FAQs

No, although you will eventually need to be employed to log your experience hours as part of the internship requirements. Once you are employed, you will need to submit a confirmation letter signed by your supervising architect to the AIBC. There are other work scenarios other than employment, e.g., contract, that may be acceptable for the purposes of fulfilling experience hours. See Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF), for examples of acceptable work arrangements.

Applicants are responsible for confirming their own mentors. If you are unable to find a mentor, please email registration@aibc.ca and we can distribute a list of volunteer mentors for you to contact.

Intern applications must be approved by the Credentials Committee. The Committee meets monthly around the end of each month. It may take up to 4 or 5 weeks from the submission of a complete application for approval.

The application process is the same as any applicant. You will also need to send a request to your previous regulator to transfer your record to us including copies of your approved hours for AIBC review and reapproval.

The application process is the same as any applicant. If you are in the process of completing your internship with the NCARB Architectural Experience Program, (AXP) you may transfer some logged hours into the IAP. Please contact us at registration@aibc.ca for more information.

For more information about reinstating your intern architect registration please refer to Bulletin 2: Reinstatement of Registration (PDF) and fill out the Internship in Architecture Program Application Form (PDF).

The Internship in Architecture Program is one pathway to registration. Depending on your level of education and experience, you may also be eligible for alternative routes to registration including the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect Program (BEFA) or Broadly Experienced Applicant (BEA) Program.You can also review the list of MRAs and their eligibility requirements. For more information, contact registration@aibc.ca or CACB (for inquiries relating to BEFA).

The changes apply to all Intern Architects AIBC enrolled as of July 1, 2020. A transition period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 is in effect to minimize any impact for Intern Architects AIBC who are mid-way though their IAP requirements.

• Intern Architects AIBC with at least 2,000 approved hours recorded in the IAP may continue to submit hours based on the previous IAP Manual – Third Edition. They may also transfer to the new Fourth Edition by completing the Application to Transition to CERB – Fourth Edition. Please note that transfer is allowed only once.
• Intern architects with fewer than 2,000 approved hours recorded in the IAP must submit hours based on the new IAP Manual – Fourth Edition and can do so online through the new AIBC Registrant Portal.
• Intern Architects AIBC who have obtained 2,000 hours but not submitted them may contact iap@aibc.ca for guidance. Please note that as of July 1, 2022, all Intern Architects AIBC must submit following the current IAP Manual – Fourth Edition.

*NEW* Intern Architects AIBC enrolled as of July 1, 2020 are required to submit their CERBs using the IAP Manual – Fourth Edition (PDF) and can do so online through the new AIBC Registrant Portal. All previous CERB submissions submitted by email will be continued to be reviewed, and approved hours will be reported through the online periodic assessment form, which is al available on the AIBC Registrant Portal.

For instructions on submitting your CERB online please review the CERB Submission Quick Guide.

Intern Architects AIBC with at least 2,000 approved hours who have transitioned to the new CERB – Fourth Edition will be required to make a request in writing to the AIBC for consideration.

Intern Architects AIBC who have previously approved hours of at least 2,000 may continue their submission based on the Third Edition IAP Manual and CERB forms, and do not need to gain experience in the new categories. Please note that by July 1, 2022, all Intern Architects AIBC must transition to the new IAP Manual – Fourth Edition, with no exceptions.

Student Affiliates (Recognized Students) enrolled in a CACB accredited architectural program of study in Canada and have completed 60 credit hours with that accredited program can apply to have up to 760 experience hours recognized under the IAP program.

You must submit an Affiliate Application Form and Student Affiliate 60 Credit Hour Confirmation Form. You will submit your experience hours using the new CERB forms.

Yes. Student Affiliates enrolled in the RAIC Syllabus Diploma in Architecture program who have completed Parts I and II and are enrolled in Part III may submit hours for recognition under the IAP. Enrollment has been adjusted to Part III to align with requirements of other Student Affiliates.

No. Policies and requirements under the IAP Manual – Fourth Edition and the current Appendix B to the IAP Manual are not retroactive.

The date on your new registrant letter confirming your program acceptance date is also the date you can begin logging hours.

As of January 2013, no pre-internship work experience will be accepted unless you had logged hours as an intern architect with another jurisdiction in Canada or through the IDP/AXP in the U.S. For more information, refer to sections 5.4 and 5.5 in Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF).

As of January 1, 2013, pre-internship work experience is not accepted at the AIBC. This includes experience gained while attending university.

