Happy Summer, Licensure Candidates!

Posted on by cguske

Hopefully, many of you are settling into your summer internships, working through your onboarding activities, and getting to know your teams. If this is your first summer working for an architecture firm, congratulations! This is an excellent time to establish your NCARB record and start documenting your work experience. If you’re not working for a firm, don’t worry, there may be a way for you to record your experience too.

While it can be a daunting task, the AXP (Architectural Experience Program) is an essential step on your licensure path. The objective of the AXP is to ensure candidates get diverse experience that will prepare them for practice after they become licensed. In fact, most US jurisdictions require candidates to complete the AXP before they can earn their initial licensure. If you’re just getting started, there are a few key things to keep in mind about the process.

Start as soon as possible. With 3,740 total hours to report and 96 tasks split among 6 experience areas, there’s a lot to cover. If you worked 40 hours a week full-time, it would take almost two years to complete the minimum requirement, and some jurisdictions require additional documentation or reporting. Even though you can report AXP and sit for your AREs concurrently, completing the AXP is required to earn your initial license.

Find your supervisor. Your supervisor in the office could be anyone, but your AXP supervisor must be a licensed architect. Ideally, your AXP supervisor is someone you talk with regularly, and who has a good idea of what you’re working on day-to-day. All the hours you report for AXP must be approved by your AXP supervisor, so it’s important to have a good relationship with that person. Always ask the person you have in mind before sending them an experience report! Starting off right and maintaining a connection with them will also come in handy as you start completing some experience areas and need to shift focus to complete others.

Ask for and be open to diverse experiences. Once you dive into the experience areas and tasks, you’ll start to understand the breadth of information the AXP wants you to complete and understand. On the surface, it might seem like you can get general experience aligned with each phase of a project, but the 96 tasks that are part of each experience area are actually closely aligned with the content you’ll see on the ARE. Skipping tasks or being too broad may set you up for frustration as you start to prepare for your exams.

Keep detailed notes. Candidates can choose to report hours weekly or in bulk, and it can be a lot to keep track of over 3,740 hours. To complicate things further, each firm approaches timesheets and hourly tracking differently. While you’re working through your AXP hours it’s a good idea to practice over-documentation. If there’s a section to add notes to your timesheet, list what activities you performed during the hours that you worked each day. If taking notes by hand is more your speed, take that approach instead. You’ll need that information later to align your hours to the tasks and experience areas, and your AXP supervisor may request it before they approve your report.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Every licensed architect you know had to start this process and work through its challenges, so you’re not the first and only candidate to ever struggle with AXP. NCARB provides and maintains AXP Guidelines for candidates and supervisors to reference. Reporting requirements have changed a few times over the years, so if your supervisor doesn’t know the answers, that’s a great opportunity to learn about it together, or to reach out to a Licensing Advisor for help.

Most of the above applies to candidates who are reporting hours under Setting A, which is work performed for an architecture firm under the supervision of a licensed architect. Some candidates may report hours under Setting O, which includes experience outside an architecture firm. This can include work for other licensed professionals (including engineers), construction work, design competitions, or community volunteering. While there are some restrictions on how many hours can be reported under Setting O, it’s a good way to get started on your AXP reporting, even if you don’t land a job at a firm.

If you haven’t already, go establish your NCARB record and get started.  

As always, your questions about AXP, the AREs, or NCARB in general are always welcome and encouraged. Have fun this summer!

Gina Robinson, AIA
Architect Licensing Advisor – Virginia
gina.robinson@hdrinc.com

A Review of the Recent Changes to the ARE 5.0

Posted on by cguske

If you’re a current licensure candidate or AXP supervisor, you’ve probably heard about recent changes to the ARE 5.0. If this is news to you, fear not – NCARB is only making some small changes based on industry updates and data they’ve gathered – it’s not a complete overhaul of the exam. The changes include:

International Code Council Version Update

All ARE 5.0 exams will now reference the 2021 ICC family of codes and include all codes that the current version of the International Building Code references. The intent of this change is to keep the exam items consistent with current professional practice, as many jurisdictions have adopted the 2021 code. Keep in mind that the exams do not require (or even expect) candidates to memorize the building code, but you do need to understand the content and be able to interpret and apply any references provided within the exam.

