Setting O includes experience opportunities that can be performed outside an architecture firm. Some of these opportunities allow you to gain AXP® experience while unemployed or working in a non-architecture field.

There is no minimum number of hours required for this experience setting, although each opportunity has a maximum limit.

Opportunity Whether or Not Employed? Who Approves Where the Hours Go Hours
Other Work Experience Under Licensed Professionals See employment requirements AXP Supervisor Up to 1,860 hours in any AXP experience area
Design or Construction Related Employment See employment requirements AXP Supervisor Any AXP experience area Up to 320 hours
Community-Based Design Center/ Collaborative Yes “Designated" AXP Supervisor Any AXP experience area Up to 320 hours
CSI Certification: CCCA Yes NCARB Construction & Evaluation 40 hours
CSI Certification: CCS Yes NCARB Project Planning & Design 40 hours
Design Competitions Yes Mentor Any AXP experience area Up to 320 hours
NCARB’s Professional Conduct Monograph Yes NCARB Practice Management 10 hours
Site Visit With Mentor Yes Mentor Construction & Evaluation Up to 40 hours
Construction Work Yes AXP Supervisor Construction & Evaluation Up to 320 hours
AIA Continuing Education for HSW Yes NCARB Any AXP experience area Up to 20 hours per area

For all opportunities that require employment, you must be a paid employee. To explore the details of each opportunity in setting O, read our AXP Guidelines.

Academic Internships

If you have an academic internship that meets all the requirements for a specific setting O opportunity, you can report relevant experience for AXP credit in the same way as any other setting O experience. You do not need to identify academic internships or have them pre-approved by NCARB.