Why did NCARB’s fees increase?

Well, that depends on who you ask. NCARB has stated that the development of new test content by the recent ARE cheating scandal and the digitizing of NCARB member’s records is the cause for the recent fee increases. Although there may have been an upfront cost for digitizing NCARB records, this will no doubt have a long term cost savings for the organization. The real reason that NCARB is increasing fees across the board is quite simple, they are unable to control costs.

Case #1: A New LEED Silver Certified Office Space

In December 2008, NCARB published the following article on their website: NCARB’s New Office Earns LEED-Silver Certification. PDF version. For those architects whom are not familiar with tenant agreements for commercial office spaces, it is common practice for the leasor to grant the lessee a predetermined amount of funds for certain tenant improvements. I must note that the following is purely speculative and opinion based on my own personal experience, but it is not typical that this predetermined amount is enough for a complete office remodel, certainly not enough for them to hire Gensler as the design architect, and most certainly not enough to fund the construction of a LEED Silver Certified Office Space located at the center of Washington D.C.

Case #2: My Site Statistics

NCARB could save some money by spending more time working, and less time surfing my site. If you run a website, you should know who is accessing your site. I personally use a free service called Stat Tracker. NCARB has been spying on my site since its inception, what they do not know is that I have also spying on them. Stat Tracker saves a limited amount of data in its free form, so I am only able to obtain statistics for the last thirty days. Below is a summary of the last 30 days for computers accessing my site from NCARB:

Over the last thirty days, there have been thirty visits to my site from computers hosted by Ncarb, this most recent visit lasted for 1 minute and 7 seconds. It is important to note that that is the time spent on the first page. There is no way for the script to know how much time was spent reading the article, because the script requires a page reload to create an end time stamp. I have seen visits where NCARB has spent hours on my site. Common! You could at least make a donation to my site, advertise on my site, or give me a break on my NCARB fees, if you are going to spend that much time on my site. Also, the no referring link, usually means that someone is accessing my site from their favorites, at least they like my site.

One last thing, the script can determine what operating system a person is using when they access my site. Apparently, NCARB is not hurting too badly for money, because they are using Mac OSX. A good way to cut cost would be to buy a bunch of cheap Dell computers like the architects that you regulate.

Case #3: FORM 990

“IRS Form 990 is an annual document used by approximately one-third of all public charities to report information about their finances and operations to the federal government. GuideStar uses data from Form 990 to populate its database with financial information about nonprofit organizations. Posting Form 990 images on the GuideStar Web site is an ongoing process.”

After receiving the most recent e-Connection from NCARB I decided to do some research, and obtained copies of the Form 990s, which are a part of the public record and Open to Public Inspection. Due to an agreement with GuideStar, I cannot post the documentation directly, but only excerpts from the documents. You can create an account with GuideStar for free, and obtain direct access to the Form 990s. NCARB’s Employer Identification Number is 73-0684309, this may help you in your search.

There are some interesting statistics found in these documents which I have listed below, if you find any other statistics in these documents that you feel are shocking, or worth mentioning, please comment below or email me directly and I will add to the list below:

Expenditures:

• In 2008 NCARB lost $1,051,424 in investment securities!
• NCARB spent $46,288 on subscriptions and dues!
• NCARB’s old office space was $765,982 a year, their NEW office is $1,305,799, that is almost half a million dollars more a year!

Salaries:

• NCARB has 10 employees that make salaries ranging from $137,822 to $319,435!
• NCARB employee Gordon Mills works 21 hours a week for a whopping $153,294!
• NCARB employee Douglas K Engebretson works 12 hours a week for a whopping $81,972!
• In 2004 the NCARB board and senior staff were reimbursed for nearly $57,000 in expenses, by 2006 this number had nearly doubled!
• NCARB expenditures doubled again in 2007 to a whopping $343,000!
• In 2008 NCARB had $2,832,306 in travel expenses! This number does not include the $912,901 in conferences, conventions and meetings!
• NCARB employee H Carleton Godsey and Peter Rasmussen made $13,199 and $11,947 for working NO HOURS!

Bonuses:

• NCARB employee Lenore Lucey received a $25,000 bonus in 2008!
• NCARB employee Mary S Desousa received a $17,500 bonus in 2008!
• NCARB employee Stephen Nutt received a $17,500 bonus in 2008!

