The education requirement is one of six requirements for NCARB certification outlined in the Certification Guidelines. In order to satisfy the education requirement, you must hold one of the following professional degrees:
* The program must have been accredited no more than two years after the graduation date.
A professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program is also the primary means of satisfying most U.S. registration boards’ education requirement, however, individual registration board requirements may vary and you should contact your board for specific education requirements.
Education Alternatives
If you do not hold a professional degree, NCARB will accept either of the following as an alternative to satisfying the education requirement for NCARB certification:
-
If you hold a current architect license in any U.S. jurisdiction, do not hold a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program, and have completed a minimum period of practice as an architect, NCARB will accept completion of NCARB’s
Broadly Experienced Architecture (BEA) Program as an alternative to the education requirement. The BEA program allows architects to demonstrate learning through experience to meet the education requirement for NCARB certification.
-
If you hold a professional degree in architecture from an institution outside of the United States or Canada, NCARB will accept an EESA-NCARB Education Evaluation from the
Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) that states that your education meets the NCARB Education Standard. In some cases the EESA-NCARB Education Evaluation may identify specific education deficiencies that must be addressed through additional education before the requirements of the NCARB Education Standard are satisfied.
Applicants should refer to the Certification Guidelines for a complete description of all certification requirements.