Requirements for Registration by Examination
Exam candidates no longer apply to the South Carolina Board to be admitted to the ARE.
In October 2008, the South Carolina Board adopted NCARB's Direct Registration program which allows exam candidates who meet South Carolina requirements to apply directly to NCARB to begin taking the ARE.
NCARB Direct Registration: You will work directly with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) during the Intern Development Program (IDP) training and completion of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Your Council Record will be sent to the South Carolina Board (or another Board of your choosing) upon your successful completion of all divisions of the ARE and the IDP. Upon receipt, you will be sent instructions about the forms and fees required to complete the process of becoming licensed here.
ARE Early Entry
South Carolina law changed in June 2008 to allow interns to begin taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) before completing IDP. The law now allows interns who have completed an accredited degree, who are enrolled in IDP and are actively participating in IDP, and who are employed by an architectural firm, to begin taking the ARE. The law still requires completion of IDP prior to licensure. (For the exact language, see Section 40-3-240 (C) at www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/architects/PDF%20files/Laws.PDF )
To Sit for the Examination, you must have:
- Completed a professional architecture degree from a college or university accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB).
- Established an NCARB Record and be actively participating in IDP or have completed IDP.
- If you have met NCARB's and South Carolina's Education Requirement and have established a Council Record, you should go to the "Ready to take the ARE?" portion of NCARB's Web site www.ncarb.org/are/areready.html to start the testing process.
NCARB Will...
- Notify the examination administrator (Prometric) that you are eligible to sit for the examination.
- Send your exam score reports to you .
- Continue to evaluate and record your Training Units under IDP.
PROMETRIC Will...
- Notify you about procedures for scheduling the examination. Fees for the examination are paid directly to Prometric.
- Send your exam scores to NCARB.
- Accept address changes.
Once you have Successfully Completed all Sections of the Examination and IDP:
YOU Will...
- Authorize NCARB to transmit your Record to the South Carolina Board .
NCARB Will...
- Notify the Board office that you are eligible for registration.
- Send your entire NCARB Record to the SC Board
The Board Will...
- Notify you of the forms and fees necessary to complete licensure here.
- Review your application and record at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
- If approved, issue your license.