Raises:

• In 2004-2005 NCARB employee Lenore Lucie’s salary and deferred compensation was $233,000.   In 2007-2008 it was $313,000.   That’s up 34% in four years.
• In 2004-2005 NCARB employee Mary de Sousa’s salary and deferred compensation was $118,00.   In 2007-2008 it was $207,000.   That’s up 75% in four years.
• NCARB employee Stephen Nut was hired at $159,000 in 2006-2007.  In 2007-2008 he made $201,000.  That’s a 26% raise last year. 

So, you might be thinking, is NCARB Hiring?

Closing:

NCARB is one of my favorite topics to write about, in fact it is one of the favorite topics of any young architect to talk about, because it represents a necessary evil. It is the Big Brother of architecture, the proverbial machine of The Man. One of the things that I love about architects is our rebellious nature, we all believe that the world can be made better. We secretly conspire and dream up ways to revolt against the system. That is the reason I run this site, and that is the reason that I am writing this article. The system is broken and corrupt, and it needs fixed.

The beautiful thing about living in a capitalist market is that you cast your vote with your dollar. If you have your license do not renew your NCARB membership. I am NOT renewing my NCARB membership this year, and I hope that every person that reads this article follows suit. Special thanks to areFAQ.blog, which I found during my research after Googling NCARB’s EIN. I have republished some of the stats originally published on his blog in addition to the latest Form 990 available for public download.

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One of the most difficult things about the architectural licensing process is that the road to becoming an architect is fragmented. There are multiple entities involved, private and public organizations that define the process, and often the multiple parties have no idea what the other is doing. There is no single guide on the internet that gives a clear path for one to follow to become an architect, until now. An Intern’s Guide to Becoming an Architect is a feature that will describe in detail the path to becoming an architect. The series will focus on every topic from how to begin the process, tips for studying for the ARE, and what to do after earning your license. It’s still important to have your photo taken next to your designs, but the process of becoming an architect involves more than image.

When Can I Start the Process of Becoming an Architect?

Step 1: Many interns think that the first step to becoming a licensed architect involves earning a degree from a (National Architectural Accrediting Board) NAAB accredited architecture program, but this is not true. The first step towards becoming a licensed architect begins when you are accepted into a NAAB accredited architecture program. For those of you that do not know, NAAB exist to regulate the programs that universities across the United States operate. Many students learn about NAAB while in school, but there are some students who are unaware of NAAB accreditation and its importance in becoming an architect. Unfortunately for those students, they are unaware of this requirement, because they are attending a school that is not NAAB accredited. Those students are not told about NAAB, because the institutions running unaccredited programs do not want to advertise the fact that they are not accredited. The NAAB website is a very useful tool for prospective students who are considering applying to an architecture program. The NAAB website contains a complete listing of NAAB accredited programs in architecture, as well as other useful information.

Although many students make the first step toward licensure, for most it is their only step. Life, school, work and other interests prevent many interns from becoming architects, but the truth is that obtaining licensure can be easy with a little guidance, even for the busiest of interns. Many interns wait until after they graduate from a NAAB accredited architecture program, before they start the licensure process, but the truth is you can begin this process before you graduate.

The second step to becoming a licensed architect begins with starting the Intern Development Program (IDP). In order to begin IDP without an accredited professional degree, you must meet one of the requirements set forth by NCARB on their site:

• Three years in an NAAB-accredited professional degree program;

• The third year of a four-year pre-professional degree program in architecture accepted for direct entry into a two-year NAAB-accredited professional master’s degree program;

• One year in NAAB-accredited professional master’s degree program following receipt of a non-professional degree;

• Ninety-six semester credit hours as evaluated in accordance with the NCARB Education Standard, of which no more than 60 hours can be in the general education category; or

• A number of years equivalent to the periods set out in 1., 2., or 3. above, in a CACB-accredited professional degree program, or in a Canadian university professional degree program certified by CACB.

Once the above requirements are met, it is time to enroll in the IDP program. The IDP process is one of the few things that NCARB has slowly perfected over the years. When I began the process many years ago, NCARB required the submittal of paper forms, which meant that it took a long time for NCARB to process paperwork, and often required many phone calls to correct clerical errors, which were caused by NCARB employees having to manually enter the data from the forms into the computer. One time I submitted a 123 Form, and when I checked my NCARB account online it said that I had successfully reported my time for the year 2030 instead of 2003. The new electronic process will hopefully eliminate some headaches for new interns attempting to achieve licensure. Today you can easily create an IDP account online, but there is still a lot that you need to know before you can complete the process of enrolling online and completing your second step toward becoming a licensed architect.

