ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES

A candidate begins the examination process by applying to CAB to establish his or her examination eligibility. Upon receipt of a completed Application for Eligibility Evaluation, the eligibility review fee, school transcripts, and Employment Verification Forms, CAB performs an evaluation of the documents. CAB reviews transcripts and Employment Verification Forms to determine which categories of the Table of Equivalents apply and the appropriate amount of credit to be granted. Application form PDF.

New candidates may apply for eligibility evaluation when they think they have met the eligibility requirements of the minimum five years of qualified education and/or work experience credit.

Candidates for reexamination may apply for eligibility review at any time year-round by submitting a Test Application Form and the eligibility review fee to CAB.

Once a candidate is deemed eligible, CAB transmits the candidate's information and eligibility status to NCARB or its authorized representative. The candidate’s examination eligibility remains valid as long as the candidate is active* in the examination process.

Approximately two weeks after eligibility has been established with CAB, NCARB sends eligible candidates the ARE Guidelines, which contains information regarding test procedures, examination fees, test center locations, and other exam-related information.

Candidates may schedule appointments for the desired division(s) at any time once their eligibility has been established.

*A candidate who has not taken an examination for five or more years is considered an inactive candidate. Files of inactive candidates are purged; however, the history of the candidate's exam scores remains intact. Inactive candidates wishing to reapply for ARE eligibility must resubmit the appropriate application, a fee, and documentation to determine eligibility.

The previous information can also be found at http://www.cab.ca.gov/candidate-main.htm. There is also more detailed information at the California Architects Board web site on licensure in California.

CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND EXAMINATION

"The California Architects Board (CAB) establishes eligibility requirements for examination and licensure for architects in the state of California. To become licensed as an architect in California, a candidate must provide verification of 8 years of education and/or work experience and must successfully complete the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and the California Supplemental Examination (CSE). A candidate must verify five years of education and/or work experience to be eligible for the ARE, and eight years for the CSE and licensure." (http://www.cab.ca.gov/instruction-are.htm).

California currently requires all new or reinstating applicants for the ARE to also complete CIDP (Comprehensive Internship Development Program) / IDP (Internship Development Program). The change in the regulation took effect in January, 2005.

At 7.5 years, a candidate is eligible to attempt the California Supplemental Examination, also known as the Oral Exam.

A candidate is eligible for licensure after they have accrued 8 years of education and/or experience and have passed all portions of the ARE and the California Supplemental Exam.

For information on current test fees, see http://www.ncarb.org/are/prices.html.

For an ARE Guidelines PDF go to http://www.ncarb.org/are/areguide.html.

For information on requirements in other states or for further information on licensing requirements in California please see the NCARB web site at this page: http://www.ncarb.org/stateboards/index.html.