Important Notice: NCARB ARE Changes

July 17, 2013

ARE Blackout
In December 2012, NCARB announced a blackout period for candidates writing the NCARB ARE.  That blackout is now in effect, starting July 1 and ending in mid-august.  NCARB will grant an automatic 12-week extension to the rolling clock. Exams may be scheduled immediately following the blackout period.

New ARE Systems
In late August 2013, NCARB will launch a new service called My Examination.  In addition to being able to schedule appointments, ARE candidates will have easy access to score reports, exam history, rolling clock dates, authorization to test information, and more.  For a sneak peek of what the My Examination module will look like post-blackout, click here.

NCARB Record is Now Required of all Candidates
In order to access the new examination services, all ARE candidates will need an active NCARB record.  This is a new requirement for BC Intern Architects.  More information is available from NCARB here.

For those intern architects who do not hold an NCARB record, but are already eligible for testing, you will need to do the following:

1. Create a My NCARB account here
2. Post Blackout: Log into NCARB account and add the NCARB Record service and fill out the application
3. Enter your candidate ID when prompted, and the Record application fee will be waived.  You will receive one free year of service. There will be a yearly $75 renewal fee to maintain access to My Examination after the first year

Future Intern Architects and syllabus students who wish to take the ARE once they are registered with the AIBC will need to:

1. Create a My NCARB account here
2. Add the NCARB Record service, fill out the application and pay the application fees
3. Request eligibility to take the ARE.  Once eligible to take the ARE, the AIBC will grant you access to My Examination

Prometric’s New Role
Effective immediately, Prometric will no longer be providing customer service support for Architect Registration Examination (ARE) candidates.  All questions related to the ARE should now be directed to the NCARB Examination Directorate at are@ncarb.org or customer service at 202-879-0520 or customerservice@ncarb.org.

For more detail, visit NCARB’s web site here.

FAQs
NCARB has prepared an online resource of Frequently Asked Questions, available here.

If you have any questions or concerns about registration examinations, please contact Emily Tyler, Registration and Administration Coordinator, at etyler@aibc.ca or 604 683 8588 ext. 324.

President’s Message

July 2013

A Council in Motion
I am taking this opportunity to update you on the activities of your new council. These days, one gets bombarded with information at an increasing rate. As council president, my goal for the coming year is to keep you informed on a regular basis of important issues facing the profession without burdening you unnecessarily.

With that in mind, let me share with you some news from council’s most recent meeting on July 9, 2013. At that meeting, AIBC Council debated two important motions with regard to associates of the institute. Both, which revised the motion brought forward on May 14, 2013 and shared with members prior to the 2013 annual meeting,  were informed by the clear message of concern expressed by a significant number of members and associates at and subsequent to the annual meeting, as well as meaningful discussion by your newly-elected council. As a result:

• Specific to independent design services

  Clause 1 d) of the original motion brought to council in May prior to the annual meeting, proposed a total prohibition on the ability of associates to provide independent design services in the Section 60 exceptions (services not provided while employed and supervised by an architect). Within the legal framework of the Architects Act, there are options available to define the requirements for associates working independently in the exceptions – total prohibition being only one such option. Under revised wording, a task force of AIBC Council will now consider all options available.

  Our goal is to complete this work in a timely manner. Ongoing discussion on the associates within the institute has been a divisive issue, one that has consumed a great deal of time for council, members and staff. It is time to find a fair and equitable solution within the confines of our existing legislation. Council can then focus on some of the other challenges facing the profession. I know this council is particularly interested in encouraging our intern architects to gain registration in a timelier manner. Stay tuned for more on this issue as the council year progresses.

• Removal of “.AIBC” titles
  
  A second motion was passed that calls for the elimination of the previous “.AIBC” designations, to be replaced with the three designations proposed in the original May 14 motion. The current, lengthy list of associate classes will be simplified down to three: Intern Architect, Retired Architect and Architectural Technologist. That will be their designation, plain and simple, with no “.AIBC” distinction.

  I know there is some concern about eliminating the associate category for students, a concern I share. Everyone agrees that a meaningful and productive relationship between architecture students and the profession is desired. However, does this relationship have to be within the regulatory regime of the profession? I’m not convinced the profession wants to be in a position of disciplining student associates. Council, as well as the AIBC’s Registration & Licensing Board, will be looking as ways of redefining a meaningful and valued position for students within the profession.

Resignation of Lieutenant Governor Appointee (LGA) Joe Thompson

Joe Thompson recently notified AIBC Council and the institute that he is resigning as one of our four Lieutenant Governor Appointees. I spoke with Joe, and he advised me that his reasons for leaving council revolve around the unavailability of his time necessary to commit to his LGA duties. He felt that his responsibilities in government (he is the province’s Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of Student Services and Sector Resource Management as well as Executive Financial Officer for the Ministry of Advanced Education) simply did not permit him to devote the time he feels is needed for such an appointment. I thanked Joe sincerely for his time and contributions during his brief stay on council. As assistant deputy minister in the ministry responsible for the AIBC, Joe has committed to continue working with the institute on those matters requiring collaboration with the provincial government.

With this, you have the latest on some of the major developments within your institute. AIBC Council has also identified a number of other priorities and goals, taking shape in the form of a five-year strategic plan. Details are forthcoming. Meanwhile, please feel free to contact me on any matters that are of a concern to you with regard to the profession.

Sincerely,

Scott Kemp  Architect AIBC
AIBC Council President