How International Architecture Graduates Get NAAB Credentials Evaluated for US Licensure

By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Apr 29, 2026 • Career Planning

Table of Contents

TL;DR
What NAAB Does and Why It Matters for International Graduates
The Three Recognition Routes for Foreign Architecture Credentials
Current EESA and NCARB Fees in 2025 and 2026
The Canberra Accord and Accelerated Evaluation
US Job Market for Architects in 2024 to 2034
Work Authorization for Internationally Trained Architects
Networking and Professional Affiliation
How Long the Whole Process Takes
Demographic Context From NCARB
Sources

TL;DR

International architecture graduates need an Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) report, set by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and processed through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), with a NAAB-set evaluation fee of $2,500. If your program comes from a Canberra Accord signatory in Canada, China, Korea, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, or South Africa, you qualify for accelerated EESA processing.

Key fees and data points:

Item	Amount	Source
EESA evaluation	$2,500	NAAB
NCARB Record application (pre-licensure candidate)	$103	NCARB
NCARB Record annual renewal (pre-licensure candidate)	$103	NCARB
Architect median pay (May 2024)	$96,690	BLS
Projected job growth 2024 to 2034	4 percent	BLS
Average annual openings 2024 to 2034	7,800	BLS

Eligibility paths:

International Architect Path for those already licensed outside the US or Canada
EESA path for those holding a foreign architecture degree without a license
Standard Path through a specific US jurisdiction when neither option applies

Process steps:

Open an NCARB Record
Submit transcripts and credentials for EESA review
Complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP)
Pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
Apply for licensure in a US jurisdiction

How International Architecture Graduates Get NAAB Credentials Evaluated for US Licensure

What NAAB Does and Why It Matters for International Graduates

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredits professional degree programs in architecture across the United States. US state licensing boards rely on NAAB accreditation as the baseline education standard for architect registration. If you earned your degree outside the US, you sit outside the baseline until your education undergoes formal evaluation against it.

NAAB partners with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to run the Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) program. EESA compares your foreign academic transcripts to the current NCARB Education Standard and tells you whether your training meets the requirement, or which deficiencies you need to fill before sitting for the Architect Registration Examination.

The Three Recognition Routes for Foreign Architecture Credentials

NCARB defines three distinct entry points based on whether you hold a foreign license, only a foreign degree, or a combination outside the first two categories.

Route	Who Qualifies	Core Requirement
International Architect Path	Licensed architect outside US or Canada	Use your foreign license to establish education qualifications and pursue an NCARB Certificate
EESA Path	Holds foreign architecture degree, no license	Submit transcripts for NAAB evaluation against the NCARB Education Standard
Standard Path	Applicants who do not qualify for the specialized routes	Apply directly through a specific US jurisdiction by meeting its education, experience, and examination requirements

All three paths require completing the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and passing the Architect Registration Examination before any US state will issue a license.

How the EESA Process Works

You open an NCARB Record, request an EESA evaluation, and submit official transcripts plus course syllabi to NAAB. NAAB then compares your coursework against the NCARB Education Standard category by category and issues a deficiency report identifying any missing subject areas. You resolve deficiencies through additional coursework before progressing to the examination phase.

Current EESA and NCARB Fees in 2025 and 2026

Fees are set independently by NAAB for the evaluation itself and by NCARB for record-keeping and certification. The numbers below come directly from the NCARB Fees page and the NAAB EESA Fees page .

For licensure candidates building toward a first US license:

EESA evaluation fee paid to NAAB: $2,500, non-refundable
NCARB Record initial application for licensure candidates: $103
NCARB Record annual renewal for licensure candidates: $103
Record reactivation for licensure candidates: $103 per year lapsed, capped at $206
Initial transmittal of a candidate Record to a licensing board: free

Once you become a registered architect and pursue the NCARB Certificate, the fee schedule shifts:

NCARB Certificate application: $1,381
NCARB Certificate annual renewal: $293
Certificate reactivation: $313 plus outstanding renewal fees, capped at $1,381
Record transmittal for registered architects: $488

The Certificate is a portable credential for reciprocal licensure between jurisdictions, separate from the candidate Record used during initial licensure.

The Canberra Accord and Accelerated Evaluation

The Canberra Accord on Architectural Education was signed on April 9, 2008 and recognizes substantial equivalency among the accreditation systems of nine signatory agencies. Graduates of programs accredited by any signatory benefit from accelerated EESA processing through NAAB.

