Architecture Accreditation

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In 2018, Wentworth’s Master of Architecture program was granted an eight-year term of accreditation (the maximum possible under the 2014 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation) from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Wentworth is required by NAAB to make the following information available to the public.

Statement on NAAB-Accredited Degrees 

In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. 

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

Wentworth Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Design offers the following NAAB-accredited programs as a one-, two-, or three-year course of study:

  • 1-year M.Arch program (Wentworth BS in Architecture + 34 credits)
  • 2-year M.Arch program (Pre-professional BA or BS in Architecture + 70 credits)
  • 3-year M.Arch program (Bachelor’s degree in discipline other than Architecture + 106 credits)

The next NAAB accreditation visit for the Master of Architecture is scheduled for 2026.

Access to NAAB Conditions and Procedures 

In order to assist parents, students, and others as they seek to develop an understanding of the body of knowledge and skills that constitute a professional education in architecture: 

  1. Conditions for Accreditation, 2020 Edition (May 2025 Revised Edition)
  2. Conditions for Accreditation, 2014 Edition
  3. Procedures for Accreditation, 2020 Edition (May 2025 Revised Edition)
  4. Conditions for Accreditation, 2015 Edition 

Access to Career Development Information 

To develop an understanding of the larger context for architectural education and the career pathways available to graduates of accredited degree programs, please visit the links below.  

ACSA 

ACSA The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. The full members include all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. The ACSA website provides information on ACSA member programs, architecture education, and the profession. Also, visit the Study Architecture website.

AIA  

The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington D.C., there are over 200 chapters in the U.S. and abroad. The AIA provides resources and advocacy to architects.

AIAS 

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an independent, nonprofit, student-run organization dedicated to advancing leadership, design, and service among architecture students.

NAAB  

The National Architectural Accrediting Board accredits architecture programs in the US and abroad. The NAAB develops and maintains an accreditation system in professional degree education that enhances the value, relevance, and effectiveness of the profession of architecture.

NCARB  

The National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB) administers the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), formerly known as the Intern Development Program (IDP), the Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure (IPAL) program, and the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE). NCARB publishes pass rates for each section of the ARE by state and institution. 

Wentworth

Public Access to Accreditation Reports and Related Documents (all sections provided)

  1. 2018 NAAB Decision Letter
  2. 2017 Architecture Program Report (APR)
  3. NCARB ARE pass rates

Architect Registration Exam (ARE) pass rates are available at the website of the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB). To view the School’s most recent ARE pass rates, visit the ARE 5.0 Pass Rates by School section of the NCARB website. From the drop-down menu under state select "Massachusetts" and under university name select "Wentworth Institute of Technology.”

Admissions and Advising 

Student Financial Information