Architectural Licensure at a Crossroads: An Interview with NCARB President Robert M. Calvani and President-Elect Alfred Vidaurri

Robert Calvani, NCARB’s 2020 President (Left). Alfred Vidaurri Jr., FAIA, NCARB, AICP, NCARB’s 2021 President-Elect . Images courtesy of NCARB.
With growing criticism over how lengthy, expensive, and exclusive getting licensed can be, and a rising cohort of unlicensed practicing designers reshaping what it means to work in architecture, architectural licensure finds itself in a moment of relative crisis. Will the long-standing arrangement of education, apprenticeship, and rigorous examination continue or will new titles and firm structures usher in a post-licensure era? 
To add to the conversation surrounding these licensure issues, Archinect recently connected with Robert M. Calvani, FAIA, NCARB and Alfred Vidaurri Jr., FAIA, NCARB, AICP, the 2020 President and 2021 President-Elect, respectively, of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the independent organization that coordinates and supports licensure in the United States.
Archinect caught up with Calvani and Vidaurri to discuss their plans for the next two years, how NCARB is aiming to support diversity initiatives, and how the profession might move forward during this time of tumult, questioning, and change. 
What are some of the goals you have set for the next year / two years leading NCARB?
Robert Calvani: As NCARBs 2020-2021 president, one of my main areas of focus this year is on architectural practice and ethics. More specifically, I have started several task forces that will explore the issues of incidental practice (when related professionals such as engineers or interior designers offer services that should be done by a licensed architect) and responsible charge when signing and sealing documents. These can be gray areas of practice many architects encounter on a daily basis, and I believe NCARB can offer leadership and insight into these issues to help guide both licensing boards as they regulate the profession and architects as they practice. 
NCARB has a very important role to play in the ongoing discussions regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the architecture profession
Im also eager to see NCARB go further in communicating the work that it and the state licensing boards do, to better raise awareness of both the importance and the process of earning an architecture license. By doing this, we can help consumers of architectural services make more informed choices, as well as encourage individuals of all backgrounds to pursue architecture as a career path. 
And finally, NCARB has a very important role to play in the ongoing discussions regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the architecture profession. This year, our Diversity Collaborative Task Force is charged with providing suggestions to increase diversity in NCARBs leadership pipeline, and I hope NCARB and those it serves will see the results of their work in the years ahead. 
Alfred Vidaurri: Like President Calvani, I am also eager to see NCARB fully embrace its role in encouraging EDI in the profession. Next year, I will become NCARBs first ever Latino president, and I look forward to using that position to encourage equity at each stage of the licensure processstarting at the very beginning, by working with our partner organizations to raise awareness of the licensure path. I want us to identify potential impediments along the path and within our own organizations path to leadership. As architects, we are trained to be problem solvers, so I have great confidence that well rise up to the challenges before us.
I want us to identify potential impediments along the path and within our own organizations path to leadership. 
In addition, my year as president will likely include finalizing the results of NCARBs next Analysis of Practice, a study that explores current and near-future architecture practice and informs the evolution of NCARBs programs. One of my goals is to ensure that the path to licensure remains relevant and forward-looking for years to come. Similarly, I want us to use the insight and research from our Futures Task Force to continue to inform and impact our future strategies and goals. Our profession also continues to be challenged with efforts of deregulation, which I believe would be harmful to the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Because of this, well need to continue to support and be a crucial resource for jurisdictions in the area of advocacy.
What insights from your past professional or academic experience are you hoping to integrate or utilize while you lead this organization?
RC: Throughout our profession, architects are thought of as problem solvers. That expertise is applicable and valuable to me with an organization like NCARB. Problems and opportunities arise as the profession and world changes. With our various groups of stakeholderslike our 55 jurisdictions and their Member Boards, our volunteers and staff, our Certificate holders and emerging professionals, and partner organizationsa collaborative approach is needed to build consensus regarding a number of initiatives. Architects use a model to identify goals and needs, then develop concepts to arrive at solutions. This same model will apply to various problems we need to resolve within our committees and task forces. 
AV: I have been a practitioner for 37 years and have personally witnessed amazing change and evolution within our profession. Through my journey, I have gained many important lessons that are timeless and still relevant today. I started my regulatory experience when I was appointed by the Texas Governor to the states licensing boardserving on the Texas Board for 12 years and as the chair of the board for the last seven years. It is through that board service that I first became involved with NCARB. Since then, Ive stayed connected with architectural education as an adjunct professor, represented NCARB on two Accreditation Review Conferences, and conducted a number of National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) visits across the country. All of these experiences have provided me with a sound foundation of understanding and interest, which I plan to bring to the table while president. 
