Tuesday, July 1, 2008
ExAC (Examination for Architects in Canada)
Excerpt from the Ontario Association of Architects website: “For your information in October 2006, The Alberta Association of Architects (AAA), the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and the Ordre des architectes du Quebec (OAQ) advised their memberships of the work being carried out in regard to the design and development of an alternate ‘Canadian made’ exam. The two day long pencil and paper exam, being developed exclusively by the provincial regulatory bodies, seeks to ensure relevancy, effective delivery, and administrative control of the complete professional competency testing process.” The debut of this new Canadian made alternate exam is targeted for late 2008 / early 2009. To read and understand more about this exam please go to www.exac.ca.
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the ExAC.
ReplyDeleteMark,
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
The bottom line is that the AIBC as the regulator of the profession in the public interest, does not –at this time- have sufficient confidence in ExAC to adopt it. You should be aware that while the other provinces have “signed on” this is an Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario project. The other provinces have signed on because they were offered inclusion at little or no cost now and at significant cost later. The same option was not open to BC given our size and numbers. To sign on to ExAC would have been a huge expense, for a product we are not sufficiently confident in at this time. This is not to denigrate the very good work done to get the first instance of ExAC off the ground. We would rather wait and see whether the exam will be credible and be able to be sustained over the longer term.
The idea of a made in Canada exam is not a new one. There have been attempts in the past. Our history with them is that while the first or even the first and second iterations are good, subsequent ones deteriorate in quality. That is because these exams are expensive and time consuming to maintain and administer. We have considerable time, resources, and confidence in the NCARB exams. We hope that the ExAC will be as sustainable. If so, we will reconsider.
In any event I will take your well reasoned and valid arguments to the R&L Board so that they keep this issue top-of-mind
It is true that BC has not signed on to the ExAC. It is not true, however that we are not taking care of our own “native” members. In fact, concern over viability of the exam over the long term and maintaining the widest possible labour mobility and transportability for our Interns and Architects were the two driving factors behind our decision to stay with the NCARBs.
ReplyDeleteSome facts:
BC interns will be required to take the NCARBs for registration as an Architect in BC.
The other provinces will continue to recognize our Architects for reciprocity purposes.
We will recognize architects who took the ExAC and were registered in other provinces under the ExAC for registration here under reciprocity.
Our interns who register as Architects in BC having taken the NCARBs will be recognized in US jurisdictions under our inter-recognition agreements.
Architects registered in Canada who took ExAC and not the NCARBs will not be recognized in US jurisdictions under inter-recognition agreements.
If the ExAC proves out to be a viable exam over the long term and if and when it is recognized for inter-recognition with the US, the AIBC will then reconsider the issue.
All provinces retain the option to follow the path of the either the NCARB format exam or the ExAC exam and that options should be available to BC a interns.
ReplyDeleteThe other provinces have not excluded the NCARB exam.
I and 90% of the intern in our province will never work in the states and I should have the opportunity to make the choice to write the ExAC exam.
The points you raise are not relevant to my position.
If BC recognizes people who have taken the ExAC exam from the other provinces it only leeds one to conclude that BC residents should have that option available to them as well.
I hate to say it but the current AIBC policy does not make sense.
The AIBC should be a progressive association not a recessive one.
If the other provinces have approved the ExAC exams the logical conclusion is BC does as well
all these exams are non-sense anyways. In the past, architects graduated and were able to practice without exams, and were doing just fine. Why is the process getting more difficult? How did we get here?
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is that exams are part of the process and we have to accept that. Apparently they brings legitimacy to the profession. I agree that we should have the choice of which exam process to follow.
ReplyDeleteAIBC logic for not adopting the ExAC exam is nonsense. if they recognize the exam's legitimacy outside of BC's borders, then how can it not be legitimate to offer it here? the "confidence" claim is unbelievable. the NCARB ARE exams are a total disaster, this is a well-known fact. i have passed all of them and like most i feel that the experience was empty, frustrating, unfair, very expensive, and produced nothing except anxiety. why do you think so few interns are getting registered, or when they do, it takes them 10 years?
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with the comments made on May 6th, 2009. They hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteI wish the executive of the AIBC could see things this clearly.
I find is frightful that everyone has to post their comments as anonymous for fear of repercussion.
ReplyDeleteJust moved back to BC after working overseas for quite a few years. Had about 1500 hours recorded prior to leaving Canada, and would have had more if the In-house Architect at the corporate job I had after that hadn't left a couple months after I started.
ReplyDeleteManaged to do more than the number of AIBC courses required (finished them before they lowered the required number) only to have them tell me they no longer count after five years, as I wasn't signed up as an Intern Architect for the entire time.
Will be 40 this year. Should be an absolute joy to work towards my registration huh? Am tempted to do the ExAC and get registered in Alberta to skip redoing all the bogus AIBC workshops all over again. But I'm sure the targets will be moved again once I get close to the finish line.
Maybe by the time I'm 50 I'll be registered and be able to legally design a doghouse or something.
I am currently an intern with the AIBC and have become extremely frustrated with these NCARB exams. After failing my first two with over 6 months of intense studying, I have started the process of getting registered out of province and will not be renewing my membership with the AIBC this January.
ReplyDeleteIt is beyond me, why I am not studying material that is relevant to practicing in Canada. it makes sense that since I will be practicing here, I am studying ONLY the relevant material (CHOP, nat'l building codes etc.) and not wasting my time, money and my mind on the NCARB ARE's.
I know of at least half a dozen recent grads that have chosen the alternative, I wish I had not wasted my time and done this in the first place.
GIVE US THIS OPTION NOW!
..the fact that bc recognises ExAc through reciprocity, but does not offer its own members the option is upsetting. the option now is to move to another province and take the ExAc...
ReplyDeleteThere is recent discussion that the AIBC may soon be adopting the ExAc - and I agree that it is about time that we be studying what is appropriate and applicable in Canadian practice. Why we wouldn't seems ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe next step will be also be to push for the ExAc's reciprocity with the U.S. If the AIBC adopts the ExAc but still facilitates the NCARB ARE's this may hinder negotiations for reciprocity.
If we are truly interested in our professional development and our profession as a whole in Canada we as individuals need to step up and press the AIBC, RAIC and other provincial bodies to be doing what is best for our profession and ourselves as future pracitioners.
ADOPT THE ExAC AND PRESS FOR U.S. RECIPROCITY - ASAP!