Why Start My NCARB Record Now?

A lot of interns wait to create an NCARB record and to start IDP, but I strongly encourage students and interns to begin the process as soon as they can, because the paperwork and processing times can take months and sometimes years. There are many reasons to complete each step toward licensure as soon as possible. The first reason that comes to mind is money. The sooner you get licensed the more likely you are to get promoted and make more money. I didn’t say you would get rich, but more is more, right? The second reason to get licensed is that it makes you more marketable and  attractive towards prospective employers. The third reason to get licensed as soon as possible is that as you grow older you have less and less time, and more and more responsibility. Studying for the AREs while raising a newborn is no way to live life, unfortunately there will never be a time in your life when you have more time and less responsibility. The last reason to get your license as soon as you can is that for many it is the only road block left to conquer to start your own firm. There are other things like money and clients, but don’t wait until you have a client to get your license. By starting the IDP process while in school you can earn a number of training units that will shave months if not years off of the time it will take for you to complete the IDP program. I will discuss training units and the IDP process in the next lesson.

Following the IDP Paper Trail

Step 2: No doubt you stopped reading this article, and clicked on the link above to begin the process of creating an NCARB record. Congratulations! You have made your second step on the path to licensure and your first step on the IDP Paper Trail, but IDP isn’t a sprint, and cannot be completed in a single day. The IDP Paper Trail is a marathon that you will run for the next two to four years. What you can do today is initiate your NCARB record and complete the online application form. I highly encourage new NCARB applicants to only pay $100.00 and not the full $285.00 application fee, because there is no incentive to pay the complete application fee. Why pay the full $285.00 if you might drop out of school or change careers? Visit NCARB’s website for a breakdown of the NCARB fee structure. I strongly believe that NCARB should waive the application fee completely, for students. If they did this, I bet that they would see an increase in membership applications, licensure and an increase in long term membership fees.

Click on the below pictures for a preview of the online application process, complete with commentary.

Step 3: The third step on the path to licensure is to submit a request to your school to transfer a copy of your transcript to NCARB. There is no way available on the NCARB website to complete this step electronically, and is the first time that you may have to follow up your submittal of paperwork with a phone call. The form needed can be found on NCARB’s website, but since other webmasters change hyperlinks around constantly, for some unknown reason, I am hosting a copy of the Form 122 Education Form on my site for your convenience. Most universities have an online form that allows you to request a transcript transfer, and this can be used in substitution of Form 122, just make sure that the transcript is sent to:

NCARB

1801 K Street, NW, Suite 700K

Washington, DC 20006-1305

It is a good idea to become familiar with the process of transferring your academic transcripts, because you will have to do this multiple times in your life. When filling out the online transcript request form you will notice that there is a section for special notes or instructions regarding the transcript transfer. Note your name and IDP number in the special notes or instructions field to ensure that NCARB can find you in their database. This will speed the process up and allow you to request the transfer at your convenience. Also remember to follow up the transfer of your academic transcript after a couple of weeks to make sure that NCARB received the transcript and processed it appropriately. They will not call if they have problems. For instance my legal name is James Robert William Cornetet, which was noted in my NCARB file as James Robert William, apparently the person typing in my name thought that they could simply eliminate my last name. It took six months for me to convince NCARB that James Robert William was me, even though the SSN was the same. If I had never called them on the phone, the issue would never have been fixed, and I still would be wondering what is going on with my application? So save yourself some trouble and time, and fill in the special notes/instructions field and call NCARB if your transcript does not appear as processed on your online NCARB record.

TIP #1

Call, call, call. A lot of interns submit paperwork and forget about it, thinking that the systems that are in place actually work and never have any bugs. The problem with that mentality is that the people pushing the paperwork don’t care if you get licensed or not, only you do, and maybe your mom. So if you are on a fast track to becoming a licensed architect, I suggest that you create a folder that contains copies of all of your paperwork and create a list of contacts related to the various processes of licensure. If you submit for an IDP record and it takes a few weeks for it to process, call them! If your transcript isn’t showing up as received by NCARB and it has been two months, call NCARB and your college. You have to follow up on your paperwork or you could add months or years onto this already lengthy process. This is one of the most valuable tips I can offer to young interns.

In Conclusion

This concludes the first lesson of the Intern’s Guide to Becoming an Architect. The above steps can be completed in an afternoon and is by far the easiest part of the whole process, but must be completed before you can begin your journey on the IDP Paper Trail.