Quantitative Fill in the Blank (QFIB) Item Retirement

No more transcribing numbers into a blank answer box! ARE Candidates will still be required to complete calculations in order to answer exam items, but you will no longer have to type a number from the calculator into a box in order to answer the item. All of the other item types will still be included in each of the exams, including multiple-choice, check all that apply, hotspot, and drag and place. This change comes directly from NCARB’s industry research which has found that the other item formats are more consistent and effective. Everything else about the exam format will stay the same.

Exam Security Enhancements

If you have taken a division of the ARE, you know that NCARB and the testing centers they work with are serious about exam security. It might seem a little over the top to sign the ARE Candidate Agreement and roll up your pant legs for inspection, but all the implemented security measures are intended to ensure the validity of the ARE. The content of each exam division is confidential (and copyrighted) and sharing or discussion of specific ARE items is prohibited by the Candidate Agreement. You may have seen that just last month, three ARE Candidates were reprimanded by NCARB for Seeking or Failing to Report Disclosed ARE Content, and their names were shared publicly. An official reprimand is often accompanied by invalidated test results, suspended testing authorization, or denial of an NCARB Certificate. Reprimands are also shared with licensing boards, who may revoke the candidate’s license. The updated Exam Security and Candidate Misconduct section of the ARE 5.0 Guidelines has more information. These tests are tough for a reason, so don’t risk delaying or losing your opportunity to get licensed by looking for a loophole.

These three changes went into effect just a few weeks ago on February 27, 2024. If you’re an ARE candidate who has exams scheduled and has started studying, don’t let these changes discourage you. The content of the items and overall format of the exam is not fundamentally changing, and you do not need to re-study information if you’re already comfortable with it. NCARB has also updated its free practice exams to reflect the 2021 ICC and QFIB changes.

If you’d like to learn more about these updates, NCARB has a recorded webinar on their YouTube page which includes a deep dive into the exam security updates and a Q&A with Candidates. There’s also a post on their press page with links to the resources you’ll need.

As always, your questions about AXP, the AREs, or NCARB in general are always welcome and encouraged. Happy studying and good luck with your exams,

Gina Robinson, AIA
Architect Licensing Advisor – Virginia
gina.robinson@hdrinc.com 

Getting Licensed in 2024?

Posted on by cguske

The ritual of setting intentions at the start of the New Year may be something humans have practiced for millennia, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier to stick with it. A discouragingly high percentage of New Year’s optimists either lose track of progress on their resolutions, forget about them entirely, or set their goals too high. While there’s plenty of research and writing on how to set goals and follow through with them, it’s easy for us to get discouraged or lose motivation if we feel we’re falling behind or not meeting our own expectations.

If you’re a Candidate who has resolved to earn your initial license in 2024, tracking your progress and keeping the end goal in sight is paramount to your success. Whether it’s finishing the process or starting from scratch, taking on one exam division at a time or all of them at once, maintaining your motivation is often the hardest part of the licensure process. To start the New Year, I’d like to offer some tips from other Candidates and recently licensed Architects that might help you get started.

Learn about your Benefits. Ask your supervisor or firm’s HR department what support or resources are provided for aspiring Architects. Whether it’s study materials, reimbursement for exam fees, or a bonus when you finish the process, most firms offer incentives for Candidates.

Find Resources for your Learning Style. There are several books that cover content for each ARE division, but online audio and video courses have become more accessible in recent years. AIA NoVA is about to kick off their annual ARE 5.0 Prep Series, which you can attend virtually. If you’re an AIA Virginia member, you can take advantage of our Amber Book discount subscription, which offers a deep discount for two months of access. Beware of free materials you find online – you get what you pay for when it comes to ARE study materials.

Set a Realistic Schedule and give yourself some flexibility. No path is a straight line, and even if you get into a groove, life happens. You could get the flu, have a family emergency, or a busy week at work, so build in some cushion so you don’t get discouraged if you miss a few days of studying.

Schedule your exams. The biggest reason Candidates don’t finish their AREs is that they’re nervous to start, but you can’t pass an exam if you don’t take it! Give yourself a few weeks to determine if your study schedule is realistic, and then start scheduling your tests. NCARB still allows candidates to reschedule each exam one time with no fee, so you still have some flexibility.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. This process is difficult, but it’s not impossible. Think of everyone you know who’s a licensed Architect and remember that they had to go through the same struggles you’re experiencing now. Take breaks, recognize small wins, and plan how you want to celebrate when you pass that last division.

Keep the End Goal in Mind. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the process but keep your eyes on the prize. All those hours of studying are to get you as prepared as possible to pass the exams. Once you’re finished, you never have to do it again!

