An intern architect is a person who has successfully completed an accredited degree in architecture and is preparing for registration/ licensure as an architect. In the United States, Canada and other places, an intern architect is enrolled in a regulated program, such as the Intern Development Program (IDP) in the United States and the Intern Architect Program (IAP) in Canada, while preparing for the professional licensure/ registration exams. The use of the title "architect" (or any derivation thereof) by any person not licensed to practice architecture is generally protected; however, most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces allow the use of the term "intern architect" for a person enrolled in the IDP or a provincial program.
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The Intern Development Program (IDP) is a national program, developed and administered by NCARB, in the United States designed to provide structured training for Intern Architects to ensure that they are exposed to most aspects of the architectural profession prior to sitting for the Architect Registration Examination.
A candidate works under the tutelage of one or more architects as mentor(s) on a regular basis. Additionally, the intern architect selects a sponsor, who is an architect who does not work for the firm where the intern is employed. Together, the mentor and the sponsor work with the intern to make sure that the intern is actively working towards satisfying the requirements of the IDP program.
The program is based on a points system, where the intern tracks experience in a variety of activities. These activities include contracts, client contact, working drawings, design, field supervision, and other tasks that architects will perform as part of their professional responsibilities.
The IDP was created jointly in the 1970s by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is administered by NCARB.[1]
The below positions interns can seek out if they have questions with the Internship Development Program or can volunteer with once when certain requirements are met.
The Intern Architect Program (IAP) is a national program in Canada that documents and evaluates internship activities, provides structure to the transition between education and registration, and encourages involvement of practitioners in the development of new architects.[2] The IAP was established by the Committee of Canadian Architectural Councils (CCAC), which has representatives from each of the ten provincial associations of architects.