In the next lesson I will examine the pros and cons of  e-EVR (electronic Experience Verification Reporting) system developed by NCARB and how to use it. The lesson will aslo discuss IDP training units and how to make the most of your experience as an intern. Future lessons will examine establishing records with the state boards of architecture in your state, as well as developing resources for the Architectural Registration Exam, and analyzing each ARE in detail to give you the best chance at passing the exams on your first try, and finally what you must do after passing all of the exams to maintain your license.’

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Reason #1:

It seems to me that NCARB needs to improve certain quality control measures to ensure that the correct information is being given to candidates. I have mentioned the following on the ARE forum before, but it is worth noting again, because it will help to build an argument that illustrates NCARB’s incompetence and a trend for publishing material with errors or omissions, and then quietly correcting it without addressing the issue and its affect on ARE candidates. First, let me tell you how I discovered the error, and how NCARB reacted. Like many ARE 3.1 candidates I downloaded the ARE Reverse Transition Chart pictured in Figure 1.1. I downloaded the chart the first day it came out, printed it, posted it on my desktop and crossed out each test that I successfully passed. I successfully passed my first eight exams, and failed my last exam, upon failing my last exam I proceeded to download all of the information from NCARB and review it again, even though I was certain I had the information memorized. Upon downloading the new transition chart, see Figure 1.2, I noticed a significant difference! Site Planning and Building Planning can be passed and ARE 3.1 candidates earn equal credit in the ARE 4.0 version of the exam. This is great news because candidates can now pass two exams independently of any other exam and receive equal credit under the new format, according to the revised transition chart.

Upon discovering this conflicting information I proceeded to call NCARB. I actually telephone transferred my way up the NCARB corporate ladder, I was very polite and sincere, and received the same from NCARB, until a point. Once the transferring stopped, and I arrived at my final destination, I proceeded to explain to the NCARB employee that the transition chart that I downloaded in May of 2008 has different information than the chart from February of 2009. She/he (again I would prefer not to name names, but can if NCARB forces my hand) began to get very confrontational. I simply wanted to know which chart was correct, and if the new one was correct, why did NCARB not announce the correction and why did it take almost a year for such a vital mistake to be corrected? After awhile she said that if I had proof of a mistake to scan it in and email it to her. I did, and I did not hear anything regarding the incident again, until. . . I opened up an issue of Direct Connection: A Publication of NCARB and noticed that an errata was issued on page 31. The best part of the errata is that they “… apologize for this error” in reference to an incorrect quote attribution, but NCARB avoids apologizing for the ARE Transition Correction. Another item that is interesting to note as it is also featured on the same page of the errata is that NCARB just completed a brand new office which earned LEED Silver certification according to the Commercial Interiors system. They whine because they are poor, they build a new facility, they raise the exam fees because they need money, and then state that the money the exams raise only covers a portion of their cost, then why raise them and pass the cost to intern architects who are already feeling the brunt of the recession.

Why is this such a huge mistake? This mistake would have affected ARE 3.1 candidates’ strategy for test taking, and most likely affected the outcome of many ARE candidates’ ARE experience. I, like nearly all 3.1 candidates, had a specific strategy based on the way that the tests transition. An obvious strategy before this transition would be to take Building Planning first because that is an even trade. Some people may have focused on Pre-Design and Site Planning because those are two-for-two. Others may have taken Building Tech after Building Planning in order to give themselves multiple chances at passing this beast. For those of you that started on 4.0 this type of strategy does not apply because time is not an issue, but with the transition in place, test taking strategy is very important because you want as many chances at low-lying fruit as possible. Hopefully the importance of strategy for test taking order in 3.1 has been made clear to the 4.0 candidates and the severity of such a mistake is crystal. The ARE Reverse Transition Chart affected the way that people tested and their strategy for taking the exams, and undoubtedly affected their experience. If I had this information in May of 2008, it would have changed the way I took my exams, and the outcome (number of times I could have taken a certain exam due to the transition date).

Figure 1.1: Incorrect ARE Reverse Transition Chart which was posted on NCARB’s website for a year before it was quietly corrected.

Figure 1.2: The quietly corrected ARE Reverse Transition Chart which was posted on NCARB’s website February 3rd, 2009. Upon correction NCARB employees let out a sigh of relief, because they were able to quietly correct the issue without conflict.

Reason #2:

There are many items in the Site Design Vignette that are open to interpretation by ARE candidates. The exam is fairly straightforward at first glance, but upon closer inspection, candidates will realize that many of the requirements are open to interpretation. Unfortunately NCARB is not helping matters by supplying contradictory information. Please see Figure 2.1 & 2.2 pictured below.

