Meeting NCARB Experience Requirements

meeting ncarb experience requirements

Each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands sets its own education, training, and examination requirements for initial and reciprocal registration in their jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction requires that interns acquire experience under the direct supervision of a registered architect for some period of time.

Most of NCARB’s 54 jurisdictions have adopted the Intern Development Program (IDP) as their training requirement for initial registration.

Interns must acquire 5,600 training hours to satisfy the IDP Training Requirement. One training hour equals one hour of acceptable experience in an IDP work setting.

It is an intern’s responsibility to understand the requirements of any jurisdiction where they may seek either initial or reciprocal registration. More information on jurisdictional requirements can be found here: Registration Boards Requirements.

The NCARB web site provides an overview of the Intern Development Program. All participants in the Intern Development Program must adhere to the rules and regulations defined in the IDP Guidelines and the Handbook for Interns and Architects.

Work Settings

Training Requirements	Minimum Training Hours
Design and Construction Documents	2,800
Programming	80
Site and Environmental Analysis	80
Schematic Design	120
Engineering Systems Coordination	120
Building Cost Analysis	80
Code Research	120
Design Development	320
Construction Documents	1,080
Specifications and Material Research	120
Document Checking and Coordination	80
Elective Hours	600

Construction Contract Administration	560
Bidding and Contract Negotiation	80
Construction Phase – Office	120
Construction Phase – Observation	120
Elective Hours	240

Management	280
Project Management	120
Office Management	80
Elective Hours	80

Related Activities	80
Professional and Community Service	80
Other Related Activities	0

Elective hours from any category	1,880
(including su pplementary education hours)

Total Hours Required	5,600

Note: The minimum training hours in each category do not add up to 5,600. You must earn 1,880 elective training hours to complete the IDP.

| More

Related Publications

IDP Guidelines
Updated January 2010! The IDP Guidelines is essential reading for interns, supervisors, and mentors participating in the IDP. The document includes steps to completing the program, reporting procedures, training requirements, and core competencies interns should understand before becoming licensed.

Download (PDF, 931K)

Related FAQs

Why is there a Six-Month Rule?

The Six-Month Rule is a reporting requirement that will help interns, together with their supervisors, identify and target deficient training areas sooner rather than later so that they can request exposure to such experience promptly.

How do I get the most out of my internship?

The best way to maximize your experience is familiarize yourself with the rules of the program as outlined in the IDP Guidelines and to meet frequently with your IDP supervisor and mentor to review your progress.

What changes are being made to the IDP?

On 1 July 2009, the first phase of IDP 2.0 will be implemented and will:

Allow interns—whether or not they are employed—to earn training hours by completing the following architecture-related certificate programs:

LEED Accreditation—40 supplementary education training hours. (Note: to earn supplementary education training hours for LEED Accreditation between 1 July 2008 and 1 July 2009, interns must have been employed in an IDP work setting.)

CSI Construction Documents Technologist (CDT)—40 supplementary education training hours.

CSI Certified Construction Specifier (CCS)—40 training hours toward the minimum required training hours in Training Area 9, Specifications and Materials Research. (Note: this cannot be combined with EPC activities for satisfaction of minimum training hours in this area.)

CSI Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA)—40 training hours toward the minimum required training hours in Training Area 12, Construction Phase—Office. (Note: this cannot be combined with EPC activities for satisfaction of minimum training hours in this area.)

Allow interns—whether or not they are employed—to earn 16 training hours toward the minimum required training hours in Training Area 15, Office Management, by reading the NCARB Professional Conduct monograph, and passing the related quiz. (Note: this cannot be combined with EPC Activities for satisfaction of minimum training hours in this area.)

Allow interns who are employed in qualified work settings to earn up to 40 training hours toward the minimum required training hours in each training area by completing qualified activities in the Emerging Professional’s Companion 2009 (EPC 2009). Interns can also earn supplementary education training hours by completing qualified EPC exercises. The intern’s EPC activities and exercises must be reviewed by their IDP supervisor, and then reported through the e-EVR.

Allow interns—whether or not they are employed—to earn supplementary education training hours by completing AIA-approved continuing education programs. Interns must provide NCARB with an AIA transcript to receive credit.

[More FAQs]

FAQS | Contact Us | Privacy Statement | 2009 NCARB

Meeting NCARB Experience Requirements

Related Publications

Related Content

Related FAQs