Intern Development Program

The Intern Development Program (IDP) is a comprehensive training program created to ensure that candidates pursuing licensure in the architecture profession gain the knowledge and skills required for the independent practice of architecture. The program is developed, maintained, and administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is required by most U.S. architectural registration boards to satisfy experience requirements for licensure.

History

In 1976, NCARB introduced the Intern Development Program (IDP) after working with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) throughout the 1970s to develop a more structured program for candidates to ensure they were gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to practice independently. Administered by NCARB, jurisdictions gradually began adopting the program to satisfy their experience requirement.

Mississippi became the first state to require the IDP in 1978. All 54 U.S. jurisdictions accept the IDP toward the fulfillment of their experience requirement.

The first major change to the program came in 1996 when it became required to record actual training units earned rather than the percent of time spent in each training area. The program has been monitored annually by NCARB’s Internship Committee, which has recommended other minor changes over the years based on interpretations of the current practice of architecture.[1]

In May 2009, NCARB announced the rollout of IDP 2.0, the most significant update to the program since its inception in the 1970s. IDP 2.0 more closely aligns the program's requirements with the current practice of architecture and ensures the comprehensive training that is essential for competent practice. [2]

IDP 2.0 was developed in response to the 2007 Practice Analysis of Architecture. In this study, almost 10,000 practicing architects completed an extensive electronic survey to identify the tasks, knowledge, and skills that recently licensed architects, practicing independently, need in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

The updates were rolled out in phases with the first phase occurring in July 2009 and the final in April 2012.[3]In July 2015, the IDP was streamlined to reduce experience hours required from 5,600 to 3,740. (Some jurisdictions require documentation of additional hours to meet their experience requirement. NCARB recommends that you submit all experience until you have satisfied your jurisdiction’s requirement. See individual jurisdiction’s requirements here.) In June 2016, the experience areas will be overhauled to align with six broad, practice-based areas, and the program will be renamed the Architectural Experience Program (AXP).[4] These changes were recommended based on the research from the 2012 Practice Analysis of Architecture, and an initiative to retire the term “intern.”[5]

Participants

An individual seeking architectural licensure is referred to as an “intern” or “candidate.” All U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohibit the use of the word “architect” from any person not already licensed to practice architecture. Most states and provinces also prohibit any derivation of the word architect as well.

A supervisor is someone who reviews and directs the work of others and ensures that work is done within acceptable levels of quality. An IDP supervisor is the individual who supervises a candidate on a daily basis. The IDP supervisor is required to certify that the information submitted on an experience report is true and correct.[6]

A mentor is a loyal adviser, teacher, or coach. An IDP mentor must be a registered architect who makes a long-term commitment to a candidate’s professional growth. If possible, the mentor should not work in the same office so that the candidate can gain useful insight into the daily work experience.[7]

Rules

The first step to beginning the IDP is to establish an NCARB Record. Candidates are eligible to start earning credit for the IDP once they have graduated from high school. In order to gain experience, they must work under the direct supervision of an IDP supervisor in one of the NCARB approved work settings.[8]

All experience must be reported electronically to NCARB at least every six months through their NCARB Record, and experience may be submitted more often. Half credit will be given for experience reported that is up to five years old.[9]

Experience Requirement

Interns must acquire 3,740 experience hours in specific experience areas and categories to complete the IDP. The experience requirement is:[10]

Experience Categories and Areas

These categories and areas were effective April 2012.[11] Interns must be employed in one of three experience settings to earn credit.[12]

Category 1: Pre-Design

Experience Area Minimum Hours Required
Programming 80
Site and Building Analysis 80
Project Cost Feasibility 40
Planning and Zoning Regulations 60
Total Category Hours 260

Category 2: Design

Experience Area Minimum Hours Required
Schematic Design 320
Engineering Systems 360
Construction Cost 120
Codes and Regulations 120
Design Development 320
Construction Documents 1,200
Material Selection and Specification 160
Total Category Hours 2,600

Category 3: Project Management

Experience Area Minimum Hours Required
Bidding and Contract Negotiation 120
Construction Administration 240
Construction Phase: Observation 120
General Project Management 240
Total Category Hours 720

Category 4: Practice Management

Experience Area Minimum Hours Required
Business Operations 80
Leadership and Service 80
Total Category Hours 160

Total

Categories Minimum Hours Required
1: Pre-Design 260
2: Design 2,600
3: Project Management 720
4: Practice Management 160
Total Hours 3,740

Resources

IDP Guidelines: Produced by NCARB, the document is essential reading for participants of the IDP. It includes steps to completing the program, reporting procedures, training requirements, and core competencies that should understand before becoming licensed. The document is updated about twice a year.[13]

Architect Licensing Advisor: An individual who provides information and guidance for those working toward licensure. Licensing advisors are usual located at:

You can find your local architect licensing advisor through the NCARB website.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  2. ↑ IDP 2.0 Timeline
  3. ↑ Final Phase of IDP 2.0 to be Implemented April 2012
  4. ↑ "NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  5. ↑ "NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  6. ↑ "NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  7. ↑ "NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  8. ↑ "IDP Work Settings". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  9. ↑ "Maintaining Participation". www.ncarb.org. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  10. ↑ "Experience Requirements".
  11. ↑ "Experience Categories".
  12. ↑ "IDP 2.0 Experience Settings".
  13. ↑ "IDP Guidelines" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Architect Licensing Advisors by State".

External links

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