Thirty-eight universities accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) responded to a Request for Interest and Information issued by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) regarding a proposal for a path to licensure upon graduation. In May, NCARB announced its endorsement of a new, structured framework that integrates all elements of the current licensure path, including the Intern Development Program (IDP) and the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) into the curriculum of NAAB-accredited institutions in order to license students upon graduation.
NCARB issued the request to all 123 institutions with NAAB-accredited programs, as well as to 10 institutions with candidate programs. Responses from universities were not mandatory in order for the proposal to move forward and a lack of response does not indicate disinterest in pursuing the proposal, NCARB’s senior architect and advisor to the CEO Stephen Nutt, AIA, notes. NCARB did not disclose the names of schools that filed proposals.
Of the 38 schools that responded, 32 (representing 26 percent of institutions with NAAB-accredited degree programs) declared their intent to submit a formal proposal for consideration by NCARB’s Licensure Task Force. The task force, which was formed in 2013 to explore an integrated path to licensure for architects, will consider the proposals in June 2015. NCARB has also received informal notice from other schools expressing interest in the initiative.
“We are gratified that so many schools have shown interest in designing an additional path to licensure that would augment traditional architectural curricula,” said Ron Blitch, FAIA, chair of NCARB’s Licensure Task Force, in a press release.
In the coming years, NCARB will work with the state registration boards and jurisdictions to ensure laws and regulations are in place to grant pre-graduation access to the ARE.
Check out ARCHITECT’s coverage of NCARB’s recent amendments to the IDP.
