The AIA recently commended the decision of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Board of Directors to remove the employment duration requirement in the Intern Development Program (IDP). This change will allow interns to earn IDP experience regardless of time spent on a project. The eligibility requirement is also being simplified to allow interns to begin earning credit upon graduation from high school. The changes go into effect Dec. 16, 2013.
“This is an exciting development many of us have worked for, and for me proof that together the AIA and NCARB have taken the first steps down a road that will have immediate benefits for the young men and women who are the future of our profession,” said AIA President, Mickey Jacob, FAIA.
Internship Advisory Committee co-chair, John A. Padilla, AIA, added, “The elimination of the minimum IDP Duration Requirement for our interns responds boldly to today’s changing nature of architectural practice. This change is monumental in allowing our interns to earn credit for all experience hours gained during the performance of their work no matter the length of their employment with a firm.”
ARE Candidates can now schedule exams and view their exam history though My Examination. Log in today to explore the service’s new features.
The blackout has ended, which means My Examination is up and running, and it’s time to start testing again. In addition to being able to schedule appointments, ARE candidates will have easy access to score reports, exam history, rolling clock dates, eligibility to test information, the latest ARE news, and more. Best of all, testing information is now in one place. Learn more about My Examination’s featuresin this introductory video.
Updated ARE Guidelines & Exam Guides
The August 2013 ARE Guidelines includes all the new processes related to My Examination, an overview of the exam divisions as well as the vignette software, the rolling clock, exam eligibility, and five steps to taking and completing the ARE.
The ARE Exam Guides have also been updated, so be sure to download a copy here.
Last December, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) announced that changes to the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) process were coming this summer. NCARB sets the record straight on a few rumors and shares what these changes mean for candidates.
TRUE: NCARB is launching a new ARE service in 2013, called My Examination.
In late August 2013, NCARB will launch a new service within My NCARB for ARE candidates to access their examination information and schedule appointments. The new service—called My Examination—will be located within your online NCARB Record and will offer several new benefits, such as easy access to exam history, authorization to test information, rolling clock dates, score reports, and more.
FALSE: The exam content is changing in July 2013.
Test specifications for each division will remain the same. The only thing changing from a candidate perspective is the process for scheduling a test, receiving a score report, and accessing exam history data.
TRUE: Exam divisions can’t be scheduled during the blackout period.
In order to support this new service, there will be an estimated eight-week blackout period for candidates beginning July 1, 2013. During this time, exams cannot be administered or scheduled, and registration boards cannot create eligibilities for exam candidates. The blackout period is expected to end in late August.
FALSE: Prometric will no longer be administering the exam to candidates.
You will continue to take exams at Prometric test centers. When My Examination launches, you will schedule exam appointments through your NCARB Record, but the process will still be managed by Prometric.
TRUE: NCARB will automatically grant a 12-week extension to candidates’ rolling clocks due to the July 2013 blackout.
NCARB will grant an automatic 12-week extension to the rolling clock and is working with jurisdictions with their own rolling clock rules to ensure all candidates receive the same extension. Candidates will receive the full 12-week extension regardless of the length of the blackout period.
TRUE: The extension to the rolling clock does not apply to the 1 July 2014 deadline for divisions passed prior to 2006.
Candidates who have passed exam divisions prior to 2006 and have not completed the ARE will need to pass all remaining divisions by July 1, 2014 to prevent those divisions from expiring.
TRUE: The rolling clock extension is based on a candidate’s current expiration date.
If your rolling clock is scheduled to expire during or after the blackout, the rolling clock extension will be based on your current expiration date. For example, if your rolling clock is set to expire on July 20, 2013, you will receive a 12-week extension from that date. The new end date of your rolling clock will then be Oct. 20, 2013.
However, if your rolling clock is set to expire prior to the blackout, the extension does not apply, so it’s recommended that you schedule and take your exams before your rolling clock expiration date.
FALSE: The cost of the ARE is going to increase in 2013.
Fees to take the ARE will not increase in 2013 when My Examination launches—the cost of each division will remain the same. However, the fee to reschedule an exam will be based on the following tiered structure when My Examination launches:
0-3 days before appointment: Rescheduling not permitted
4-15 days before appointment: $80
16 or more days before the appointment: $60
FALSE: NCARB Record holders have to pay a fee to use the new My Examination service.
There will be no additional cost to active NCARB Record holders for access to My Examination; it will be included with the current cost of establishing and maintaining a Record. Inactive Record holders will be required to renew their Record. Non-Record holders will need to create an NCARB account and establish access.
TRUE: An NCARB Record is needed to take the ARE.
This has been a requirement for all new candidates since May 2008 and will now be a requirement for all candidates in order to access My Examination.
FALSE: NCARB makes a profit from the ARE.
NCARB does not make a profit from the exam and has held fees down since 2010. While it is not widely known, the cost of the ARE to candidates is subsidized by fees collected from other NCARB services (e.g., Record transmittals).
For more information, see the related FAQs on NCARB.org.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is beta testing a cloud-based service that will allow customers with 64-bit Windows operating systems and Macs to access the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) Practice Programs software.
