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Start your
 NCARB Record
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Introduction to IDP
About IDP
IDP Training
Requirement
When Can I Begin?
Establishing a
Council Record
&
Fees
Training Settings:
Maximum Units
Allowed
Required Direct
Supervision
Required Duration
IDP Training Areas
and Core
Competencies
Supplementary
Education
Conditions
Applying for the ARE
IDP Frequently
Asked Questions
IDP Timeline
Foreign Applicants
IDP Guidelines
IDP Resources
&
Links
IDP TU Workbook
Employment
Verification
Form
Transcript
Request
Form
Transmit IDP
Record
to
State Board
for
the ARE
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Regulation of the profession of architecture,
including the registration of practitioners, is a function
of each jurisdiction exercising its power to protect the health,
safety, and welfare of the people. Registration is an administrative
process resulting in the granting of a license to practice
architecture within a jurisdiction.*
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have
established architectural registration boards to regulate
the profession. These boards constitute NCARB’s membership.
Each board has established a set of registration requirements
that, when satisfied, results in the granting of an architectural
registration.
Although registration laws vary among jurisdictions, all boards
require satisfaction of an education requirement, a training
requirement, and an examination requirement. These requirements
are discussed below.
NCARB provides a web-based document displaying each board’s
registration requirements, which is available at:
www.ncarb.org/stateboards/index.html.
You must contact your board directly for more detailed information regarding your board’s
requirements.
*The term "licensure is often used to denote the actual
issuance and maintenance of an architectural license. Since
licensure is a part of the registration process (and to avoid
confusion), this web-based information will use the terms
"registration" and "registered" in lieu
of "licensure" and "licensed."
Education Requirement
Approximately 70 percent of the boards have established as
their education requirement a professional degree in architecture
from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting
Board (NAAB) or a professional degree in architecture from
a Canadian program accredited by the Canadian Architectural
Certification Board (CACB). NAAB- and CACB-accredited professional
degree programs include Bachelor of Architecture programs
and Master of Architecture programs.
These programs typically require between five and eight years
of post-secondary education. NAAB and CACB do not accredit
four-year “pre-professional” degree programs in
architecture (e.g., bachelor of arts in architecture, bachelor
of science in architecture, bachelor of environmental design,
etc.). Most pre-professional degree programs are components
of Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture programs.
Some schools have established Master of Architecture programs
for those whose undergraduate degrees were in other disciplines.
See
this web page for a list of NAAB-accredited programs.
It is important to note that all Master of Architecture programs offered within a school may not be accredited by NAAB. Consult the dean of your school to ensure you are enrolled in a NAAB accredited degree program.
Some registration boards requiring a professional degree in
architecture from an NAAB-accredited program also accept other
education assessed as equivalent (e.g., a professional degree
in architecture from a foreign institution). For a guide to
equivalency requirements, refer to NCARB’s Education
Standard.
An EESA-NCARB Evaluation Report from NAAB stating that you
have met the NCARB education requirement is required for applicants
with a degree in the field of architecture granted by an academic
institution outside the U.S. and Canada. See the NAAB
web site for more information.
Not all boards require a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited
program (or equivalent education) to satisfy their education
requirement. You must contact your board directly for more detailed information regarding your
board’s requirement, . See www.ncarb.org/stateboards/index.html.
Training
Requirement
Every NCARB member board
requires that interns acquire experience under a registered
architect’s direct supervision. Many boards also accept
some experience acquired under the direct supervision of other
professionals (e.g., professional engineer, interior designer,
landscape architect, planner, or general contractor). The
specific amount and quality of experience constitute a board’s
training requirement.
All boards require a minimum period of training. Most boards
that require you to have a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited
program (or equivalent education) also require three years
of training. For boards with different education requirements,
the training period varies considerably, depending upon the
type and extent of previous education. Contact your board
for details.
A specified training period has existed since the first architectural
registration laws were enacted. More recently, boards began
requiring training in specific areas of architectural practice.
Most boards have adopted the training requirement established
for IDP as their training requirement for initial registration. You
should compare your board’s training requirement with
the IDP training requirement.
Any differences should be carefully noted. Where differences
exist, you must first comply with your board’s requirement. It is important to note,
however, satisfaction of the IDP training requirement is required
to facilitate future registration in other jurisdictions.
Examination Requirement
Every NCARB member board
requires interns to pass the NCARB Architect Registration
Examination (ARE) to satisfy its examination requirement.
The ARE is administered on a year-round basis and covers:
- pre-design;
- general structures;
- lateral forces;
- mechanical & electrical systems;
- building design / materials & methods;
- construction documents & services
- site planning;
- building planning;and
- building technology.
The content of the ARE is based on the
knowledge and skills required of a newly registered architect,
practicing independently, to provide architectural
services. The ARE evaluates an applicant’s competence
in the provision of architectural services to protect the
public health, safety, and welfare. For more information about
the ARE, refer to NCARB’s ARE
Guidelines Version 3.0.
Registration in Other States
Uniformity of requirements
among registration boards is important primarily because of
the architectural profession’s mobility. Architects customarily
work not only in the state where they live but also in several
other states.
Once you have been granted initial registration, you may qualify
for registration in other jurisdictions if you comply with those
jurisdictions’ education, training, and examination requirements.
Since many boards have uniform requirements, agreements have
been developed which allow registration to be granted without
additional qualification. One way boards facilitate this process
is by recognizing architects who hold an NCARB Certificate.
In most cases, architects holding the NCARB Certificate are
qualified to be registered without satisfying additional education,
training, or examination requirements.
NCARB grants a Certificate to qualified architects through
an administrative process called certification. Qualifications
for an NCARB Certificate include current registration with
an NCARB member board and satisfaction of NCARB’s education,
training, and examination requirements. These requirements
are described in NCARB’s Handbook
for Interns and Architects.
Because most boards have adopted NCARB’s education, training,
and examination requirements as their registration requirements,
NCARB certification is often confused with registration. The
two processes serve similar purposes, but with respect to
practicing architecture, they are significantly different.
An NCARB Certificate does not allow you to practice architecture.
As explained at the beginning of this section, you must acquire
architectural registration to practice within a jurisdiction. After
your initial license is granted, the NCARB Certificate facilitates
registration in other states. Many boards will register out-of-state
architects only if they have an NCARB Certificate. See www.ncarb.org/stateboards/index.html
for more information.
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