Architecture Major (USA): NAAB-Accredited Degrees, the ARE and Licensure

The three-part path to becoming an architect

Becoming a licensed architect in the US is a structured, three-part journey: education, experience, and examination. It is not enough to earn a degree — licensure is granted by an individual state or territory board (a "jurisdiction"), and each of the 55 US jurisdictions sets its own requirements, per the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

The three components are a professional degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), documented experience through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), and passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Together these lead to an initial license in your chosen jurisdiction.

Understanding this pathway early helps you choose the right degree, because only certain degrees are considered "professional" and NAAB-accredited. Picking a non-accredited program can add years to licensure or require an alternative pathway.

NAAB-accredited degrees: B.Arch vs M.Arch

Most jurisdictions require a degree from a NAAB-accredited program to qualify for an initial license. The NAAB accredits professional degrees at the Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, and Doctor of Architecture levels. There are two main professional degree routes most students weigh. The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) is a five-year professional undergraduate degree that leads directly to a NAAB-accredited credential. The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is a graduate professional degree, often pursued after a four-year pre-professional bachelor's (such as a B.S. or B.A. in architectural studies) or, via longer tracks, after an unrelated bachelor's.

The distinction matters. A four-year pre-professional bachelor's degree by itself is usually not the accredited professional degree — you typically need to add an M.Arch to reach the NAAB-accredited credential. This is a common point of confusion for students choosing between a five-year B.Arch and a four-plus-two path.

NCARB notes that some jurisdictions offer alternatives for those without a NAAB-accredited degree — such as an Education Alternative that requires documenting additional experience — but the standard route runs through a NAAB-accredited professional degree. Confirm which degrees qualify on naab.org and ncarb.org.

• B.Arch — five-year professional undergraduate degree (NAAB-accredited)
• M.Arch — graduate professional degree; the accredited path for most four-year pre-professional graduates
• A four-year pre-professional bachelor's alone is usually not the accredited professional degree
• Verify accredited programs on naab.org and licensure rules on ncarb.org

AXP: documented professional experience

After (or often during and after) your education, you complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), administered by NCARB. The AXP requires you to gain and document supervised professional experience across defined areas of practice. All 55 US jurisdictions accept the AXP, though some may require additional experience.

NCARB sets the specific number of hours and the practice areas the AXP covers, and it periodically updates the program. Because the exact hours and categories are set and revised by NCARB, verify the current AXP requirements on ncarb.org rather than relying on older figures.

Much of this experience is gained working under the supervision of a licensed architect, which is why many candidates begin logging AXP hours while working at an architecture firm after graduation. You typically record and submit your experience through NCARB's online system.

The ARE: the licensing exam

The Architect Registration Examination (ARE) is the licensing exam required by all 55 US jurisdictions. It is a multi-division exam, with divisions scheduled and taken separately, whose content aligns with the practice areas covered by the AXP.

NCARB develops and maintains the ARE and updates it over time. Because the exam structure, division names, and content are set and periodically revised by NCARB, always confirm the current ARE format on ncarb.org rather than assuming a fixed number of parts.

Most candidates take the divisions over a period of months while working, since the content connects to real practice. There is no guaranteed pass, and preparation strategies vary — but the exam is a defined, published body of content you can plan around.

State boards and the NCARB Certificate

Licensure itself is granted by your state or territory board, not by NCARB — NCARB administers the AXP and ARE and provides supporting services, but each jurisdiction issues the license and can add its own requirements (for example, a supplemental exam or specific residency rules). Always check your target jurisdiction's board requirements.

Many architects also obtain the NCARB Certificate, which can make it easier to become licensed in additional jurisdictions (reciprocity) — useful if you expect to practice across state lines. The Certificate has its own eligibility requirements set by NCARB.

Because jurisdictions differ, the smartest move is to identify where you intend to practice and read that board's rules alongside the national AXP/ARE framework. Confirm details directly on ncarb.org and your state board's official site.

For international students and non-NAAB degrees

If you earned your architecture degree outside the US, or from a non-NAAB program, licensure is still possible but the path differs. NCARB offers routes such as the Education Alternative and evaluates foreign education; requirements typically include documenting additional experience or having your education assessed. Confirm the current options on ncarb.org.

On the immigration side, whether a specific US architecture degree is STEM-designated for OPT purposes depends on its official CIP code, assigned by the university — confirm with your designated school official. Architecture roles are generally open to work-authorized graduates, but each firm sets its own sponsorship policy.

This is general information, not immigration or legal advice, and rules change. Verify F-1, OPT, and STEM OPT details on the official US government sources (studyinthestates.dhs.gov and uscis.gov), and verify all licensure requirements on ncarb.org and your state board.