Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

2015 NCARB by the Numbers Report Now Available for Free Download

  • 07/06/15

Washington, D.C. — The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) today released the 2015 edition of NCARB by the Numbers, a yearly report about the path to licensure. The redesigned publication is available for free download at www.ncarb.org/NBTN. The latest NCARB data reveals a number of positive trends relating to both the future of the architectural community and NCARB’s regulatory and licensing efforts.

“The architect profession is healthy and growing,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong. “The report’s findings also help validate the efforts of NCARB and its licensing board members to open doors of opportunity for qualified people in the architecture profession without sacrificing the rigor needed to ensure public health, safety, and welfare.”

The report’s findings indicate progress in several key areas:

  • A record high of 37,178 aspiring architects either reporting hours through the Intern Development Program (IDP) or testing for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®).
  • 107,581 licensed architects reported by the 54 U.S. licensing boards, a three percent increase since 2011.
  • The average age of an architect upon initial licensure fell to 33.3 in 2014, shaving off 2.7 years since 2008.
  • Racial and ethnic minorities made up 41 percent of the aspiring architect talent pool in 2014, compared to 22 percent in 2007.
  • Women made up 38 percent of aspiring architects who completed the IDP in 2014, compared to 25 percent in 2000. Women also accounted for 35 percent of candidates who completed the ARE last year, a percentage that has nearly doubled since 2000.

Program changes, as well as NCARB’s renewed focus on providing guidance and clear communications to emerging professionals, have played a big part in improved performance metrics, said NCARB 2014-15 President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB. “NCARB’s 2014 data finds that the growing number of female aspiring architects, combined with those from racial and ethnic minority groups, indicates the future architect workforce should be more diverse.”

The 2015 NCARB by the Numbers also presents the data in a new format, breaking the information out into topical sections and providing a dashboard of comparative statistics for each of the 54 U.S. jurisdictions that make up NCARB’s membership. “These modifications to the report will make it an even more valuable resource for the architectural community as a whole, allowing for greater transparency into the path to licensure and a more complete picture of the profession,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong.

- See more at: www.ncarb.org

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.