September 18, 2007
by: Carolyn Sponza AIA LEED AP

Event: IDP Inside Out
Location: Center for Architecture, 09.14.07
Speakers: Thomas Penn, AIA — NY State IDP Coordinator; Shanntina Moore, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP — AIA National Associates Committee, Regional Associate Director New York Region, representing Cannon Design 2006 IDP Firm of the Year; Tony P. Vanky, Assoc. AIA — Vice President, American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
Moderator: Mark Behm, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA
Organizers: Emerging New York Architects (ENYA); AIANY Professional Practice Committee; AIAS; in conjunction with the arch schools: r(each)ing out exhibition

The path to licensure is not always direct. Quality of work experience is just as important as immediately fulfilling all of the Intern Development Program’s (IDP) training unit requirements, according to panelists demystifying the IDP process. Tony Vanky, Assoc. AIA, vice president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), discussed how interns should engage their employers to gain exposure to different tasks. It is important to evaluate the diversity of experiences offered by firms during job interviews. “A job is a lot like a nice pair of shoes,” said Vanky, “once you’ve put them on, you can’t return them.”

IDP candidates should be aware that several changes in the program are underway. Soon, a rolling clock system may disallow candidates from reporting earned training units that are more than six months old. Some states are now allowing students to take some sections of the Architecture Registration Examination (ARE) after graduation, prior to fulfilling their IDP requirements. In addition, the ARE is changing from its current nine-exam form into a condensed, seven exam series that integrates graphics and multiple-choice questions into each section beginning May 2008.

According to the panelists, students should open a record with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) as soon as they are eligible, in order to capture any qualifying internships they may have completed while in school. (Note: NY State requires that an applicant for licensure must have three years of experience after graduation, in addition to having fulfilled the requirements of IDP). And now that NCARB recently launched online applications, there is no excuse to procrastinate!

Carolyn Sponza, AIA, is an architect with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners and is the AIANY Chapter Vice President of Professional Development.

BROWSER UPGRADE RECOMMENDED

Our website has detected that you are using a browser that will prevent you from accessing certain features. An upgrade is recommended to experience. Use the links below to upgrade your exisiting browser.