Current Canberra Accord Signatories

The accord's official signatories page lists nine active members:

Signatory	Country or Region
NAAB	United States
CACB-CCCA	Canada
ANPADEH	Mexico
KAAB	South Korea
NBAA	China
HKIA	Hong Kong
JABEE	Japan
IEET	Taiwan
SACAP	South Africa

The Commonwealth Association of Architects and the Australian Institute of Architects were former signatories. The accord notes their departure in 2022 and 2018 respectively.

US Job Market for Architects in 2024 to 2034

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 4 percent employment growth for architects from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,800 openings each year. The median annual wage was $96,690 in May 2024. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $60,510, and the top 10 percent earned more than $159,800.

Demand is concentrated in sustainable design and in healthcare, residential, and education construction. Building information modeling and AI integration are reshaping how architects spend their hours rather than reducing total demand.

Entry-Level Pay Indicators

The BLS 10th percentile figure of $60,510 marks the lowest reported earnings band, which lines up with first-year graduate roles in lower-cost markets. Licensed architects who hold state registration after passing the ARE typically earn more than unlicensed peers in equivalent staff roles, because they hold authority to stamp construction documents.

Work Authorization for Internationally Trained Architects

Architecture roles can qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa program when the position normally requires a bachelor's or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty as a minimum entry requirement, the degree requirement is common to parallel positions across the industry, the employer normally requires such a degree for the role, or the duties are so specialized and complex that the knowledge required is associated with that level of degree. Employer sponsorship requires the employer to file Form I-129 with USCIS and a Labor Condition Application with the US Department of Labor before petition submission.

2025 Policy Changes Affecting H-1B Sponsorship

Two recent federal actions reshape sponsorship economics:

Presidential Proclamation 10973 of September 19, 2025 , effective 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, restricts entry of certain H-1B specialty occupation workers unless the petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment, per the corresponding USCIS alert
The Department of Homeland Security announced a weighted H-1B selection final rule on December 23, 2025, with the rule published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2025 and an effective date of February 27, 2026 for the FY 2027 cap season, favoring higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants

These changes raise the bar for first-time sponsorship of entry-level architectural designer roles and push many international graduates toward Optional Practical Training first.

F-1 OPT and STEM OPT for Architecture Graduates

F-1 students completing US architecture degrees receive 12 months of standard Optional Practical Training. The core architecture CIP code 04.0201 is not on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, so a standard professional architecture degree does not by itself qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Related sub-fields such as Architectural and Building Sciences and Technology (CIP 04.0902) do appear on the list, so graduates of those specific programs may qualify for up to 36 months of post-completion work authorization. Confirm your exact CIP code with your Designated School Official before assuming STEM eligibility.

Networking and Professional Affiliation

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) accepts internationally trained graduates as International Associate members. The AIA International region covers all regions outside the US through 13 chapters spanning the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Middle East, Shanghai, the Canada Society, Taipei, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Oceania, plus additional International Sections.

In March 2025, AIA announced a globally inclusive pricing model for International Associate membership, lowering the entry cost barrier for early-career graduates abroad. Membership grants the post-nominal "Int'l Assoc. AIA," access to the AIA Community Hub, continuing education credits, and discounted entry to the AIA Conference on Architecture and Design.

Practical Networking Channels

AIA chapter events in your target US metro area, open to non-members at higher rates
NCARB Licensing Advisor program, which pairs candidates with local mentors
Canberra Accord signatory bodies in your home country for transition planning
ArchDaily and Architectural Record reader communities for job-board exposure

How Long the Whole Process Takes

The combined timeline depends on your starting point: a Canberra Accord graduate with strong syllabus documentation moves through EESA faster than someone whose program requires manual coursework matching. AXP requires 3,740 hours of documented experience across six practice areas, which translates to roughly two years of full-time work under a licensed architect. The ARE consists of six divisions, and NCARB reports candidates need an average of about two years to complete all divisions once started.

Demographic Context From NCARB

The 2024 NCARB By the Numbers report shows 47 percent of US licensure candidates identify as people of color and 46 percent as women. Among newly licensed architects in 2023, 43 percent were women and 34 percent identified as people of color. Women in the testing population complete licensure requirements about a year faster than men on average.

These figures matter for international graduates because they indicate firms are actively hiring across diverse candidate pools rather than restricting entry to a narrow demographic.