When approaching challenges, I like to seek insight and hear the voices of others first. I enjoy challenging the current models of process and thinking beyond today. Being a focused and careful listener, while encouraging diverse voices to participate in the conversation has been one of the most important lessons Ive learned to date, and has become a common practice in my day-to-day work and career.
Previously on Archinect: “Mónica Ponce de León on the Future of Architectural Licensure.” Photo by Paul Warchol.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing people who are pursuing licensure today?
RC: Although the path to licensure continues to evolve with the profession, the biggest challenges we see candidates facing are similar to those that I saw when I was pursuing a license: cost and time. The licensure process requires a significant investment of both. When it comes to cost, NCARB is doing everything we can to keep the cost of licensure as low as possible for candidatesin fact, the cost of the AXP and ARE are subsidized by our programs for licensed architects. 
Our data shows that people of color are 31 percent more likely to stop working toward licensure than white candidates, and were working with NOMA to fully explore why that is and where we can offer support to reduce that disparity. 
But when it comes to time, Id like to see NCARB continue to explore ways to shorten the time to licensure. Maintaining the rigor of the licensure process is important; however, the path to licensure is nearly 13 years, which may prevent some of the best and brightest people from entering our profession. Id like to look at shortening that time by understanding how our different programs work together, how they don’t work together, and where we can make adjustments. In addition, we think its important for higher education to revisit its current models.
Additionally, disparity along the path is something NCARB is committed to studying and offering solutions to this year. Our data shows that people of color are 31 percent more likely to stop working toward licensure than white candidates, and were working with the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) to fully explore why that is and where we can offer support to reduce that disparity. We are also continuing a bias audit of both the AXP and the ARE to ascertain whether we can adjust the content and delivery of those programs should there be findings of unconscious or conscious bias. So far, the findings indicate no issues, but we will know more in the coming year.
How would you like NCARB to have changed during your tenure?
RC: One of the things Id like to see change is shortening the path to licensure by continuously evaluating and updating our programs. As I mentioned above, while I believe that maintaining the rigor of the licensure process is important, the path to licensure as it stands may prevent some of the best and brightest people from joining our profession. As president, Id like to enact updates that will take effect within the near future. 
while I believe that maintaining the rigor of the licensure process is important, the path to licensure as it stands may prevent some of the best and brightest people from joining our profession. 
AV: In the past, the organization has issued data, created a task force, issued a statement, and sought new partnerships as means of improving diversity along the licensure path. We are now seeing more diversity among candidates and students, but collectively we and other organizations still have more work to do. Id like to see NCARB go even further with our own EDI efforts, such as identifying and addressing specific barriers along the path to licensure through our ongoing audits and surveys. And while we have a diverse pool of committee volunteers, the larger pool of licensing board members and those who are elected to serve in leadership are areas needing improvement so we can better reflect the diverse communities we serve.
There has been renewed debate over the continued need and relevance of professional architectural licensure in recent years, especially with regards to how lengthy, expensive, and difficult it is to attain licensure for marginalized and underrepresented groups. What can be done at this point in time to reverse that legacy?
RC: Lets start by acknowledging that the primary contribution to length and expense in the licensure process is architectural education. We believe that it is feasible to offer a four-year accredited degree and still comply with existing standards, which would address access and cost. Further, the legacy of longer times in the experience and examination phases is being slowly erased in several ways. Most significantly, the 21 programs that now participate in the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) are providing the opportunity to complete AXP and take each division of the ARE before graduation. In addition, the reduction of AXP hours by one third and the addition of the AXP Portfolio option for those who have stepped out of the licensure path have addressed time and inclusion issues. The elimination of one ARE division and the reduction of the retest wait time from six months to 60 days along with instant unofficial delivery of test results before leaving the test center has added to a sense of quicker accomplishment. The existence of alternatives and the improvements in outreach have contributed to the current data indicating an increasingly diverse candidate pool. 
We believe that it is feasible to offer a four-year accredited degree and still comply with existing standards
Further, in the spring of this year, we conducted a survey with NOMA to better understand the specific areas where marginalized and underrepresented groups struggle compared to their peers. We had an overwhelming response to the survey, and throughout my year as president, we will be working with NOMA to analyze the results and offer solutions. 
Part of that process includes looking at the AXP and ARE with a critical eye, to see if there are areas where these programs disproportionately impact minority professionals and make adjustments as necessary. We plan to continue our ongoing bias study of both programs.
AV: In addition, there is a real need to see minority professionals in leadership positions within architectureat the firm level, as well as at the organizational level. In particular, NCARB is working to increase representation in our volunteer pool including governor-appointed licensing board members, which in turn will increase the pool of potential future leaders, so that people of all backgrounds have a voice and a hand in evolving our programs and services. 
there is a real need to see minority professionals in leadership positions within architectureat the firm level, as well as at the organizational level.
