| Experience area | Hours required | Where they usually come from |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Management | 160 | Fee proposals, contracts, firm operations |
| Project Management | 360 | Schedules, budgets, consultant coordination |
| Programming & Analysis | 260 | Site analysis, zoning research, programming |
| Project Planning & Design | 1,080 | Concept, schematic design, design development |
| Project Development & Documentation | 1,520 | Construction documents, specs, detailing |
| Construction & Evaluation | 360 | Site visits, RFIs, submittals, punch lists |
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 Read the result against your drawings, product sheets, or listing rules before you rely on it in a client meeting.
Most candidates finish in two to four years. At 40 hours per week with roughly 80% of work qualifying as AXP-eligible, the 3,740 hours take a little over two years of full-time architecture employment, longer if your role skews away from underrepresented areas like Construction & Evaluation.
NCARB guidance assumes an 80-85% conversion rate: a 40-hour week typically yields about 32 reportable AXP hours, because hours must map to specific experience areas and some work (admin, marketing, PTO) does not qualify Read the result against your drawings, product sheets, or listing rules before you rely on it in a client meeting.
Report within eight months of when the hours were earned to receive full credit, and submit no more than six months of experience in a single report. Set a recurring reminder. Lapsed hours are the most common AXP setback Read the result against your drawings, product sheets, or listing rules before you rely on it in a client meeting.
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 Read the result against your drawings, product sheets, or listing rules before you rely on it in a client meeting.
Most jurisdictions now allow concurrent eligibility: you can test while accruing hours. Requirements vary by state, so confirm with your licensing board and your NCARB Record Read the result against your drawings, product sheets, or listing rules before you rely on it in a client meeting.