You Cannot Register for the ARE Until You Meet Eligibility Requirements - Here Is What That Means
The Architect Registration Examination is administered by NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards), but licensure itself is granted by individual state licensing authorities. Each state sets its own eligibility requirements for sitting the ARE, which means what you need to begin testing varies by the state in which you apply for licensure. Despite this variation, the vast majority of states align closely with NCARB's recommended eligibility framework, which makes understanding the NCARB requirements the most practical starting point for any ARE candidate. If your target state deviates from the NCARB baseline, their board website and NCARB's state comparison tool will identify those differences.
NAAB-Accredited Degree
NCARB recommends that candidates hold (or be enrolled in) a professional degree in architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The three NAAB-accredited degree types are: the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch., typically a 5-year undergraduate professional degree), the Master of Architecture (M.Arch., available to non-architecture undergraduates as a first professional degree), and the Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch., the terminal professional degree offered at a small number of institutions). A non-professional bachelor's degree in architecture followed by a non-professional master's degree does not satisfy NAAB accreditation requirements - the degree must be specifically classified as a professional degree in the NAAB accreditation listing.
NCARB also has a path for foreign-educated architects through its Broadly Experienced Architect (BEA) program, which allows candidates who hold a professional architecture degree from a non-NAAB-accredited institution to demonstrate equivalent education. This process involves a formal evaluation and is separate from the standard AXP and ARE pathway.
AXP Enrollment
The Architectural Experience Program (AXP) is NCARB's structured work experience framework that most states require candidates to complete (or be enrolled in) before sitting for the ARE. AXP requires candidates to document 3,740 hours of supervised professional experience across six experience areas, with minimum hours specified in each area. Most states allow candidates to begin the ARE while still accumulating AXP hours - they do not require all 3,740 hours to be complete before testing. However, all AXP hours must be completed before a license can be issued, even if all ARE divisions have been passed. Check your state's specific requirements, because some states do require AXP completion before testing is allowed.
State Licensure Authority Approval
NCARB administers the ARE on behalf of state licensing authorities, but each state must approve your eligibility to test. The process typically involves: creating an NCARB record (a digital portfolio that tracks your education, experience, and exam scores); submitting your educational transcripts and AXP records to NCARB; applying for ARE access through NCARB; and receiving approval from your state licensing board before your exam appointment can be scheduled. Processing times vary - NCARB record review can take several weeks, and state board approvals can add additional time. Start this process months before you plan to sit for your first division, not weeks.
Once Approved: Scheduling
After state approval, NCARB grants you access to each division for which you are eligible. You schedule individual divisions through NCARB's online portal, which connects to the Prometric testing center scheduling system. You have a 5-year period from the date of your first passing score to pass all six divisions (NCARB's rolling clock policy). If you do not pass all six within five years, you lose credit for the earliest passing score and must retake that division.
Key Eligibility Points
- Eligibility varies by state - check your target state's board requirements.
- NAAB-accredited professional degree required: B.Arch., M.Arch., or D.Arch.
- AXP enrollment required in most states; full completion usually required before license issuance but not before testing.
- NCARB record creation and state board approval required before exam access is granted.
- Start the eligibility process 2–3 months before you plan to test - processing takes time.
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AREprep covers all six ARE 5.0 divisions with flashcards and practice exams built around the actual NCARB exam guides - so every hour you study is targeted at what the exam actually tests.