In 2019, the AIA, along with NCARB and other professional organizations in various industries, launched theAlliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL), a new coalition of technical professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards. How is this effort going and what are its ultimate goals?
RC: Over the past several years, a number of states have introduced legislation that could restrict or completely eliminate licensing boards ability to protect the publicunknowingly making the licensure process for architects more difficult to complete when compared to the established NCARB Certificate process. However, NCARB, along with the rest of ARPLs member organizations, understood that eliminating professional licensing would shift the burden of determining bad actors from regulatory boards to consumers. Because of this, ARPL was created, and largely focuses its efforts on promoting the benefits of reasonable regulation, professional licensing, and proven mobility pathways; educating policymakers on the important role complex professions play in protecting the publics health, safety, and welfare; and advocating for clear, uniform paths to licensure and reciprocity. 
ARPL was created, and largely focuses its efforts on promoting the benefits of reasonable regulation, professional licensing, and proven mobility pathways
Since its inception in early-2019, NCARB has facilitated many of ARPLs core data studies, including a partnership with Benenson Strategy Group to conduct a survey on the public perception of licensure. Currently, NCARB is closely working with ARPL to investigate additional research opportunities to develop data that reinforces the benefits licensing provides to refute oft-cited claimsmainly stating that licensing creates barriers to entry into a profession and has a dampening effect on a states workforce availability, economy, and competitiveness.
Previously on Archinect: “Unlicensed? Dont call yourself an “Architectural Designer” or ‘Design Professional.'” Image courtesy of Wikimedia user Chris Potter.
In recent years, with the retirement of the intern job title, there has been a growing effort to recognize and identify those design professionals who work in the field but are unlicensed. At the same time,the terms architect and even architectural designer are often illegal to use for unlicensed individuals; Can you share your thinking on how these workers might identify themselves moving forward and how NCARB is engaging with the growing number of unlicensed architecture workers?
RC: Retiring the title intern has been a long-standing discussion in our profession. In May 2015, NCARB announced our decision to stop using the term at the organizational level, acknowledging professional titling to be at the discretion of each jurisdiction. However, given that our members focus has not been on regulating unlicensed individuals other than those practicing without a license, replacing the term is a much more complex task that ultimately relies on what is allowed by your state board and is arguably as much a business decision as a legal one. 
Each state regulates architecture within its borders, including the architecture title. Because of varying terminology and each jurisdictions independent rule-making process, it is unlikely that there will be a single replacement for the term intern. NCARB refers to unlicensed individuals who are pursuing an architecture license as licensure candidates. This is a phrasing that makes sense in the context of an individual applying for licensure, but we recognize it doesnt function as a professional job title. 
it is unlikely that there will be a single replacement for the term intern
There are ongoing conversations about the para-professionals in our community who provide significant project and client support. Terms ranging from senior designer, to project manager and other designations are at the discretion of employers. Legal terms of art such as those contained in the International Codes and NCARB Model Law restrict the use of architect, professional, and their derivatives. 
The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down licensure examinations across the country, though there has been an effort to re-open testing facilities in recent weeks. How has this disruption influenced thinking around the format of ARE examinations?
RC: Starting a number of years before the pandemic hit, NCARBincluding its staff, volunteers and consultantshad been actively exploring the feasibility of remote examination delivery. In the recent past, the ability of vendors to meet NCARBs security and rigor standards, as well as address customer expectations, has improved dramatically. The testing industry has learned, sometimes the hard way, how to deliver lesser credentialing exams in the remote format, which in turn has laid the foundation for more complex licensing examinations to follow. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many unforeseen challenges to the profession, including the disruption of many candidates licensure journey due to test center closures and limited seat availability. Because of this, we have prioritized our efforts to research and understand ways we can best enable current (and future candidates) to take the exam both through a reliable test center network and remote proctoring, while also ensuring the preservation of the exams rigor expected from all member licensing boards. 
the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many unforeseen challenges to the profession, including the disruption of many candidates licensure journey due to test center closures and limited seat availability.
With so many changes and updates due to the status of the global pandemic, NCARBwith the help of subject matter experts, staff, volunteers, and psychometriciansto effectively deliver remote proctoring exams safely and securely as soon as possible. Currently, were in the process of selecting a test administration vendor and determining the exact changes needed to be made to the exams structure and format. Because we understand how time-sensitive this is, were focusing a majority of our efforts to re-approach and best execute a national examination prepared to withstand the challenges of today and those the future may hold.read more