IPAL INITIATIVE ACCEPTS WOODBURY UNIVERSITY

Woodbury University School of Architecture Graduate Program
Accepted to NCARB’s IPAL Initiative

Graduate Program Joins Undergraduate Program in IPAL Initiative 

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LOS ANGELES and SAN DIEGO (July 11, 2016) – The graduate program at Woodbury University’s School of Architecture has been accepted to participate in the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) initiative, the university announced today.

The program encourages schools accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) to integrate education and experience requirements, as well as provide an opportunity for students to take each of the six divisions of the new Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) 5.0.

Woodbury’s master of architecture program joins the university’s bachelor of architecture program, which was accepted into NCARB’s IPAL initiative as one of the first 14 programs nationwide last summer.   The other three newly accepted programs this summer include the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., the University of Florida in Gainesville, and the University of Maryland in College Park.

“We are excited to be able to offer an Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure to our graduate students,” said Marc J. Neveu, Chair of the Architecture Department at Woodbury.  “This represents an opportunity for our students that is unique to the Southern California region, and we look forward to building relationships with consortium firms begun with our undergraduate program.”

“We fully expect that the new additions will match the creativity, academic rigor, and dedication to the profession that has been demonstrated by their predecessors,” said Dennis S. Ward, FAIA, NCARB President. “NCARB is excited that the initiative continues to grow, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of its participants over the coming years.” Ward announced the new IPAL programs at the NCARB’s 97th Annual Business Meeting in Seattle.

IPAL was developed by NCARB’s Licensure Task Force, which was composed of licensing board members, industry leadership, recently licensed architects, licensure candidates, deans, educators, and members of the public. Charged with promoting academic flexibility while addressing national requirements for architectural licensure, the task force reviewed existing programs requiring experience as a pre-graduation requisite, and issued a formal Request for Proposals, as part of its deliberations.

NCARB’s Education Committee will oversee the ongoing work of this initiative. The organization will continue to coach accepted programs, help promote engagement with state licensing boards, and oversee the acceptance of future programs.

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