The average time to earn an architecture license has decreased for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the 2025 NCARB by the Numbers report released by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
Based on 2024 data, the report highlights key trends in the architecture profession, including a five percent increase in active licensure candidates, the largest since 2018. Nearly 40,000 individuals were actively pursuing licensure last year, a strong indicator of a growing and healthy pipeline of future architects.
Time to licensure, measured from the start of college through completion of education, experience, and examination, dropped below 13 years for the first time since 2016. The exam portion alone now averages 2.3 years to complete—two months less than in 2023.
Although the total number of U.S. architects declined by four percent to 116,000, largely due to retirements among the baby boomer generation, the growing candidate pool is expected to offset this trend in the coming years. Meanwhile, the number of out-of-state reciprocal licenses reached an all-time high of over 150,000, showing a rise in cross-jurisdictional practice.
The 2025 report also reflects increasing diversity: 42 percent of new architects in 2024 identified as women and 33 percent as people of color. Among licensure candidates, 46 percent identified as women and 49 percent as people of color, pointing to a more inclusive profession ahead.
NCARB continues to use this data to inform program and policy changes, with the aim of supporting licensure candidates and protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
To access the full report and interactive data, visit www.ncarb.org/nbtn.
