Quick hits
Experience
"Work Experience" may refer to experience that candidates use to meet the educational requirement or the additional three years of experience required prior to a candidate being eligible to take the CSE. For most candidates, the additional three years of experience is obtained while fulfilling the CIDP/IDP requirement.
Guidelines for Work Experience Used to Obtain Educational Credit
The following guidelines apply to work experience used to meet the educational requirement:
- Candidates may satisfy the entire five-year educational requirement through work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect with a valid, current license to practice in the jurisdiction where the work experience was obtained or where the project was located.
- Candidates may not receive educational credit for work experience obtained under the direct supervision of a U.S. registered civil or structural engineer, U.S. licensed landscape architect, California licensed general building contractor, or California certified building official. (If such experience is obtained prior to meeting the educational requirement, the candidate may receive credit for it after he or she has met the five-year educational requirement.
- Work experience obtained as a required part of a degree program for which educational credit is earned is not granted separate work experience credit.
- Independent, non-licensed practice or experience regardless of claimed coordination or liaison with licensed professionals is not considered.
Additional Experience for CSE Eligibility
Following fulfillment of the five-year educational requirement, candidates must complete an additional three years of education and/or work experience equivalents and successfully complete the ARE in order to be eligible to take the California Supplemental Examination (CSE). This requirement will apply to most candidates in one of two ways:
- Candidates who are required to complete CIDP/IDP: Candidates will be granted a maximum of five years of experience upon completion of CIDP/IDP. Verification of completion of IDP must be provided by NCARB directly to the Board.
- Candidates who are not required to complete CIDP/IDP: These candidates must still obtain three additional years of education and/or work experience credit (following fulfillment of the educational requirement) prior to being eligible to take the CSE, including at least one year of work experience under the direct supervision of an architect licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction or two years of work experience under the direct supervision of an architect registered in a Canadian province. Such candidates should use the Employment Verification Form to provide evidence of work experience.
Using Employment Verification Form to Document Work Experience
The following guidelines apply to this form:
- Each submitted form must contain: the dates of employment; hours worked per week; name and address of the company; and the supervising professional's name, license number, license issue date/expiration date, original signature, and date.
- Each form must not contain any alterations or corrections. the Board will not accept or evaluate a form that contains corrections.
- Candidates may photocopy blank forms; however, the signature must be original. The Board will not accept or evaluate forms without original signatures.
Candidates should keep current on their submissions of the Employment Verification Form. The Board recommends that candidates keep a supply of forms on hand and submit one at least every six months.
When the Board receives a new Employment Verification Form, an evaluation update is completed and a notice is mailed to the candidate advising of his or her current file status. Candidates may request an update of their status at any time throughout the year.
Work Experience Credit
The Board evaluates work experience based on a calendar month of 40-hour work weeks. the Board grants credit for both part-time and fulltime work experience. Overtime may be considered. Work experience credit is granted toward meeting the educational requirement and/or the additional three years of experience requirement as follows:
- 100% credit for work experience under the direct supervision of U.S. licensed architects.
- 50% credit for work experience under the direct supervision of architects licensed in qualifying foreign countries up to a maximum of seven years of credit. Candidates should contact the Board for information about which countries qualify.
Credit may also be granted for work experience obtained under the authority of or on the property of the U.S. federal government when the experience is under the direct supervision of a U.S. licensed architect or engineer.
Candidates may receive credit for work experience obtained under the direct supervision of professionals other than licensed architects only after they meet the educational requirement. If such experience is obtained prior to meeting the educational requirement, the credit is deferred until fulfillment of the educational requirement. Credit for work experience obtained under other licensed professionals applies as follows:
- 50% credit for work experience under the direct supervision of U.S. registered civil or structural engineers and/or U.S. licensed landscape architects up to a maximum of two years of credit.
- 50% credit for work experience under the direct supervision of California licensed general building contractors or California certified building officials up to a maximum of one year of credit.
Candidates who are required to complete IDP should review NCARB's IDP Guidelines to determine whether such experience is accepted for IDP.
Important Note: Prior to being eligible to take the CSE and be licensed, all candidates must earn and verify at least one year of credit under the direct supervision of an architect licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction or two years of experience under the direct supervision of an architect registered in a Canadian province.