Figure 2.1: Incorrect ARE 4.0 Site Planning & Design vignette solution. Note that NCARB calls out the coordination of Pedestrian Plaza as acceptable.

Figure 2.2: Quietly corrected ARE 4.0 Site Planning & Design vignette solution. Note that NCARB calls out the coordination of Pedestrian Plaza as acceptable, but this condition is different than the previous condition.

What can we assume from the above illustration? The first thing that I am going to assume is that the new vignette solution for the ARE 4.0 Site Planning & Design, which can be downloaded from NCARB’s website, has been corrected. I am also going to assume that not even NCARB fully understands what the white box is that denotes the front entrance. The last thing that I am going to assume is that the way in which the plaza connects to the white box in front of the entry affects exam grading, how can I assume this? Why would NCARB go through the effort to make such a change, unless they found a glitch in the NCARB matrix and are now attempting to quietly correct it. There are other minor differences, but this difference is a clear contradiction of what was there before.

If this is a mistake, and is one that affects grading and thus exam results, then NCARB needs to review previous Site Planning vignettes to verify that this did not cause any candidate to fail. The next item that NCARB needs to address is what in the world is the white box at the entry denoting, and how should it be treated? Is it an overhang? Is it part of the building pad? Who knows? Does NCARB really know? If they don’t know what it is, then just tell us how to treat it so that ARE candidates can move on with their lives. The graphic vignettes are fairly straightforward, what is not, are the rules. There are other things that bother me about the graphic vignettes. What does close mean? What does near mean? What does far mean? Why define proximity in feet for some restraints, like handicap stalls must be within a 150ft circle, but near the road, wtf? What does the computer grading this exam think that these adverbs really mean? These are questions that don’t have anything to do with  protecting the health, safety or welfare of the general public, but rather test your understanding of the SOFTWARE AND HOW THE SOFTWARE GRADES YOUR SOLUTION! This should not prevent someone from becoming an architect. I know that conifers and buildings block wind, and that deciduous trees shade and allow views to the street, but what are the criteria that the computer is using to determine what any first grader knows.

Reason #3:

A very reliable source has informed me of the most egregious of offenses by NCARB and Prometric. In New York City, ARE 4.0 candidates taking the ARE 4.0 Site Planning & Design exam experienced a curse in disguise. When they sat down to take the exam, the solution lay before them, candidates need only trace the solution as it appears on the background of the vignette and voila, an easy exam pass, or so it seemed. Some of the candidates reported the glitch and NCARB immediately investigated the glitch, and have not released a statement about the event. What I do know is that this is another examples of a glitch in the NCARB matrix, and yet another reason why NCARB needs an appellate process that works. See my article *The Importance Of The Asterisk, if you think that one already exist. If you are not familiar with the process, then you will find out that it is a joke that is both funny and sad.

A Ridiculous Conclusion

It appears that this game will not end anytime soon, NCARB is here to stay, and I suggest that we learn the rules to the game and try to beat it. That is what I have done my whole life, and partly why I love being an intern ARCHITECT, because my job as a designer consists of learning the rules and constraints and trying to manipulate them to achieve the desired results. I hate losing, and love to win, so if the rules are in place I’ll do whatever it takes to beat the game, but what is so ridiculous about this game (the ARE) is that NCARB is consistently changing the rules. The only way to give integrity back to the system is for NCARB to come clean about certain vignette requirements, and to develop a grading report that can serve to give us a set of checks and balances to verify results. NCARB must also eliminate such vague adverbs as near, far and close. Remember in high school when you would take a Scantron exam and find that four or five correct answers were marked wrong by the computer, well this is a lot more complicated than that, so why should we trust that they are getting it right. There have been several instances where NCARB has stated that results were delayed due to various grading problems. Give ARE candidates an opportunity to see what it is that caused them to fail on the graphic vignettes or an appellate process that works. A system needs to be put in place that allows candidates to review their exams in order to check for discrepancies.

I am not calling for a complete removal of the exam process, I think that we need the ARE, because there are many people (some of them that I went to school with) that should not have graduated school with a degree in architecture, and should not be allowed to practice architecture. They were allowed to slip through the cracks, and given a degree, because they bought one, and the ARE should be the final barricade that prevents those people from practicing. What I am calling for is an examination of a process that is not clear, and at times contradictory. Please submit contradictions and supporting information below. If you are as concerned as I am about these issues, please submit an email to: AREOperations, or Contact NCARB through the form on their website.

