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Community Colleges Now Eligible for Accelerated Architecture License Program

For the first time, eligible two-year community colleges can apply to participate in the streamlined pathway that helps students earn their architecture license years faster than the traditional route

NCARB's IPAL program — Image courtesy of NCARB

As of July 1, 2025, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) implemented several changes to the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program. These changes are designed to make the IPAL option accessible to a wider range of academic programs, while refining the student requirements to be more focused and achievable.

Learn more about the changes and get an overview of the program by downloading the new IPAL Program Standards.

IPAL Policy Changes

Education: Under the new policy, a broader range of academic programs will be eligible for participation in IPAL. In addition to programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the following academic architecture programs will also be eligible for participation:
- Two-year community college program that has an agreement in place for articulation into a NAAB-accredited program
- Four-year undergraduate program that qualifies for admission into a NAAB-accredited master’s program
Experience: While IPAL students will still be required to be consistently employed in a work setting that qualifies for the Architectural Experience Program^® (AXP^®), they will no longer be required to complete the entire AXP at the time of their graduation. Instead, IPAL students will be required to complete at least 75% of AXP at the time of their graduation, with experience documented across all six experience areas. Experience gained prior to enrolling in an academic degree program or between academic programs can be applied to the requirement.
Examination: IPAL students will no longer be required to attempt all six Architect Registration Examination^® (ARE^®) divisions by graduation. Instead, IPAL students will be required to take all six of NCARB’s free divisional practice exams. While not required, IPAL students will still be eligible to take divisions of the ARE prior to graduation.
Post-Graduation Exam Eligibility: Students made eligible to test through IPAL may maintain their eligibility post-graduation––without needing to switch their eligibility to a licensing jurisdiction––until after they have passed all six ARE divisions.