Whether you're just starting to earn professional experience or preparing to tackle your first Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) division, you likely have some questions about the licensure process. That's why we’ve spoken to architect licensing advisors to understand the top questions licensure candidates have. From understanding how to properly log your experience hours to understanding NCARB’s available examination resources, check out answers to these FAQs to help set you up for success. 

Reporting Experience 

How do I log my experience hours?  
You can log your Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) hours through your NCARB Record, which is accessible from your desktop or mobile device. Through your Record, you can create, submit, and view reports wherever you are.  

Once you’ve submitted your report, your supervisor will be automatically notified via email. You should schedule a time to meet with your supervisor to discuss your report and determine if you need to make any edits. Once your supervisor approves your report, your Record will immediately reflect your updated hours. See step-by-step instructions for submitting an experience report. 

What should I do if my AXP hours fall into more than one category?  
The AXP is divided into six experience areas that reflect the core competencies you should be capable of performing upon earning an architecture license. 
 
When selecting an experience area, review the descriptions in the AXP Guidelines and determine which area most closely aligns with your work based on the competencies—knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors—for that area. If the work performed supports more than one experience area, allocate your time by estimating the portion of work that contributed to each and record the hours accordingly. 

What is the difference between setting A and setting O? 
When you report experience hours, they will fall under one of two experience settings. These settings define the type of organization, the work performed, and who verifies your experience:

  • Setting A refers to architecture firms or other organizations engaged in the lawful practice of architecture. In order for your experience at a setting A firm to qualify for AXP, you must be supervised by an architect licensed in the United States or Canada, and you must be paid. You need to earn at least 1,860 hours in this setting.  
  • Setting O refers to other experiences outside an architecture firm, allowing you to keep making progress in AXP while you’re not working in setting A. Opportunities in setting O include experience gained under an architect who is licensed outside the U.S. or Canada, experience gained in construction-related employment or volunteering, design competitions, self-directed continuing education courses, and more. You can earn up to 1,860 hours in this setting. 

See the AXP Guidelines for a detailed explanation of the requirements for each experience opportunity. 

Working With Your Supervisor 

Who can be my AXP supervisor? 
Your AXP supervisor is someone who directly oversees your work on a daily basis and is ultimately responsible for your work. In most cases (setting A), your supervisor must be an architect licensed in the United States or Canada. However, there are certain opportunities (setting O) that allow for engineers, landscape architects, internationally licensed architects, and unlicensed individuals to serve as your supervisor.  

Does my direct manager need to sign off on my hours before I submit them to my AXP supervisor? 
For most candidates, your direct manager and AXP supervisor will be the same person.  However, if your manager is unable to serve as your AXP supervisor, you will need to identify another person in your firm who is qualified for the supervisor role. This means that they will need to be licensed as appropriate and have sufficient knowledge of and responsibility for your work to certify the accuracy of your experience reports. You should plan to meet with your manager and AXP supervisor together to review AXP progress and next steps as you earn experience. 

My boss has never been an AXP supervisor—what should they do? 
Your AXP supervisor’s main duty is to assign projects that create the opportunity for you to develop competency in the areas identified in the AXP, as well as review your experience reports and provide feedback to help guide your professional development. Your supervisor should have professional knowledge of and responsibility for your work and be able to certify that the information you submit on your experience report is both true and accurate.  

NCARB has lots of resources to help AXP supervisors successfully support and guide licensure candidates. If your boss is a first-time supervisor, consider sharing this list of NCARB resources with them. 

Preparing for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) 

Which exam should I take first? 
While NCARB doesn't specify a required order for the ARE 5.0 divisions, each AXP experience area aligns with an ARE 5.0 division. Many candidates choose to take exams that align with their current work experience, and NCARB’s data indicates that candidates perform better on the exam when they take an ARE division right before or immediately after finishing the related AXP experience area. 

What is the best way to study for the exams? How do I know which resources to use? 
Though individual exam strategy varies greatly from person to person, NCARB provides several study tools and resources to guide you through the process! A good place to start is NCARB’s ARE 5.0 Test Prep Video Series, which shares an overview of each ARE 5.0 division, sample questions, and suggested references. Other essential NCARB resources include the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, the ARE 5.0 Community, and our full-length practice exams: Overall, candidates who take a free NCARB practice exam before attempting the related division are 16 percentage points more likely to succeed! 

See a full list of NCARB test prep resources. 

Do you have more questions about licensure? Check out a full list of frequently asked questions, or contact us.