WASHINGTON, DC—Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Master of Architecture program has been accepted to join the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) initiative, which enables students to pursue a license while in school.
Launched in 2015 by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), IPAL provides a pathway for students to complete the experience and examination components of the licensure process while earning a degree.
IPAL is incorporated as an optional path within an existing NAAB-accredited program, allowing architecture schools to integrate licensure requirements into their own curricula. Programs participating in IPAL must provide students with a structured approach to complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) and pass the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) before graduation, but can otherwise integrate education, experience, and examination in the way that best suits existing curriculum.
By enrolling in an IPAL option, motivated students can jumpstart their architecture careers, connect educational theory to practice, and become eligible for licensure upon graduation from their degree program. With the average 2019 candidate taking 12.7 years to complete the education, experience, and examination components of licensure, IPAL provides a way for students to shorten this path while maintaining the rigor required to protect the public’s safety.
There are currently 26 programs at 21 colleges from around the country that either offer an IPAL option or are in the process of developing an IPAL option in their program. Wentworth Institute of Technology, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the initiative’s first addition since NCARB adjusted the application process to allow for submissions from interested programs on a rolling basis. Submissions are reviewed by NCARB’s Education Committee, which is composed of licensing board members, practitioners, licensure candidates, and educators.
Additionally, the initiative helps strengthen the relationship between academia, licensing boards, and local firms, as they work together to provide opportunities for IPAL students.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate.
