You are considered a "broadly experienced architect" if you do not hold a NAAB-accredited degree and have verified experience as an architect, holding a registration from an NCARB Member Board, in comprehensive architectural practice over a prescribed number of years, depending on your level of post-secondary education. The required number of years of practice as an architect is determined as follows:

• If you hold a pre-professional degree in architecture that is a component of an NAAB-accredited, CACB-accredited, or CACB-certified professional degree program, you must demonstrate six years of practice, or
  
  
• If you hold any other baccalaureate or higher degree, you must demonstrate eight years of practice, or
  
  
• If you hold no degree, you must demonstrate 10 years of practice.

Once your eligibility for BEA has been determined,you must obtain an evaluation of your post-secondary education from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NAAB administers the Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) program that compares your education with the NCARB education requirements. NAAB charges a fee for this service. If you have very little or no post-secondary education, such an evaluation is not required.

To contact the NAAB:
National Architectural Accrediting Board, Inc.
1735 New York Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20006
202/783-2007
www.eesa-naab.org

The EESA evaluation will identify your education deficiencies. When NCARB has your evaluation in hand, we will ask you to prepare a dossier that must show how you acquired learning from your experience in the identified areas of deficiency. You must submit a fee at this stage. If an EESA evaluation is not required, you must demonstrate learning in all subject areas.

Three members of the BEA Committee will review your dossier and make written reports to the Committee. The Committee will reach a consensus at its next scheduled meeting as to whether or not you have demonstrated the required learning. If you have done so, the Committee will invite you for an interview to be held at its subsequent meeting.

If your dossier does not demonstrate the required learning, you may reapply after acquiring additional knowledge from your experience.

The interview is conducted by three committee members and is intended to verify the material presented in your dossier. If your interview is successful, you will receive the NCARB Certificate, assuming all other requirements have been met. NCARB charges an additional fee for the interview.

The BEA Committee meets three times per year at approximately four-month intervals. NAAB requires three months to perform an EESA evaluation. The amount of time it takes to go through the BEA process is usually nine months to one year.

For further information about NCARB's Broadly Experienced Architect process, contact Greg Hall, AIA, Ph.D., Director, Education (202/783-6500).

Note: Applicants may not use secondary education to satisfy the NCARB education requirements.