Members of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) recently voted to overhaul the current certification process for foreign architects.
During NCARB’s 2015 annual meeting, members agreed on discontinuing the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect (BEFA) program. They also agreed on a simplified alternative for receiving an NCARB certificate that will optimize the process for foreign architects who are licensed, but do not currently meet the requirements for the certificate.
“NCARB certificates provide an important career advantage, opening up future job opportunities throughout the United States and providing free online continuing education,” said NCARB president Dale McKinney. “We wanted to remove some of the unnecessary financial and administrative impediments for this group by refocusing on the nationally accepted standards for licensure.”
The new alternative for foreign licensees will replace the current BEFA program’s requirements, eliminating the committee dossier review and the need to document seven years of credentialed practice in a foreign country. Instead, foreign architects will be required to document completion of the Intern Development Program (IDP) experience requirements and successfully complete the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to obtain NCARB certification.
McKinney says by imposing the same experience and examination criteria as U.S. architects, foreign architects will gain knowledge of stateside codes. The alternative will be more automated, increase objectivity, and help reduce fees associated with the dossier and interview requirements.
