Unemployed and dealing with IDP and the ARE

Not being able to find a job after graduating, or worse, being laid off, is an extremely difficult time in the life of a young professional. There is a huge financial burden, an even heavier emotional burden and the frustration of seeing your career stagnate. It's going to be a tough time no matter what, but there are ways to improve it so the time doesn't feel like a complete loss. Throughout this blog I'm going to cover three basic areas to address to make your time while unemployed as bearable as possible. Moving towards licensure, improving your marketability and staying sane. Today, I'm going to cover some methods of dealing with the first issue, filling the IDP requirements and getting your license. If you're reading this and have any tips or resources to add, please post and share them so we all can benefit.

For years, the system was set up so that we had to finish our IDP time before we could take the ARE exams. This is no longer true. If you have a B.Arch or M.Arch from an NAAB accredited school you can start taking the ARE once you have established an NCARB council record in most states. According to NCARB's website Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington DC all allow concurrent ARE and IDP. that's 28 states out of 50, plus Puerto Rico and DC. You should check with the state board of licensing to confirm.

Now, the ARE exams are certainly expensive, but if you can get them taken care of during your period of unemployment, you'll be much better positioned to get a job.

Getting through the IDP program while unemployed is far more complicated though. The road to a professional architect's license is a long one as it is without adding in a long period of inactivity due to unemployment. As full time employees, we rack up IDP units towards the magic number of 700. When I was laid off, I was just over halfway to the goal, with 376 IDP units to my name. As we all know, one unit is equal to eight hours of work experience, so I still have 324 workdays worth of time to put in, which breaks down to about 65 weeks. How do you get those hours taken care of, or at least put a dent in them, when you don't have a job?

The good news is, there are ways of getting IDP units now (although there weren't prior to this year). The May 2009 edition of IDP E-News posted a list of approaches.

Currently Unemployed?

You can earn IDP training units if you are currently unemployed.

Community Service
Work Setting FF (Performing professional or community service when it isn't applicable to any other work setting)
Training Category D – Professional and Community Service
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 10
The program director of the activity can sign off on your training units.

Post-Professional Degree (Master or Doctorate of Architecture)
Training Category D – Related Activities
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 117
Click here for list of approved programs.

As of 1 July 2009, interns will be able to earn training units while unemployed for:

AIA Continuing Education
Training Categories A-D
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 235 (.25 training units equal one learning unit.)
A copy of the AIA transcript must be submitted to NCARB to receive credit.

CSI Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) Certification
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 5
A copy of your certificate must be submitted to NCARB to receive credit.

CSI Construction Specifier (CCS) Certification
Training Category A - Specifications and Materials Research
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 5
A copy of your certificate must be submitted to NCARB to receive credit.
(Note: this cannot be combined with EPC activities for satisfaction of minimum training units in this area.)

CSI Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA) Certification
Training Category B - Construction Phase—Office
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 5
A copy of your certificate must be submitted to NCARB to receive credit.
(Note: this cannot be combined with EPC activities for satisfaction of minimum training units in this area.)

LEED Accreditation
Training Category D - Related Activities
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 5
A copy of your certificate must be submitted to NCARB to receive credit.
(Note: to earn supplementary education training units for LEED Accreditation between 1 July 2008 and 1 July 2009, interns must have been employed in an IDP work setting.)

NCARB Professional Conduct Monograph and Quiz
Training Category C - Office Management
Maximum Training Units Allowed: 2
NCARB will enter your passing score into your Record.
(Note: this can be combined with three EPC activities for satisfaction of minimum training units in this area.)

The volunteer hours existed before, but only got you 10 units or so. Meanwhile the graduate work is a VERY expensive method to get IDP units. After those two though, are some great free or reasonably affordable approaches. While LEED and CSI certifications are pricey, you not only get IDP units but they look great on your resume. The NCARB Professional Conduct monograph and quiz are available on NCARB's website and are 100% free. The AIA Continuing Ed credits are a goldmine too. While you have to dig for them, there are free seminars out there that you can attend in person and online.

More good news! As of January 1, 2010, interns will be able to do activities in the Emerging Professionals Companion with sign-off from their Mentor, rather than their Supervisor. In other words, you should be able to get credit while unemployed for up to 5 units per section.

I'll post more resource as they come to my attention. If anyone has anything to add, let me know!