The Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) is an essential element on the path to licensure designed to provide you with the opportunity to gain and document real-world experience needed to become an architect. As you progress through the AXP, you’ll develop competency in architectural practice areas related to health, safety, and welfare. 

The AXP identifies 96 key tasks you should be able to perform competently at the point of licensure and is designed to span the phases of an early career in architecture. The tasks are spread across six practice-based areas, aligning with an ARE 5.0 division, allowing you to connect your real-world experience to your exam preparation.  

In recent blogs, we covered everything there is to know about the AXP and three of the six experience areas—Practice Management, Project Management, and Project Planning & Design.   

Overview 

Programming and Analysis, often referred to as pre-design, is the first phase of a project. This experience area allows you to gain experience researching and evaluating client requirements, building code, and zoning regulations, and site data to develop recommendations on a project's feasibility.   

Requirements  

To meet the requirements under Programming and Analysis, you’ll need to document 260 hours of experience completing the following tasks:  

  • Determine the impact of applicable zoning and development ordinances to determine project constraints.  
  • Gather information about community concerns and issues that may impact the proposed project.  
  • Analyze existing site conditions to determine the project’s financial viability.  
  • Determine the impact of environmental, zoning, and other regulations on-site.  
  • Establish sustainability goals affecting building performance  
  • Prepare diagrams illustrating spatial relationships and functional adjacencies.  
  • Establish project design goals.  
  • Prepare site analysis diagrams to document existing conditions, features, infrastructure, and regulatory requirements.  
  • Consider recommendations from geotechnical studies when establishing design parameters.  
  • Assist owner in preparing building program, including a list of spaces and their characteristics.  
  • Develop a conceptual budget.   
  • Gather information about client’s vision, goals, budget, and schedule to validate project scope and program  
  • Evaluate opportunities and constraints of alternative sites  
  • Assess environmental impact to formulate 
  • design decisions 
  • Determine the impact of existing transportation infrastructure on the site 
  • Consider the results of environmental studies when developing site alternatives 
  • Review legal documents related to the site to determine project constraints 

As you develop a plan to achieve all the tasks required in the AXP, it’s important to work with your supervisor and firm to create a plan for exposure to various opportunities. As you and your supervisor work together, check out the  AXP Candidate and Supervisor Expectations document to establish shared expectations. 

For more detailed information about the AXP and the six practice-based areas, check out the  AXP Guidelines and our blog for the latest updates.