Archinect - News

Are you experienced? NCARB changes IDP to AXP: Architectural Experience Program

2016-01-28T13:03:00-05:00

After announcing last summer that it would "sunset" the term "intern" from its nomenclature, NCARB has now begun enacting that transition with the Intern Development Program, which will be renamed the Architectural Experience Program (AXP). The change will become effective on June 29 of this year.

NCARB is quick to remind architects (current and aspiring) that, as states still set their own terms for licensure, this update to the not-yet-an-architect label will not affect who may call themselves an "architect" – a term still reserved for those who are licensed. To minimize confusion, existing regulations that refer to the new AXP title will be accompanied by: "formerly known as the Intern Development Program, or IDP" – just like Prince.

As for how to refer to actual people, NCARB is sticking with "aspiring architects" or "exam candidates" for those who aren't yet licensed, and "architects" for those who are, while also deferring to the authority of individual licensing boards to dec...

NCARB announces major changes to IDP program

2014-09-22T19:05:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) announced today that it will be making significant changes to its Intern Development Program (IDP). Separate from other considerations to change the IDP's terminology, this decision chiefly includes two phases: (1) the removal of "elective" hourly requirements, and (2) condensing IDP's experience areas from the current 17 into six "practice-based categories", linked to future sections planned for the revised Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 5.0. These changes will be implemented beginning mid-2015 and mid-2016, respectively.

By removing the "elective" IDP hours, NCARB is decreasing the total required from 5,600 to 3,740 (still based on the seventeen "core experience areas", until ARE 5.0 is in place). NCARB reportedly made this decision to cut down on the average amount of years it takes "interns" to become licensed. The current average is more than seven — five years for IDP and another 2.2 to complete the ARE...

NCARB revises "Intern Architect" title for architects pursuing licensure

2014-09-04T21:25:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) convened its new Future Title Task Force, which is comprised of interns and architects from across the country, to discuss the profession’s title debate. The task force is charged with discussing the terminology used for those who are candidates for licensure and those who are architects.

The word "intern" contains a minefield of professional connotations. The job-title is often associated with a position that is unpaid, undervalued, or disposable, flying in the face of employment laws and professional ethics. And in some ways, it's no different in the architecture industry: it's deplorably and repeatedly the case that unpaid internships play an integral role in professional practice. It seems strange then, that the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) uses the title "Intern Architect" as the official term for those educated enough to pursue licensure. Under this definition, the babe in the woods can have the same title as a seasoned vet.

This disconcerting overlap of meanings has led NCARB to reconsider the term used to describe practicing professionals seeking licensure. NCARB's newly formed Future Title Task Force met late last August to outline the issues of this sticky naming-debate, eventually to determine what architects, before and aft...

NCARB reveals major reinventions for the IDP and ARE

2014-06-23T22:30:00-04:00

Upon NCARB's licensure-upon-graduation announcement that stirred up plenty of discussion here on Archinect, the Council recently unveiled three more major modifications regarding the Intern Development Program (IDP) and the Architect Registration Exam (ARE).

Proposal for the streamlining and overhaul of the IDP:

The first reinvention phase proposes to streamline the IDP by removing the elective hour requirement (1,860 hours). Interns will document only the 3,740 hours in the 17 core experience areas, instead of the current requirement of 5,600 total hours of experience.
The long-term overhaul phase proposes realigning the current four IDP experience categories and 17 experience areas down to six experience categories. These six categories would directly align with the six practice-based areas of architecture, address the realities and challenges of contemporary practice, and will also align with the ARE 5.0 that will launch in late 2016.
Finalization of both phases -- and a potential ti...

NCARB's new mobile app lets interns manage IDP hours on the go

2014-01-09T12:34:00-05:00

NCARB continues its ongoing streak of system advances with their new MyIDP mobile app. The app can perhaps be handy for any of you iPhone-using interns working through your experience hours for the Intern Development Program.

MyIDP was designed for interns who have already established an NCARB Record and begun reporting hours. New experience reports still need to be created online, so MyIDP is an extra portable tool to stay constantly updated on hours and overall IDP progress.

Features in the app are: adding/editing hours and viewing all work experience for Settings A and O; submitting experience to supervisors; and as already mentioned, tracking overall progress on the "IDP Progress Dashboard".

MyIDP is available for free download on Apple's App Store for iPhone iOS 7. Android users will have to wait for their version in the meantime -- the NCARB Council plans to develop it in the near future.