Letter from Joshua C. Batkin to Committee on Economic Competitiveness, October 20, 2025

Summary

Letter dated October 20, 2025 from Joshua C. Batkin, Vice President for Council Relations of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), to the Michigan House of Representatives Committee on Economic Competitiveness, with the subject House Bill 4913. The letter requests that the committee consider amending the bill to allow the Michigan Board of Architects to accept alternative means of satisfying the education requirement through a combination of education and experience. It states that in its current form HB 4913 would require the Board to accept, in addition to the current education requirement, an equivalent of a first professional degree. It describes NCARB as facilitating the licensure process for architects across 55 U.S. states and territories.

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October 20, 2025

Michigan House of Representatives
Committee on Economic Competitiveness
Anderson House Office Building, Room 521
124 North Capitol
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514


RE: House Bill 4913

Dear Committee Chair Hoadley, Majority Vice Chair Bohnak, Minority Vice
Chair Grant, and distinguished members of the House Committee on Economic
Competitiveness:

On behalf of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
(NCARB), I respectfully request that you consider amending House Bill 4913
to allow the Michigan Board of Architects (the Board) to accept alternative
means of satisfying the education requirement through a combination of
education and experience.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) supports the
Michigan Board of Architects (the Board) in its commitment to protecting public
health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of architecture in Michigan. We
thank the Committee for allowing NCARB the opportunity to submit testimony
and share our considerations regarding House Bill 4913.

NCARB facilitates the licensure process for architects across 55 U.S. states and
territories that regulate the practice of architecture. We administer a national
examination, experience program, and continue to streamline pathways to
architecture licensure while upholding standards that prioritize public health,
safety, and welfare.

Current Michigan law requires an applicant for an initial architectural license to
provide evidence that they possess a professional degree in architecture
satisfactory to the Board, as well as other evidence that they have passed the
requisite examination, experience, and good moral character requirements of the
state (MCL § 339.2004(1). NCARB has been advocating for the last several
years that jurisdictions move away from an requirement of attaining an
accredited degree and toward allowing a combination of unaccredited
education and additional experience to serve as another viable path to
licensure.
In its current form, HB 4913 would require the Board to accept, in addition to the
current education requirement, an equivalent of a first professional degree. We
applaud the bill’s sponsors intent of expanding the licensure requirement and
believe this to be a step in the right direction. However, to help ensure applicants
have adequate training and exposure to the necessary knowledge, skills, and
ethical foundation to perform their duties safely, effectively, and competently –
we respectfully request that this Committee consider the following amendments
which would allow the Board to consider a combination of education and
experience in lieu of an accredited degree:

       (a) Provide evidence of completion of a first professional degree or further
       degree in architecture satisfactory to the board of architects or the
       equivalent of a first professional degree, as determined by the board of
       architects or a combination of education and architectural work
       experience that the board of architects deems equivalent to a
       professional degree in architecture.

The language above would allow individuals with non-accredited architectural
education backgrounds the opportunity to demonstrate their competency through
an evaluation of the education and documentation of their experience in the field.
Such a path would allow for flexibility and accessibility to the profession –
without sacrificing the necessary rigor.

Thank you for your consideration of our viewpoint on this matter. We welcome
the opportunity to assist the Committee as it deliberates on House Bill 4913.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or Maurice Brown, NCARB’s Assistant Vice
President of Advocacy and External Engagement (mbrown@ncarb.org) with any
questions or further information.


Respectfully,




Joshua C. Batkin
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Vice President for Council
Relations




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