Regional Associate Director's Message
This has been an historic year full of change. Even the word “change” has taken on a different connotation than previously perceived. The world of architects, and particularly intern architects, has undergone some massive change. With the rate of unemployment among intern architects hovering around 30% and many firms still feeling like they are holding business together with shoe strings, future prospects for unemployed intern architects can seem dismal at best. However, all hope is not lost quite yet. Because of some major changes that have happened in Pennsylvania, intern architects have been given some powerful opportunities and tools to continue their professional development even when faced with unemployment: The adoption of concurrency and NCARB’s improvements to their services.
I remember being fresh out of college and starting the journey of IDP. The archaic system of registering with NCARB by mail, reading a 30-some page IDP manual, logging your hours by hand, mailing them to NCARB, and waiting 3 to 6 months for them to be incorporated into your file was far from desirable. I was actually more excited about doing my own taxes than logging my IDP hours! Thankfully, NCARB has hired staff that recognized there were problems with this process and worked diligently to identify the issues and improve the system. The electronic registration system is now simple, quick, and almost completely electronic with the exception of submitting official transcripts. The IDP Guidelines are now available online and many important updates are discussed via web casts and pod-casts. Even the method of tracking hours has changed with the advent of the e-EVR, an electronic reporting system that is easy to access, fairly intuitive, and instantaneously updates your NCARB record when reports are approved.
These tools have made the lives of employed intern architects who are completing the IDP more streamline and easier all around. Thankfully, NCARB also considered the unemployed intern architect when they re-evaluated the system. NCARB has incorporated provisions into phase one of the IDP 2.0 that allow unemployed intern architects to continue earning IDP credit through sources like LEED accreditation, CSI programs, NCARB’s publications, and even earn core credits through the Emerging Professional’s Companion.
As of January 1st, 2010, IDP 2.0 phase two was enacted, allowing intern architects working as “independent contractors” to an architect to log IDP hours as if they were a full time employee to the firm. It will also eliminate the use of units (1 unit equals 8 hours), and allow interns to simply log the hours they work (700 units equals 5,600 hours). This eliminates confusion and encourages accurate and precise hour tracking.
NCARB even went so far as to recently overhaul their website. The new format allows for quick and easy reference to pressing subjects as well as easy navigation to questions. NCARB is an organization that we often complained about, and for good reason at times. However, in the past couple of years they have made huge efforts to improve their services and image as an organization. What they have done has successfully given interns tools that allow them to track their hours more easily than ever and offered more opportunities to earn credit in this uncertain economy. Thank you NCARB.
