACULTY TEACHING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE CURRICULA WITHIN ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS.- CONDUCTED A TRAINING CONFERENCE FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ADVISE STUDENTS, EMERGING PROFESSIONALS, AND ARCHITECTS THROUGHOUT THE LICENSURE PROCESS.- DEVELOPED FOCUSED TRAINING RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS ACTING AS SUPERVISORS OF LICENSURE CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM-THE AXP.- CONTINUED SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATED PATH TO ARCHITECTURAL LICENSURE (IPAL) INITIATIVE, WHICH ENABLES STUDENTS TO STREAMLINE THEIR PATH TO LICENSURE. IN FY20, NCARB WELCOMED A NEW PROGRAM TO THE INITIATIVE AND SAW AN INCREASE IN STUDENT PARTICIPANTS. - PREPARED UPDATES TO THE NCARB EDUCATION STANDARD, ENSURING THAT THIS RESOURCES FOR EVALUATING ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION REMAINS IN LINE WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE PROFESSION. - INCREASED THE PORTFOLIO OF ONLINE HSW CONTINUING EDUCATION CONTENT OFFERINGS, PROVIDED AT NO COST TO NCARB-CERTIFIED ARCHITECTS TO SUPPORT LICENSURE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS IN MOST JURISDICTIONS. - PROVIDED A PATH TO CERTIFICATION AND PROFESSIONAL MOBILITY FOR ARCHITECTS WHO ARE LICENSED BUT HAVE LITTLE OR NO ARCHITECTURE-RELATED EDUCATION. THE VIRTUAL PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION STREAMLINES THE APPLICANT PORTFOLIO SUBMITTAL AND PEER REVIEW PROCESSES, WHILE MAINTAINING THE STANDARDS AND RIGOR REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY TO PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE. - APPROVED EXAM STUDY MATERIALS THROUGH THE APPROVED TEST PREP PROVIDER PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROVIDERS TO HAVE THE QUALITY AND RELEVANCE OF THEIR STUDY MATERIALS ASSESSED AND ENDORSED. THIS SHOULD HELP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE TEST PREP MATERIALS AVAILABLE AND GIVE ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE TO CANDIDATES STUDYING FOR THE EXAM.- PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY ALONG THE PATH TO LICENSURE DURING THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO ENABLE DELIVERY OF THE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL RESTRICTIONS.- PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MINORITY ARCHITECTS (NOMA) TO INVESTIGATE CHALLENGES ALONG THE PATH TO LICENSURE THAT MAY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT MINORITIES, WITH A GOAL OF ENHANCING EQUITY AND DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION. NCARB'S PROVISION OF THESE NATIONAL SERVICES ENABLES INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS TO FOCUS THEIR (OFTEN LIMITED) RESOURCES ON THEIR OWN UNIQUE CORE ISSUES SURROUNDING LICENSURE.

CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICES - DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 2021 (FY21), NCARB SUPPORTED OVER 53,000 REGISTERED ARCHITECTS AND 61,000 LICENSURE CANDIDATES. AS A RESULT OF THE RESTRUCTURING OF NCARB'S PROGRAMS, CANDIDATES ARE NOW ABLE TO COMPLETE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FASTER. THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN ON THE PATH TO LICENSURE, AS WELL AS RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY, CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE STATISTICS INCLUDE: - 3,494 NCARB CANDIDATE RECORDS WERE TRANSMITTED TO A LICENSING BOARD FOR INITIAL LICENSURE TO PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE. - 11,371 LICENSED ARCHITECT RECORDS WERE TRANSMITTED TO A LICENSING BOARD FOR RECIPROCAL LICENSURE TO PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. - 2,925 NEWLY LICENSED ARCHITECTS WERE GRANTED AN NCARB CERTIFICATE FOR PURPOSES OF FUTURE RECIPROCAL LICENSURE REQUESTS.- 6,221 CANDIDATES APPLIED TO ESTABLISH AN NCARB RECORD IN PURSUIT OF LICENSURE LICENSING BOARDS ALSO HAVE A DEDICATED POINT OF CONTACT AND AN IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK SYSTEM TO FACILITATE INITIAL LICENSURE AND RECIPROCAL LICENSURE BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS.

EXAMINATION SERVICES-NCARB DEVELOPS AND ADMINISTERS THE NATIONAL EXAMINATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL CANDIDATES ON BEHALF OF ALL U.S. ARCHITECTURAL LICENSING BOARDS AS A REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSURE. THE EXAMINATION SERVES AS A MEASURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL (COMPETENCY) TO PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE INDEPENDENTLY, AND IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC. IN FY21, NCARB CONTINUED DELIVERING ARE 5.0, A MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, WEB-BASED VERSION OF THE EXAM THAT IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE PROGRESSION OF A TYPICAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECT. ARE 5.0 IS CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE, AND THE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE. THE NEW EXAM FEATURES ITEM TYPES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENABLE CANDIDATES TO APPLY THEIR EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS THEIR EDUCATION. OVER 41,000 DIVISIONS OF THE EXAM WERE ADMINISTERED IN FY21. OVER 13,700 CANDIDATES TOOK ONE OR MORE DIVISIONS OF THE EXAM, AND OVER 2,700 CANDIDATES COMPLETED THE ARE IN FY21. AFTER EXPERIENCING A DISRUPTION IN EXAM DELIVERY EARLY IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NCARB LAUNCHED A VERSION OF THE ARE THAT COULD BE DELIVERED BOTH AT PHYSICAL TEST CENTERS AND VIA ONLINE PROCTORING TO ENSURE CANDIDATES' PROGRESS WILL NOT BE DISRUPTED BY SUCH EVENTS IN THE FUTURE. THIS UPDATED VERSION REQUIRED SEVERAL CHANGES TO EXAM SECURITY POLICIES, STRUCTURE, AND NAVIGATION TO ENSURE DELIVERY WAS FEASIBLE IN BOTH MODALITIES.