The number of architects licensed in the United States rose to 115,316 in 2018, according to the annual Survey of Architectural Registration Boards. This is a 2% increase from 2017 and represents a 13% increase compared to the number of U.S. architects seen a decade ago.
Conducted annually by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the survey provides exclusive insight into data from the architectural licensing boards of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the Northern Mariana Islands, which rejoined NCARB in 2018.
The increase in the number of architects is even more apparent when compared to the U.S. population: While the number of architects licensed in the U.S. has risen over 13% in the last decade, the total U.S. population has risen just 7%, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
“This year’s data suggests that the profession is healthy and growing—and that NCARB’s services are just as important now as they were when our organization was founded 100 years ago,” said NCARB CEO Michael J. Armstrong.
Additional data from the upcoming 2019 NCARB by the Numbers regarding NCARB’s 100 years of history reflects the increased demand for the organization’s services. There are now over 115,000 individuals who hold an active NCARB Record, including nearly 41,000 candidates pursuing architectural licensure—a 1% increase in both Record holders and candidates compared to 2017.
The 2018 Survey of Architectural Registration Boards also reveals that there continue to be more reciprocal (outof-state) licenses than resident licenses issued in the U.S. There were 125,475 reciprocal licenses reported in 2018, which is largely unchanged from the amount seen in 2017. The steady number of reciprocal licenses indicates the effectiveness of the mobility pathway established by NCARB and the architectural licensing boards.
The survey reflects registration data from January to December 2018. Additional data on the path to licensure will be available in July’s 2019 edition of NCARB by the Numbers. To learn more about NCARB’s data and the Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, visit www.ncarb.org.
Related Stories
Market Data | Oct 24, 2016
New construction starts in 2017 to increase 5% to $713 billion
Dodge Outlook Report predicts moderate growth for most project types – single family housing, commercial and institutional building, and public works, while multifamily housing levels off and electric utilities/gas plants decline.
High-rise Construction | Oct 21, 2016
The world’s 100 tallest buildings: Which architects have designed the most?
Two firms stand well above the others when it comes to the number of tall buildings they have designed.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2016
Architecture Billings Index slips consecutive months for first time since 2012
“This recent backslide should act as a warning signal,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker.
Market Data | Oct 11, 2016
Building design revenue topped $28 billion in 2015
Growing profitability at architecture firms has led to reinvestment and expansion
Market Data | Oct 4, 2016
Nonresidential spending slips in August
Public sector spending is declining faster than the private sector.
Industry Research | Oct 3, 2016
Structure Tone survey shows cost is still a major barrier to building green
Climate change, resilience and wellness are also growing concerns.
Industry Research | Sep 27, 2016
Sterling Risk Sentiment Index indicates risk exposure perception remains stable in construction industry
Nearly half (45%) of those polled say election year uncertainty has a negative effect on risk perception in the construction market.
Market Data | Sep 22, 2016
Architecture Billings Index slips, overall outlook remains positive
Business conditions are slumping in the Northeast.
Market Data | Sep 20, 2016
Backlog skyrockets for largest firms during second quarter, but falls to 8.5 months overall
While a handful of commercial construction segments continue to be associated with expanding volumes, for the most part, the average contractor is no longer getting busier, says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.
Designers | Sep 13, 2016
5 trends propelling a new era of food halls
Food halls have not only become an economical solution for restauranteurs and chefs experiencing skyrocketing retail prices and rents in large cities, but they also tap into our increased interest in gourmet locally sourced food, writes Gensler's Toshi Kasai.
