On its 10th year of publishing information about its licensing exams, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) for the first time has released a new section in the 2021 edition of its Architect Registration Examination that breaks down the pass rate by several demographic categories.
The six-part exam is required by all 55 NCARB jurisdictions in the U.S. for candidates seeking architectural licensure. More than 32,700 people took the test, and here are some of the key findings:
•White candidates’ pass rate is higher than that of candidates of color. The disparity is most pronounced in the Programming & Analysis division of the test that focuses on evaluating a project’s requirements and constraints; white candidates’ pass rate was 38 percentage points higher than their Black peers’.
•Men, in general, outperform women candidates on five of the exam’s six divisions. When factoring in race and ethnicity, Black women fare better on the test than Black male candidates.
•Candidates ages 18-29 have the highest pass rates across all six divisions. Candidates 40 years or older have the lowest rate.
Alfred Vidaurri Jr., FAIA, NCARB, AICP, who was inducted as NCARB’s president in June, stated that the findings were both unsurprising and unacceptable. “I challenge us to do better” he said of the industry, adding that he would concentrate on addressing these disparities during his tenure leading the organization.
The hardest part is getting some candidate groups to the finish line. NCARB reports that 63% of all candidates stay on their paths to licensure over 10 years, but that drops off to 61% for women candidates, 58% for Asian candidates, 57% for Hispanics, and 46% for Blacks.
NCARB WILL OFFER FREE PRACTICE TESTS
The report cites disparities in the rate of candidates pursuing licensure.
After commissioning an independent bias study of its exam, NCARB concluded that individual questions don’t drive disparities in candidates’ performance, and that the organization alone can’t resolve inequity in exam access and performance. “Coupled with NCARB’s data on career attrition, these studies suggest that pass rate disparities could also be impacted by access to education and professional experiences,” the organization stated.
Nevertheless, NCARB’s teams have been working to understand the causation of testing disparities, and the organization has pledged to launch the following changes, resources, and opportunities for feedback:
•For the first time in NCARB history, exam candidates have been appointed to the 2021 Examination Committee, which is responsible for recommending format and policy changes to NCARB’s national Board of Directors.
•NCARB is developing free practice tests for all six divisions, with a goal of offering the new suite of resources in mid-2022. (According to NCARB and the National Organization of Minority Architects’ joint Baseline on Belonging study, nearly half of respondents spent more than $500 on test prep materials.)
•NCARB is currently conducting another external audit of its exam, this time focused on the content areas to identify potential trends related to disparate pass rates.
•In addition to NCARB’s annual Think Tanks for emerging professionals and the upcoming Analysis of Practice study, the organization will launch two outreach initiatives in 2021-2022: licensure candidate focus groups conducted by an external consultant; and an Architecture Licensing Feedback survey, where the architect community can share their experience and recommendations.
•In 2019, NCARB launched an internal work group and commissioned external consultants to study licensure programs through an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion lens. This effort is currently exploring potential links between exam performance and the criteria driving candidates’ Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) reports, as well as firm culture.
The organization intends to release more details about these initiatives in the coming months.
Related Stories
| May 7, 2013
First look: Golden State Warriors stadium by Snøhetta, AECOM
Architects Snøhetta and AECOM have revealed their latest renderings of a new stadium for NBA basketball team the Golden State Warriors on the waterfront in San Francisco.
| May 7, 2013
Renovated bridge building will anchor Nashville riverfront master plan
Renovations to the former Nashville Bridge Company building were recently completed, including a newly-built modern wing. The facility has been re-dubbed The Bridge Building and now offers spaces for meetings, parties, weddings, and other events.
| May 7, 2013
First look: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill skyscraper designed to 'confuse the wind'
The 400-meter-high, 116-story Imperial Tower in Mumbai will feature a slender, rounded form optimized to withstand the area's strong wind currents.
| May 6, 2013
SAFTI FIRST announces 3D Autodesk Revit models for fire rated wall, window, and door systems
SAFTI FIRST, leading USA-manufacturer of fire rated glass and faming systems, is proud to announce that Autodesk Revit models are now available for its fire rated walls, window and door systems via www.safti.com and Autodesk Seek.
| May 6, 2013
7 major multifamily residential projects in the works
A $140 million redevelopment of a landmark, 45-building apartment complex in Los Angeles is among the nation's significant multifamily developments under way.
| May 3, 2013
5 common failures in paints and coatings
As experienced designers, contractors, and owners know, most paint and coating problems are correctable, but some are especially stubborn to address. Here is a partial compendium of typical failure modes and methods for addressing the problem.
| May 3, 2013
'LEED for all GSA buildings,' says GSA Green Building Advisory Committee
The Green Building Advisory Committee established by the General Services Administration, officially recommended to GSA that the LEED green building certification system be used for all GSA buildings as the best measure of building efficiency.
| May 3, 2013
SMPS Foundation accepting applications for Ron Garikes Student Scholarship
The SMPS Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from eligible students majoring in marketing, communications, or public relations who are planning a career in professional services marketing in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.
