IDP (Intern Development Program)
What is the Intern Development Program (IDP)
Your education as an architect typically begins in a school of architecture. But it does not end there. Training in architectural firms, continuing education, and professional practice further the educational process. Schools and firms offer many opportunities for acquiring knowledge and skills; however, you must take responsibility for developing your competencies to the fullest.
State registration requirements establish the minimum criteria for legally practicing architecture. Currerntly 49 of the Member Boards require participation in IDP for initial registration. Participation in IDP exposes you to the comprehensive training that is essential for competent practice.
IDP responds to your professional development needs by providing a wide range of resources that enhance day-to-day experience. The IDP training requirement establishes levels of training in important areas of architectural practice. Through the IDP mentorship system, you receive advice and guidance from practitioners. The IDP record-keeping system facilitates the documentation of internship activities, while the IDP supplementary education system provides a variety of learning resources designed to enrich training.
When You Can Begin
Most students can begin documenting their IDP hours while working for their co-op employers. Students can start documenting IDP hours after completion of their 3rd year in a four-year pre-professional degree program in architecture accepted for direct entry to an NAAB- or CACB-accredited professional degree program or after 96 semester credit hours as evaluated by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in accordance with NCARB's Education Requirement, of which no more than 60 hours can be in the general education subject area.
NOTE: Starting IDP early as soon as you are eligible is a huge advantage so you don't have to backtrack to find past supervisors. There are also more costs to waiting. Also some registration boards limit the amount of retroactive documentation.
Training Requirements
You have to be working with a registered architect in order to accumulate IDP hours. It usually takes about 3 years to earn the required 700 IDP TUs (or training units.) One training unit equals eight hours of acceptable activity in a given training area. You must complete specific periods of training in four major categories: design and construction documents, construction contract administration, management, and related activities (professional and community service). You are also encouraged, but not required, to gain in areas beyond the traditional scope of architectural practice.
TU's can be earned concurrently while sittiing for divisions of the ARE exam in the state of Massachusetts--HOWEVER students must have completed their NAAB accredited degree. To start submitting training units report students need to enroll first which can be completed on-line at www.ncarb.org/RecordApp/recordsvc/login.aspx .
Settings and hours required to earn TU's
IDP settings are usually architecture firms, but you can earn IDP credits in other arenas. IDP credits are limited when working outside of US and Canada, under a foreign registered architect. To count IDP hours you must be working part time (20 hours per week week for 6 consecutive months) or full time (35 hours per week for 8 consecutive weeks) at a given job.
To submit units after enrolling it is form 123 www.ncarb.org/Forms/123form.pdf. To document earned training units students should use the workbooks (in excel format) at www.ncarb.org/IDP/idpworkbook.html.Get into the habit of filling out the workbooks on the site www.ncarb.org every week and submit your IDP hours every four months. The IDP hours should be signed off by both your supervisor and mentor every four months until all training requirements are satisfied.
Obtaining a Supervisor and Mentor
Your supervisor (preferably a registered architect) would be an individual within a firm or organization who supervises you on a daily basis. Your mentor is a registered architect, preferably outside your firm that has an interest in your professional career. If you don't have someone to fill this spot, there is a mentor matching system available to you online, through NCARB. It is preferred that the mentor not be the same person as the supervisor and he or she should stay consistent through your entire IDP process.
Training Progress
Each time you submit a new IDP training report, NCARB will update your IDP Periodic Assessment Report, which is a detailed summary of your training progress. The IDP Periodic Assessment Report is a tool that can help you determine where additional training is needed.
How to Get Started
To participate in IDP, students must (1) Establish an NCARB Council Records (there is a fee associated with this) (2) Identify a supervisor, (3) select a mentor, and (4) develop a system for documenting training activities.
PLEASE NOTE: Students and recent graduates (within six months of graduation) may submit $100 of this fee with their application. The balance of the application fee is due prior to transmitting the Record.
See following link for general information: www.ncarb.org/IDP/index.htmlARE Information
The architecture registration exam (ARE) will cost about $1190 and is divided into 7 sections (each section costs $170 each), which you can sign up to take all at one time or you can spread them out over a 5 year period. The exams are offered year round at Thomson-Prometric testing centers. The exam is made up of a a graphic section that is combined with a multiple choice section. In order to earn additional IDP TUs without dealing with actual seat time, there is a web based professional development resource called the Emerging Professional's Companion (EPC): www.epcompanion.org that has excercises you can do to earn TUs. Each excercise is worth one TU whether it takes you 1 hour or 100 hours. There are hundreds of excercises on this website (which you can't access until you have your IDP number from NCARB which you get by submitting your application info). You can knock off time from your interning by completing the excercises you find there.