Regulatory Advisory: Adoption of the Architectural Licensure Amendment Notice of Final Rulemaking

Monday, July 22, 2024

For Immediate Release

Media Contact
Charles Basham III | [email protected]

ADVISORY: Regulatory Advisory: Adoption of the Architectural Licensure Amendment Notice of Final Rulemaking

On May 2, 2024, the Director of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) adopted the Architectural Licensure Amendment Notice of Final Rulemaking.

The key elements of this amendment are as follows:

• Removal of the Five-Year Limitation on A.R.E. Scores: Previously, passing scores on sections of the Architect Registration Examination (A.R.E.) were valid for five years. The new rule removes this "rolling clock," allowing scores to remain valid for the life of the exam version plus one subsequent version. This change particularly benefits people of color and women, who have historically faced more significant career disruptions.
• Adoption of the IPAL Program: The rulemaking incorporates the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) Program, enabling students enrolled in National Architectural Accrediting Board-accredited programs to complete their architecture examinations while still in school, thus accelerating the licensure process.
• Rebranding of the Architect Intern Program: The amendment also updates the terminology for the architect intern program, changing its name from the Intern Development Program to the Architectural Experience Program (AXP).

By adopting these rules, the District of Columbia joins 45 other jurisdictions that have embraced the National Council of Architectural Registration Board's (NCARB) recent amendments, making the path to obtaining an architecture license more accessible, especially for those who have historically faced significant barriers.

As a result of this new rule, 56 candidates in the District will have their previously invalidated A.R.E. division sections reinstated, with two candidates now having completed their examinations, bringing them closer to obtaining their architect licenses.

For more information about the Architectural Licensure Amendment Notice of Final Rulemaking, visit here.