2015 NCARB by the Numbers Report Now Available for Free Download

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

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.