NCARB 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Moving Forward

FY15 Past President

Blakely C. Dunn, NCARB, AIA

As the first NCARB president to have completed the Intern Development Program (IDP), I am familiar with some of the concerns expressed by aspiring architects and supervisors. That’s why I am especially proud of the program’s recent updates, many of which began to take shape when I was president/chair of the Board in FY14. From the modified reporting requirement to allowing high school graduates to report experience, this past year was marked by momentous change and innovation.

 

But the real story behind these improvements is NCARB and its 54 Member Boards. This is an organization dedicated to helping aspiring architects reach their career goals. We have had the foresight to see where the path to licensure needs to go and the introspection to make it happen.

 

The recent streamline of the IDP and the upcoming overhaul in 2016 are just part of the larger trend of NCARB’s modernization. From shortening the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) retake policy to the development of an integrated path to licensure, we are committed to increasing the effectiveness of our programs without compromising their rigor or core purpose.

 

To turn this vision into reality, we invited emerging professionals from across the country to join the conversation. In October, 12 aspiring architects from across the country gathered for our third annual Intern Think Tank (ITT), which you can read about below. And as chair of the Future Title Task Force, I was joined by five aspiring architects along with Member Board Members and leaders from across the profession who helped form the group’s recommendation to eliminate the word “intern.” During my time as president, I was also excited to help establish the Licensure Task Force to explore integrating the licensure path and a Broadly Experienced Architect/Foreign Architect Special Project Team to address streamlining elements of our certification process.

 

You can trust that as NCARB moves into the future, it will continue to redefine itself in ways that will better support emerging professionals in achieving their licensure goals and better facilitate reciprocity for all licensed architects who seek it. I want to thank you for your trust and support during my year as president. It has been a great privilege of mine to have served with and for you.

 

FY15 Past President Blakely C. Dunn, NCARB, AIA

The Intern Development Program

FY15 was a year of incredible progress for the Intern Development Program (IDP). In July, the NCARB Board of Directors (BOD) extended the reporting requirement beyond eight months, honoring experience up to five years back at 50 percent. This was great news for aspiring architects looking to report valid experience for partial credit toward completing the IDP.

NCARB by the Numbers

NCARB's fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

Streamline & Overhaul

Another IDP milestone came in September, when the BOD approved the program’s streamline and overhaul. The streamlined IDP went into effect July 1, 2015, removing elective hours for a total of 3,740 hours in 17 experience areas. You can find out what your jurisdiction’s experience requirement is at www.ncarb.org/IDPstreamline.

The overhaul of the IDP is set for implementation in late June 2016. This initiative will reframe the program’s 17 experience areas into six practice-based areas, also mirroring the six divisions of ARE 5.0, the next version of the Architect Registration Examination.

“Streamlining of the IDP requirements will reduce complexities while ensuring that intern architects still acquire the comprehensive experience that is essential for competent practice, and result in a program that is both justifiable and defensible.”

—NCARB President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB

In October 2014, our experts provided a deeper dive into the recently approved changes to the Intern Development Program. Learn more about the streamlined and overhauled IDP in NCARB Live, a webinar series for aspiring architects.

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My IDP App

With the success of the previous year’s My IDP app for iPhone, the October release for Android was the perfect next step. Thousands of aspiring architects have downloaded the app, with many of them sharing their progress on social media.

Intern Think Tank

Later that month, the 2014 Intern Think Tank (ITT) was held at NCARB’s Washington, DC, headquarters. This two-day think tank brought together emerging professionals from across the country to weigh in on topics that will help shape the path to licensure and the profession. The pros and cons of the licensure process, improvements to the supervisor program, and alternative titles for interns were among the topics explored. Capturing the insight of emerging professionals is integral to refining our programs.

 

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The Architect Registration Examination

Significant improvements were made to the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) in FY15. In an effort to improve candidate access and respond to frustrations over outdated policies, NCARB reduced the retake period from six months to 60 days. This offered candidates the opportunity to finish the ARE sooner, while still protecting exam content from overexposure.

NCARB by the Numbers

Another noteworthy achievement was the launch of the ARE 4.0 Community in February. In just under two months, over 2,000 candidates joined the online forum to connect with NCARB experts and their peers for exam advice. The community has proven to be a rich resource where members can share best practices and study tips, as well as access useful tools like video tutorials on all seven ARE divisions. With 28,000 candidates preparing for the ARE in 54 jurisdictions, there was a real need to create a place they could turn to for reliable tips.

@AIABEP

A great new resource from @NCARB where
you can ask questions & chat with experts.
http://ncarb.org/ARE4Community

“In recent years, many critical changes have been made to improve the architectural licensure process. Much of this has been done because creative thinkers are envisioning new ways of doing things. Leading the Intern
Think Tank is an opportunity to help interns contribute to that dialog.”

—2014 ITT Chair Stephanie Silkwood, AIA, LEED AP

Outreach

Communicating face-to-face with aspiring architects about the path to licensure remains a top priority. Every year, our experts travel to partner organizations and campuses to share insight into education, experience, and examination requirements.

Outreach Presentations

In FY15, NCARB made more than 130 presentations to nearly 5,000 people at:

•  73 universities

•  33 AIA component presentations

•  22 AIA conferences

•  7 professional conferences

•  6 AIAS conferences

•  4 career fairs

•  2 firms

@AIAS_Auburn

Thanks so much @kimberlyrtuttle for a great lecture about IDP hours!

NCARB also had exhibit booths at 24 conferences and career fairs. Our goal is to give aspiring architects a clear and accurate picture of what is required to achieve licensure, providing support every step of the way.

Blue dots indicate locations that NCARB Outreach visited in FY15

The Great Title Debate

Future Title Task Force

For years, there have been strong opinions in the architectural community about the term “intern.”  NCARB President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB, convened a group of practitioners and aspiring architects, known as the Future Title Task Force, to explore alternative titles. After months of debate, the task force—lead by Past President Blake Dunn, NCARB, AIA—released its recommendations: remove use of the word “intern” and restrict any regulatory language to post-licensure status.

NCARB has agreed to work with U.S. licensing boards and the architect community to implement the task force’s decision. We have already removed “intern” from our communications and correspondence, and initiatives to update our Model Law and guidelines are underway.

“This task force’s action was the first step of
many in the development of a new title for
emerging designers, as they play a critical role
in most architectural firms.”

—Future Title Task Force member Suni Dillard

New Paths to Licensure

Licensure Task Force

Back on the Licensure Path

At its Annual Business Meeting in New Orleans, NCARB unveiled a new proposal for professionals who had to put their licensure goals on hold due to career or personal decisions. Our plan is to work with U.S. licensing boards to develop an approach that allows applicants to submit qualified experience that falls outside the Intern Development Program’s (IDP) reporting requirements. An estimated 12,000 professionals in our system—along with many others who have never reported experience—could take advantage of this option.

 

Integrated Path To Licensure

Plans for an “integrated path to licensure” also continued to advance in FY15. Now in its second year, the Licensure Task Force presented a proposed model for licensure-at-graduation from programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Their concept weaves education, experience, and examination requirements, streamlining the process for aspiring architects.

Over 30 NAAB-accredited programs showed interest in this initiative, along with informal notice from other schools. This prompted the release of a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) in January to all NAAB-accredited programs and/or official candidate programs.

The facilitation of licensure is a primary goal for NCARB and this proposal is one of many that redefines the path to licensure without sacrificing the value that we place on experience, education, and examination.”

—NCARB President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB