Section 1150.10  Education Requirements and Diversified Professional Training Requirements

The education and diversified professional training required for licensure under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act [225 ILCS 305] (the Act) are set forth in this Section.  Applicants shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section.

a)         Education Requirements

1)         Applicants with a professional degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) not later than 2 years after termination of an applicant's enrollment, or with a professional degree in architecture from a Canadian university certified as accredited by CACB:

A)        Bachelor of Architecture degree; or

B)        Master of Architecture degree.

2)         Until January 1, 2014, applicants with a degree from a program not accredited by the NAAB or CACB:

A)        A pre-professional 4 year baccalaureate degree program in architecture approved by the Board in accordance with Section 1150.50 of this Part, which is accepted for direct entry into a professional Master of Architecture degree program accredited by the NAAB or the CACB; or

B)        Completion of the education requirements as specified in the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Education Standard.  This includes the requirement that applicants with a degree from a program not accredited by the NAAB or the CACB must obtain an EESA-NCARB Evaluation Report prepared by the Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA), which is administered by NAAB.  Applicants may request the report from the National Architectural Accrediting Board, 1735 New York Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006; phone (202) 783-2007; or www.naab.org.

b)         Diversified Professional Training Requirements

1)         An applicant must complete the Intern Development Program (IDP) of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), 1801 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20006-1310, as set forth in the NCARB IDP Guidelines (2009, no later additions or amendments included).  (A copy of these Guidelines is available from NCARB.)

2)         To satisfy diversified professional training requirements, each applicant must acquire a minimum number of training units (TUs) based on the education requirements set forth in subsection (b)(3).  One TU equals 8 hours of acceptable activity.  Acceptable activities and conditions affecting training are set forth in the IDP Guidelines.

3)         TUs shall be acquired in prescribed categories and areas and under requirements set forth in the NCARB IDP Training Requirements included in the IDP Guidelines.  The required number of TUs will vary according to the following educational requirements:

A)        Applicants who meet the educational requirements set forth in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2)(B) shall complete 700 TUs pursuant to the IDP Training Requirement.

B)        Until January 1, 2014, applicants with a pre-professional 4 year baccalaureate degree set forth in subsection (a)(2)(A) shall complete 1170 TUs pursuant to the IDP Training Requirements; twice the listed minimum TUs required for each training category and area shall be acquired.

4)         The required minimums in IDP Training Categories A, B, C and D total 465 TUs for the education requirements set forth in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2)(B) and 930 TUs for the education requirements set forth in subsection (a)(2)(A), allowing for the additional TUs to be acquired in any of the listed categories.

5)         To satisfy the Illinois Diversified Professional Training requirements, an applicant must have satisfied the training requirements in accordance with the NCARB IDP Training Requirements and subsection (b)(3)(A) or (B).  An applicant who has satisfied the training requirements is expected to have been exposed to the comprehensive practice of architecture.  Accordingly, each applicant must demonstrate that his or her training has been sufficiently diversified as to include exposure to each of the training areas set forth in the IDP Training Requirement.  (An applicant with the required number of TUs may nonetheless be denied approval of training if that training is not diversified.)

6)         The training settings in which TUs may be acquired, and the maximum TUs allowed to be acquired in each training setting, are set forth in the NCARB IDP Guidelines and shall apply to all applicants.

7)         Program Requirements

A)        No TUs may be earned prior to satisfactory completion of:

i)          Three years in an NAAB-accredited professional degree program; or

ii)         The third year of a 4 year pre-professional degree program in architecture accepted for direct entry to an NAAB-accredited professional master's degree program; or

iii)         One year in an NAAB-accredited professional master's degree program following receipt of a non-professional undergraduate degree; or

iv)        96 semester credit hours as evaluated by Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) in accordance with NCARB Education Standard, of which no more than 60 hours can be in the general education category.

B)        No experience used to meet education requirements described in subsection (a) of this Section may be used to earn TUs.

C)        To earn TUs in IDP Training Settings A, B, C, D and E, an applicant must work at least 35 hours per week for a minimum period of 10 consecutive weeks or at least 20 hours per week for a minimum period of 6 consecutive months.

D)        To earn TUs in IDP Training Setting F, the applicant must be employed on a full-time basis.

E)         A "licensed architect" is a person licensed to practice architecture in the jurisdiction in which he or she practices.

F)         A person practices as a "principal" by being:

i)          A licensed architect; and

ii)         The person in charge of the organization's architectural practice, either alone or with other licensed architects.

G)        A person who has completed the education requirements, is actively participating in the diversified professional training and maintains in good standing a training record as required by this Section may use the title "architectural intern", but may not engage in the practice of architecture.

8)         Explanation of Requirements

A)        TUs may be acquired only if the applicant meets the time requirements of Section 1150.10(b)(7)(C).  Full TU credit is earned for acceptable full-time and part-time employment in the training settings described in Section 1150.10(b)(5).

B)        No TUs may be acquired prior to meeting the requirements of Section 1150.10(b)(7)(A).

C)        Applicants with a post-professional degree in architecture may qualify for TU credit as set forth in the IDP Guidelines.

D)        An applicant may earn TUs by completing Board-approved supplementary education programs.  Supplementary education cannot be used to satisfy the minimum TU requirements.  No TUs may be earned for supplementary education unless the applicant is employed in a recognized training setting (refer to IDP Guidelines).  Credit for supplementary education activities may not exceed 235 TUs.

E)         To satisfy Category A of the IDP Training Requirements, TUs (including TUs earned from supplementary education) in those categories must be acquired when employed in the training settings described in Section 1150.10(b)(6).  A minimum of 235 TUs must be acquired in Training Setting A.

F)         For a detailed description of the IDP training categories, settings and conditions and supplementary education requirements, see IDP Guidelines.

c)         All applicants shall utilize NCARB to collect, evaluate and certify all training data and records required for compliance with this Part.

d)         The verification of training shall be submitted to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (Division) at the time of application.

e)         If the accuracy of any submitted documentation or the relevance or sufficiency of the training is questioned by the Division or the Architecture Licensing Board (the Board) because of discrepancies or conflicts in information, a need for additional information or clarification, the applicant will be requested to provide such information as is necessary.

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 11477, effective July 22, 2009)