AXP Hours Calculator

For architecture licensure candidates. Enter the hours you have logged in each of NCARB's six experience areas and your working pace — see what remains, area by area, and the date you can realistically expect to complete the Architectural Experience Program.
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The Six AXP Experience Areas

Total: 3,740 hours. Surplus hours in one area do not transfer to another — which is why Construction & Evaluation, the area junior staff see least, is the classic bottleneck. If your projection stalls, ask for CA exposure before you ask for more hours.

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A Note Before You Plan Your Licensure Party

This is an unofficial planning tool. Your NCARB Record is the authoritative tracker, jurisdictions differ on requirements, and the 80–85% conversion rate is guidance, not law. Use this page to set expectations and spot bottleneck areas early — then keep your Record current, because hours reported more than eight months late lose value.

And a thought from the other side of the desk: the architects who thrive after licensure are the ones clients can find. Nakada Design is the Los Angeles marketing agency that builds visibility for architecture firms — bookmark us for the day the shingle goes up, or read how to get more architecture clients.

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Frequently Asked Questions

‍How many AXP hours do I need?
3,740 across six areas: Practice Management 160, Project Management 360, Programming & Analysis 260, Project Planning & Design 1,080, Project Development & Documentation 1,520, Construction & Evaluation 360. Surplus in one area doesn't count toward another.

‍How long does AXP take?
Most candidates finish in two to four years. Full-time work at ~80% eligibility clears 3,740 hours in a little over two years — longer when your role rarely touches construction administration.

‍Why don't all my hours count?
NCARB assumes an 80–85% conversion: a 40-hour week yields roughly 32 AXP hours, since admin, marketing and PTO don't map to experience areas.

‍When must hours be reported?
Within eight months of earning them for full credit, in reports covering no more than six months each. Lapsed reporting is the most common self-inflicted AXP delay.

‍Can hours come from outside a firm?
Up to 1,860 hours may be earned in Setting O — construction, design-adjacent or academic work — but at least half your total must come under a licensed architect in Setting A.

‍Can I take the ARE at the same time?
Most jurisdictions allow concurrent testing and experience. Confirm your state board's rules in your NCARB Record.