If you’re still on the fence about tackling your exams, ask around with friends and colleagues who have gone through the process recently. They likely have some insight and can tell you what worked best for them. The most important thing is to recognize what works for you and what doesn’t. Advice is wonderful and reassuring, but it’s up to you to put it into action and follow through.

As always, your questions about AXP, the AREs, or NCARB in general are always welcome and encouraged. Happy New Year, and good luck as you pursue those lofty resolutions.

Gina Robinson, AIA
Architect Licensing Advisor – Virginia
gina.robinson@hdrinc.com  

An Update from our Licensing Advisor

Posted on by cguske

Hello and happy autumn, Candidates, Supervisors, and fellow Advisors! I am so excited to take on the role of Architect Licensing Advisor for the Commonwealth and to help you along your career journey, no matter the season. In case you’re wondering why I’m here and what this is all about, here’s a little background on the role.

Architect Licensing Advisors are volunteers who share their time to assist licensure candidates and architects as they work toward initial licensure, reciprocity, supervision, or mentorship. Anyone can be an Advisor and most volunteer with their firms, however, some are appointed by their university or (like myself) their AIA Component. Some Advisors only serve for a few years, and others have done so for decades. The community of Advisors includes students, new graduates, mid-career professionals, educators, licensing board members, and retirees.

No matter how we came to the role of Advisor, or how long we’ve been in it, we all share a commitment to assisting current and aspiring architects as they navigate the sometimes overwhelming path ahead. This could not have been made more clear than at NCARB’s biannual Licensing Advisors Summit, held this summer in Kansas City. Attendees came from all over the US and beyond (one from as far as Guam!) to connect with others, share their ideas and perspectives, and learn about NCARB’s new initiatives, policies, and support they have to offer their members. I have already learned so much from the vast network I connected with at the Summit, and left energized and full of ideas for ways to engage with our AIA Virginia community.

It’s easy to look at a large national organization like NCARB and feel like you’re just a Record Number sending emails and frustration into the void but I promise; they, like us, are real people. And they really are invested in supporting the licensure candidates and architects that they serve. If you ever reach a point where you feel helpless, hopeless, or like you’re going backward instead of forward – that’s where your Licensing Advisor can step in. Advisors have access to our greatest resource, the knowledge and experience of others, and can crowdsource advice or solutions if an answer isn’t readily available.

Thanks to our previous Advisor Michael Hammon, AIA for setting the bar high. I’ll be sharing additional resources and guidance with you during my two-year term. Please feel free to reach out, especially if there’s a topic you’re curious to learn more about, or a resource you think would be helpful to others. Questions about AXP, the AREs, or NCARB in general are always welcome and encouraged. I’m looking forward to connecting with you and supporting your path in any way that I can.

Gina Robinson, AIA
Architect Licensing Advisor – Virginia
gina.robinson@hdrinc.com  

Robinson New State Licensing Advisor

Posted on by cguske

The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects.

The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. The AIA Virginia Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Gina Robinson, Associate AIA as Virginia’s Architect Licensing Advisor for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2023.

Get to know our new licensing advisor below! And if you are on the path to licensure and have any questions, please reach out to Gina at gina.robinson@hdrinc.com or Cathy Guske at cguske@aiava.org.

Gina Robinson
Senior Design Coordinator at HDR
Associate AIA, WELL AP
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Gina brings over 15 years of experience to her current role as Senior Design Coordinator with HDR in Arlington, Virginia. Though the first years of her career through the Great Recession were challenging, she gained early experience in Charlotte, NC, and Suzhou, China, before settling in Northern Virginia in 2014. Since joining HDR in 2015, she has come to specialize in public sector projects, working with large, multidisciplinary teams on complex deliverables.

After her time working overseas, Gina was eager to engage with other professionals after her return to the US and became an active participant in the AIA Northern Virginia Women in Architecture committee, regularly attending events and even volunteering to help plan the Women’s Leadership Summit that took place in 2017.

Over the past five years, Gina has developed her focus on mentorship and advocacy, focusing on increasing diversity and transparent communications to emerging professionals as they begin their careers in architecture. After serving two terms as Associate Director on the AIA Virginia Board of Directors, she participated in the Honors Committee Diversity Task Force and most recently in the Inclusivity into the Profession Task Force, both also facilitated by AIA Virginia. These experiences, combined with her background and early career obstacles, have motivated her to become actively involved in recruiting for HDR. Gina has participated in career fairs, interviews, and has supervised summer interns and young professionals as they begin their careers.