North Dakota

Law Passed: 1917 • Joined NCARB: 1930 • Region 5—Central States (1965)

The Components of Licensure

Education

1968-70: Either an approved degree in architecture or 10 additional years of experience are required.

1987: A degree from a NAAB-accredited program—or the equivalent based on the NCARB Education Standard—is required.

2005: NCARB’s education requirement becomes the official requirement.

Experience

1917: Three years of experience are required.

1986-87: The IDP is accepted, but not required. 

1996: The IDP is required.

2005: NCARB’s experience requirement becomes the official requirement.

Examination

1963: North Dakota starts administering NCARB’s national exam.

2005: NCARB’s examination requirement becomes the official requirement.

Noteworthy

  • The board issued its first license in 1919. 
  • In 2005, North Dakota conducted a comprehensive review of NCARB’s Model Law and adopted all NCARB standards as the requirements for architecture licensure, as well as the CLARB standards for landscape architecture licensure.

Notable People

Members of the NCARB Board of Directors

1988-94: Gary Johnson, FAIA (Grand Forks)
2011-12; 2018-Present: Ricky L. Engebretson (Fargo)

First Chairman/President

George Hancock (Fargo)

 First Board Members

J. Edwards (Grand Forks)
Arthur Van Horn (Bismarck)

NCARB President Medalists

1994: Gary Johnson, FAIA (Grand Forks)
2003: Bonnie Staiger (Bismarck)
2016: Ricky L. Engebretson (Fargo)

North Dakota History

North Dakota delegates prepare to vote at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Miami. Pictured (l to r): Richard V. Nester, Warren Tvenge, and Ricky L. Engebretson.
North Dakota Member Ricky Engebretson speaks at NCARB's 2014 Annual Business Meeting.
North Dakota delegates prepare to vote at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Miami. Pictured (l to r): Richard V. Nester, Warren Tvenge, and Ricky L. Engebretson.
North Dakota Member Ricky Engebretson speaks at NCARB's 2014 Annual Business Meeting.