CWGT Makes Project “Almost” Architect Go

12 Exams, 10 Passes: Project Almost Architect Is Already Beating the Crowd

This morning, a participant in Project Almost Architect sat for the program's 12th ARE exam attempt. That number alone tells a story: the current cohort has just 12 participants, and the group hasn't even reached the program's 90-day mark yet.

This year, every participant committed to attempting at least one ARE division exam per quarter. Twelve weeks in, that commitment and the accountability it created are already paying off.

The Numbers So Far

Of the 12 exams attempted, 10 have been passed, for a preliminary pass rate of 83.3%.

For context, here's how that stacks up against the national picture:

- Project Almost Architect pass rate: 83.3%

- NCARB national average: 55%

- Difference: +28.3 percentage points

- Relative improvement: roughly 51% higher than the national average

It's still a small sample size, and the cohort would be the first to say so. But these early results are well beyond what national pass rate data would have predicted enough to be genuinely exciting this early in the program.

Spread Across Every Division

What makes this even more notable is the breadth of it. Those 12 attempts span all six ARE divisions, with five of the six already showing passing scores. Several of those divisions have national pass rates below the overall NCARB average, making clearing them this early an even bigger win for the cohort.

What This Suggests

It's early, and the program knows it. But the preliminary data points to something real: participants aren't just feeling supported and connected; they're translating that support into measurable exam success, at a rate significantly higher than the typical licensure candidate.

Combined with the program's recent national grant award, these first-quarter outcomes are a story worth telling. Project Almost Architect exists to improve access to licensure and support emerging professionals on the path to becoming architects, and results like these are early proof that the model is working.

If you're connected to AIA Oregon and want to help share this story whether that's spreading the word about the program or these early outcomes, we'd love your help getting the word out.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Chris White golf Tournament. None of this happens without your support of it.

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