Texas A&M University former student Emma Johnson ’23, ’25 has made history as the first person in Texas to complete the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program.
What is the IPAL program?
IPAL is an accelerated licensure track developed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Becoming a licensed architect traditionally takes over 13 years on average, according to NCARB. Candidates must earn a professional degree, complete a set number of experience hours and pass further examinations.
Students enrolled in an IPAL program have a unique opportunity to earn their licensure in six years, which is about 45 percent faster than the traditional path, at one of 33 NAAB-accredited architecture programs nationwide.
NCARB launched the IPAL program in 2015 to give dedicated students a faster path to licensure. Texas A&M began offering the program in 2021 and remains the only institution in Texas to actively provide the IPAL program.
Johnson officially earned her architectural license on May 22, becoming the first person to concurrently complete the IPAL program requirements while earning a degree in Texas.
By the time of graduation, Johnson earned her Master's of Architecture degree, completed over 3,740 Architectural Experience Hours (AXP) and passed all six parts of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
“The biggest challenge I faced was learning how to effectively manage my time while balancing education, professional experience and exam preparation,” Johnson said. “To navigate this, I focused on only two areas at a time.”
As she worked year-round as an architectural intern at local firm BRW Architects, Johnson said she rotated her other focus on two areas depending on the season. Johnson focused on coursework throughout the academic year, and when on break, she dedicated herself to studying and completing the ARE exams.
“Since I was already fulfilling the education requirement and gaining practical experience through my part-time internship at BRW Architects, I saw no reason not to start tackling the exams,” Johnson said.
In August 2024, Johnson passed her sixth and final exam, which meant she only had to wait until graduation to apply for her license.
Texas A&M IPAL and AXP advisor Dr. Valerian Miranda helped oversee Johnson’s growth and progress through the program. Miranda said Johnson’s success in the program shows that Aggie architects are at the forefront of professional accomplishment in the state.
“Emma has set a new milestone by reducing the time from entering college to architectural licensure, from an average 13 years to six years,” Miranda said. “The IPAL program is well established with several students set to follow her example in the coming years.”
Effective July 1, NCARB will implement new changes to the program requirements, which enable IPAL students to complete only 75% of their AXP experience hours and take NCARB’s six free practice exams before graduation.
According to the Department Head of Architecture, Dr. Gregory Luhan, these changes do not fundamentally change the nature of Texas A&M’s IPAL program, but expand opportunities for students to connect to the profession in different ways without the pressure of meeting experience milestones and passing all examinations before graduation.
“Emma is a role model for achieving education, experience and examination simultaneously in six of her exams, eight months before graduation,” Luhan said. “The IPAL changes will give our students even more opportunities to effectively bridge our academic program to the profession while broadening student experiences and professional success.”