Thank you for your support, and good luck with your AREs.

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For those of you who have taken an exam, you can skip this paragraph, I want to make sure that the ridiculousness of the asterisks is completely understood so that everyone can appreciate the lack of logic behind NCARB.  After taking an exam NCARB usually in an untimely manner (8 weeks or so) will issue your exam results in the form of a score report.  The score report will rate your performance on the identified content areas, if your exam has a multiple choice section.  Now all of the exams contain at least one graphic vignette and the score report will also rate your performance for each individual vignette.  We will examine the Site Planning & Design ARE 4.0 exam for clarification, which contains 65 multiple choice questions and two graphic vignettes.  The exam contains the below content areas and vignettes as listed on the NCARB website:

Content Areas
Principles
Environmental Issues
Codes & Regulations
Materials & Technology
Project & Practice Management

Vignettes
Site Grading
Site Design

The content areas and vignettes are assessed on a pass, fail and completely fail scale.  The grading system is noted on the score report.  The 3 tier grading system that NCARB uses on their exams has been transcribed below for convenience of discussion:

Content Areas and Vignettes are reported at three levels of performance as follows:

-clearly meets the Content Area or Vignette requirements (the Content Area or Vignette is not listed below)

-fails to meet the Content Area or Vignette requirements [MODERATE DEFICIENCIES] (the Content Area or Vignette is listed below WITHOUT an asterisk)

-fails to meet the Content Area or Vignette requirements [MAJOR DEFICIENCIES] (the Content Area or Vignette is listed below WITH an asterisk)

The feedback is designed to identify general areas of weakness so that a candidate can gain additional knowledge prior to retesting.

This Content Area or Vignette listing is not indicative of your future performance.

Why have an asterisks?
Why not?  It would be great if the existence of the asterisks on your score report existed as a courtesy by NCARB to let you know, “Hey buddy, you really bombed this part, better study a little harder next time.”  The asterisks has a hidden meaning that is not discussed in the score report.  If you take an ARE exam and fail the test, STOP, let me clarify.  If you take an ARE exam and a single solitary Content Area is listed WITHOUT an asterisk, you have failed the entire exam.  Logically you could presume that you were very close to passing the exam, in fact you were very close.  For instance if the exam that you failed was the Site Planning & Design ARE 4.0 exam, you could easily infer that the 65 multiple choice questions are easily divided equally into the 5 content areas, which means that there is probably on average 10-15 questions in each content area.  For ease of discussion let us assume that there were 10 questions in the second that you had moderate deficiencies in.  Perhaps the grading scale is something like this:

Correctly answered 7-10 questions = PASS

Correctly answered 4-6 questions = Moderate Deficiencies

Correctly answered 1-3 questions = Major Deficiencies

In theory you can begin to easily see that you WERE very close to passing the exam, and that you now have doubts about the legitimacy of a few of the questions that were asked.  Hell, most of the questions are suspect due to the best answer format of the exam.  So you decide that you are going to pay NCARB $300.00 to appeal the results of the exam, which depending on the state you live in, will include a fee of $75.00 to the state (all they do is mail the paperwork to NCARB).  After spending all of this time and money, you receive a letter from NCARB acting like you are an idiot for not knowing that the only way that you can appeal the results of an ARE exam is if an asterisks is listed.  Bombshell.

Well, the account that I just gave is an experience that closely resembles my most recent experience with NCARB.  After nearly 8 months, I am still working with the state to refund my $75.00.  The funny thing is that the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation was also unaware that an ARE candidate can only appeal exam results with an asterisks.  What sense does this make?  Why allow candidates the ability to appeal exams only if they have Major Deficiencies?  The $375.00 in appellate fees are usually enough to defer candidates from appealing exam results.  In my case I was on a fast track to getting my license, taking all 9 exams in 6 months.  I had passed all 8 exams only to fail my last one, so rather than waiting 6 months to retake the exam, I thought the money would be well spent to gain an insight into what had caused me to fail the exam.

If you are able to successfully appeal the results of an ARE exam, there is still a catch.  That exam is only valid in the state that appealed the exam results!  Want to practice in another state?  You have to retake the exam in that state.

I hope that this article was thorough in answering all questions related to the NCARB appellate process, and there will be more articles to come that seek to uncloud the murkiness that is NCARB and the architectural licensure process.  Comment below.

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