No. Only work experience gained as a supervised/mentored intern architect will be accepted. Refer to Section 2 of Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF).

*NEW* The Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) – Fourth Edition can be submitted through the AIBC Registrant Portal. Intern architects submitting the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) – Third Edition, can submit it by email to IAP@aibc.ca.

The turnaround time for approval of hours is approximately two to four months.

As of January 1, 2013 late submission will be considered only under specific terms and conditions – refer to Section 4.0 of the Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF) for more information.

When working full time, work experience must be reported no later than eight months from the date of the first (i.e., oldest) hours being claimed to avoid a late fee. Only work experience reported no later than 12 months (one year) from the date of the first (i.e., oldest) hours being claimed can be submitted. Older experience than that is not eligible for submission, except under exceptional circumstances.

Yes. Intern architects who are transferring to British Columbia can obtain credit for their previously-accepted experience that was submitted while in the AXP. The intern architect must request a copy of their logbooks and proof of registration as an intern architect be sent from your exiting jurisdiction to the AIBC directly. In addition, the experience must be logged within the time requirements as outlined in Section 5.7 of Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF).

Yes, it is possible. These situations are assessed on a case-by-case basis and hour submissions are subject to an experience review interview. It is not guaranteed that all submitted hours will be accepted. The experience must be logged within the time requirements as outlined in Section 5.5 of Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF).

If you have never been an intern in Canada or the U.S. before, you may be able to seek recognition for some of your work experience that was gained abroad. The AIBC considers these situations on a case-by-case basis, and submissions are subject to an experience review interview. In addition, the experience must be logged within the time requirements as outlined in Section 5.5 of Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF).

Yes, if the experience is gained under direct supervision of a registered/licensed architect qualified to practice in that jurisdiction and who is recognized by the AIBC. Also, your existing mentor must sign off on that work experience. This experience still needs to be logged within the time requirements as outlined in Section 4.0 of Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF). An experience review interview may be necessary to approve the hours. Please also take into consideration Appendix B Section 3.0 regarding Local Knowledge and Currency of Experience.

You are eligible to remain an active Intern Architect AIBC as long as you maintain good standing by paying your annual fee. Currently there is no expiry on courses or exams completed. Logged hours will also not expire, but if it has been more than three years between when you last logged hours and when you want to apply for registration as an architect then you may need to submit additional hours to keep your knowledge and experience current (refer to Appendix B: Specific Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) Requirements (PDF) section 3.0)

No. If you reinstate your internship, you will be able to resume your IAP progress and not lose any logged hours, exams, or courses prior to your leave. Reinstating interns are encouraged to review and fulfill any updated requirements upon their return.

For the EXAC, Intern Architects are required to have a minimum of 2800 approved hours by the end of the registration closing date in mid-July. Please check the ExAC website for more details.

The ExAC is scheduled only once a year in November. This is a written exam and completed over the course of two full days.

At the moment, no. Refer to the ExAC website for the most updated information.

Yes. Your ExAC results can be transferred if you choose to complete your internship in another province.

No. The deadline for accepting the ARE results is January 31, 2024 and should be submitted as part of the application for initial architect registration. This means that you have already completed all the other requirements under Internship in Architecture Program (IAP).  If you do not meet this deadline, you may check with other Canadian jurisdictions if they still accept the ARE results and other jurisdiction-specific requirements that would be outlined in their Appendix B to the IAP Manual.

Your ARE results will not be accepted. You must submit an application for registration as an architect by January 31, 2024 in order for your ARE results to be accepted.

No. You must have completed all sections of the ARE by January 31, 2024. In addition, you must have completed all the other requirements under Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) at that time as well.

No. The deadline for accepting the ARE results is January 31, 2024 and should be submitted as part of the application for initial architect registration. The AIBC is providing ample notice to allow those impacted to plan accordingly.

Please visit the Professional Development section of our website for information on online registration.

No, not at this time.

The AIBC conducts a thorough review of externally-offered courses to determine if they are equivalent to AIBC courses – this includes a detailed assessment of learning outcomes and course content. For more information about courses accepted for equivalency please contact registration@aibc.ca.

Please refer to the Oral Exam FAQs (PDF) for more information about common questions relating to the Oral Exam.

Architect applications must be approved by the Credentials Committee. The Committee meets monthly around the end of each month. It may take up to 4 or 5 weeks from the submission of a complete application for approval.

See application forms.

See Professional Mobility.

See Professional Mobility.