GENERAL
What does NCARB stand for?
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
What is AXP?
Architectural Experience Program. This is the name that NCARB uses for the experience component of the licensing process.
What is NAAB?
National Architectural Accrediting Board. This is the organization in the United States that accredits colleges' and universities' architectural programs.
What is the ARE?
Architect Registration Exam. This is the exam you must take to satisfy the 'Examination' component of the 3E's.
How do you start documenting your AXP experience?
Create an NCARB record online at www.ncarb.org
Does NCARB license architects?
No. Your jurisdiction's registration board issues your license. NCARB works to make the process easier for you and your jurisdiction.
How do you gain credit for experience hours?
You earn them by working! You have to log them on your NCARB Record and have them signed off by a supervisor (usually your boss). There are many ways to obtain experience; just follow the AXP guidelines.
Are all architecture degrees offered in the United States accredited?
No. Many colleges and universities offer non-accredited programs in architecture. For example, Bachelor of Science Architecture degrees are not accredited by NAAB.
When can you start taking the ARE?
This depends on your jurisdiction. In some states, there are no requirements, while in others, you may have to finish a certain number of experience hours before starting.
When can you start logging experience?
Whenever you start working. If you are currently gaining experience while going to school, or working during your breaks, you can start logging your experience now.
When can you call yourself an architect?
ONLY after you have become licensed.
The experience you gain can be documented into different practice areas. How many practice areas are there?
Six! They are:
1. Practice Management
2. Project Management
3. Programming & Analysis
4. Project Planning & Design (PPD)
5. Project Development & Documentation (PDD)
6. Construction & Evaluation
What types of degrees are typically accredited by NAAB? (ex: Bachelor of Engineering)
B.Arch, M.Arch, and D.Arch
How many divisions does the ARE have?
Six. These are aligned with the six divisions of the Architectural Experience Program:
1. Practice Management
2. Project Management
3. Programming & Analysis
4. Project Planning & Design (PPD)
5. Project Development & Documentation (PDD)
6. Construction & Evaluation
Who is a "supervisor" while you complete your hours?
Your supervisor is the person responsible for your work on a daily basis (your immediate boss). In most opportunities, the supervisor must be a licensed architect in the US or Canada.
After completing the 3E's do you automatically have an architecture license?
Nope! NCARB needs to transmit your record to your jurisdiction's licensing board. Keep in mind that you still need to meet all requirements of your jurisdiction. For example, some jurisdictions have additional testing or experience requirements. You may need to fill out paperwork or pay a fee.
In order to receive an architect's license, how many total hours of experience must you document?
3,740 (but some registration boards have additional experience requirements)
How can you check that an architectural program is accredited by NAAB?
Use NAAB's school search feature on their website.
What version of the ARE is currently used?
ARE 5.0: it was fully instated on June 20, 2018.
Can you change supervisors while completing AXP?
Yes, if you change your place of employment or if you have a change internally at your existing job then you can change your supervisor.
What is an NCARB Certificate?
An NCARB certificate is a certification that can be obtained after initial licensure. It is the first step to becoming licensed in other jurisdictions.
Can I receive credit for experience completed more than eight months ago?
Yes. Experience completed between 8 months and 5 years prior to the date of AXP submission will receive half credit. (ex: 40 hours of work counts as 20 towards your license if you document them within five years)
What is EESA?
Education Evaluation Services for Architects. EESA is a service that evaluates the education credentials of foreign-educated and broadly-experienced architects against the NCARB Education Standard.
What is the rolling clock?
After you pass your first ARE division, your passing score remains valid for an initial five-year window from the date you took the first division.
Does the supervisor always have to be an architect?
No. Depending on the work setting that you choose to log experience, your boss doesn't necessarily need to be a licensed architect. For example, you can document a certain amount of experience while working on a construction site. Your supervisor, in that case, would be a contractor.