How to Check Architect Licensure Requirements for Your State on NCARB

Updated

To check architect licensure requirements for your state, go to ncarb.org and use the interactive Licensure Requirements tool. It covers all 55 NCARB jurisdictions, so you can look up your home state or any other jurisdiction where you may want to practice. The tool shows the requirements for that jurisdiction; you then use the NCARB Record and the published guidelines to track and complete your progress.

What the tool covers

NCARB describes the Licensure Requirements tool as an interactive way to "explore licensing requirements in your home state or any of NCARB's 55 jurisdictions." That scope matters: licensure in the U.S. is handled jurisdiction by jurisdiction, so requirements can differ depending on where you plan to be licensed. Checking the specific jurisdiction — rather than assuming a single national standard — is the point of the tool.

Step-by-step: from lookup to preparation

  1. Open the requirements tool. From the NCARB homepage, select the Licensure Requirements section ("Understand Requirements"). This launches the interactive lookup.
  2. Select your jurisdiction. Choose your home state or any of the 55 jurisdictions you are interested in. The tool returns the licensing requirements for that jurisdiction.
  3. Create an NCARB Record. NCARB states that by creating a Record you can "keep track of your education, career progress, exam history, and licensing information." This is the central place to hold the information your jurisdiction's requirements will draw on. Use the "Start NCARB Record" / "Open a Record" option on the site.
  4. Download the guidelines for each requirement area. NCARB publishes detailed documents you will need alongside the state lookup:
    • AXP Guidelines — steps to completing the Architectural Experience Program, reporting procedures, and experience requirements (last updated November 2025).
    • ARE 5.0 Guidelines — exam policies, scheduling instructions, and more for candidates testing with PSI (updated October 2026).
    • Certification Guidelines — requirements for NCARB certification for U.S., Canadian, and international architects (last updated September 2026).
  5. Verify against your jurisdiction's current rules. Use the state requirements from the tool as your checklist, and confirm details in the current guideline documents, since NCARB notes update dates on each.

Understanding what you find

The requirements you see generally map onto the three core components of licensure that NCARB's resources address: education, experience (AXP), and examination (ARE 5.0), plus certification if you want portability. Two points help you interpret the results:

  • Requirements are jurisdiction-specific. The tool exists precisely because the 55 jurisdictions do not all require the same things. Read the result for your chosen jurisdiction rather than a neighboring one.
  • The Competency Standard sets the bar. NCARB recently adopted updates to its Competency Standard for Architects, "including detailed criteria to provide greater clarity around the expected level of competency required for newly licensed architects." This describes what a newly licensed architect should be able to do; it is context for your preparation, not a substitute for your jurisdiction's specific requirements.

After you confirm your state's requirements

  • Track progress in your NCARB Record so education, experience hours, and exam history stay in one place.
  • Work through AXP using the AXP Guidelines for reporting procedures and experience requirements.
  • Schedule and prepare for ARE 5.0 using the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, which cover exam policies and scheduling with PSI.
  • Consider an NCARB Certificate if you may need an out-of-state license later. NCARB states that with this credential, architects "can easily apply for out-of-state licenses, plus access to free continuing education courses." The Certification Guidelines outline the requirements.

Common sticking points

  • Looking up the wrong jurisdiction. If you plan to practice somewhere other than where you live, check that jurisdiction's requirements too — the tool lets you explore any of the 55.
  • Relying on an old guideline version. Each guideline document carries a last-updated date (AXP: November 2025; ARE 5.0: October 2026; Certification: September 2026). Download the current version before you plan your steps.
  • Treating the Competency Standard as a checklist. It defines the expected competency level for newly licensed architects; your jurisdiction's requirements and the guideline documents are what you actually complete.

For ongoing changes, NCARB's site also offers subscription updates (ARE, AXP, AXP Supervisor, Continuing Education) and its blog and press releases, which is where announcements such as new reciprocity agreements appear.