The software, which offers sample vignettes for candidates to solve, is designed to run on 32-bit operating systems. In response to customer feedback, NCARB has been working to develop a solution that allows customers with 64-bit systems and Macs to access the practice programs.
Beta Test Runs Jan. 22–March 18, 2013 A beta version of the ARE Practice Programs service will be offered free of charge through an NCARB account from Jan. 22–March 18, 2013. The beta test will help NCARB troubleshoot any technical issues, determine potential usage levels, and gain customer feedback.
Start Your Free Trial Today
Users with an NCARB account can participate in the free trial by following these instructions:
1) Log in to my.ncarb.org.
2) Click the ADD button next to ARE Practice Programs to add the service.
3) On the NCARB Services page, press the Start Trial button to begin your free trial. Please note: This service requires an internet connection.
4) On the ARE Practice Programs Access page, follow the instructions, and use the login information to access the service.
AIA Emerging Professionals has developed an IDP question and answer resource for members. NCARB also publishes several newsletters that communicate the registration and testing requirements that affect members.
ARE e-News ARE e-news is a quarterly electronic publication sent to ARE candidates. Topics cover the latest news about the exam, commonly asked questions, important reminders, and information related to the exam from NCARB’s Annual Meeting and Conference held each June.
e-Connection
The e-Connection is sent to all Record and Certificate holders electronically twice a year as a companion to our print newsletter, Direct Connection. Topics cover the latest information on NCARB’s programs and services.
IDP e-News
The IDP Supervisor e-News is a quarterly electronic publication sent to supervisors with interns in the IDP. Topics cover the latest news about the program, important reminders, and tips for successful supervising.
IDP Supervisor e-News
The IDP Supervisor e-News is a quarterly electronic newsletter. This e-News is designed to provide tips for successful supervising and resources that will assist both supervisors and their intern(s) to navigate the program.
Stay abreast of developments and changes by registering for one of NCARB’s electronic newsletters.
In cooperation with the AIA, NCARB is able to offer ARE candidates free access to key AIA documents for the purpose of preparing for the Construction Documents & Services division of the ARE. This is another great resource to help you prepare for the ARE.
Interns may download the following sample documents through their NCARB Record:
Conventional Family
A101-2007 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor Where the basis of payment is a Stipulated Sum
A201-2007 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction
A701-1997 Instructions to Bidders
B101-2007 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect
B101-2007A Document B101-2007 Exhibit A
C401-2007 Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant
Contract Administration and Project Management Forms
A305-1986 Contractor’s Qualification Statement
G701-2001 Change Order
G702-1992 Application and Certificate for Payment
G703-1992 Continuation Sheet
G704-2000 Certificate of Substantial Completion
To access documents:
Log into “My NCARB”
Click “Go” to access your NCARB Record
Follow link for ARE Candidates: Construction Documents & Services Resources visible in the lower left of your Record.
NCARB has released new exam guides to include expanded information regarding the makeup of the multiple-choice sections of the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®).
“This level of expansion is consistent with the amount of information disclosed by many other licensure programs, and aligns with the NCARB value of transparency,” said John E. Enkemann Jr., AIA, NCARB, Chair of the Examination Committee.
How does this benefit you?
The newly released editions include a detailed breakdown of the test content areas and a percentage outline for the major content areas of each multiple-choice section. You can use this information to better outline and focus your preparation.
“We are excited to offer candidates this additional level of information to use while preparing for the ARE. This change is a dramatic shift for the exam guides and we hope it will help to ease anxiety over the content distribution and make-up of the ARE,” said Erica J. Brown, AIA, Director, ARE.
As an example of the change, the previous edition of the exam guide for the Construction Documents & Services division provided the following information on Codes & Regulations:
1 CODES & REGULATIONS
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, zoning, and other regulatory requirements in construction documents and services.
The new edition of the exam guide for this division provides the percentage of scored items and the expanded content information for Codes & Regulations:
1 CODES & REGULATIONS (5-8 percent of scored items)
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, zoning, and other regulatory requirements in construction documents and services.
Government and Regulatory Requirements and Permit Processes
Conduct code analysis to ensure compliance with all building codes, zoning ordinances and other regulations and document code compliance in the contract documents.
Specialty Codes and Regulations including Accessibility Laws, Codes and Guidelines
Conduct code analysis to ensure compliance with all specialty codes, such as seismic, life safety, historic preservation, accessibility, universal design, energy, or other specialty regulations.
The percentages published provide a range of scored items only. Within the six divisions that include multiple-choice items, some questions are being pretested and will not affect your actual test score and are not included in the content distribution breakdown. These pretest questions will be evaluated and may be included in future editions of the test.
Updated Exam Guides (PDF)
Programming, Planning & Practice
Site Planning & Design
Building Design & Construction
Schematic Design
Structural Systems
Building Systems
Construction Documents & Services
July 2011 ARE Guidelines
The ARE 4.0 Guidelines is essential reading for anyone preparing for the ARE. This edition was updated July 2011.
Reprinted with permission from NCARB’s ARE e-News.
