Your Path to Becoming an Architect:
Examination

Step 3

After you have obtained certification from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) and become an Intern Architect, you must write an examination. You can choose to write one of these two examinations:

• The Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) - this examination was developed by the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA)

or

• The Architect Registration Examination (ARE) - this examination was developed by the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB)

You may apply to write either the ExAC or the ARE only after obtaining CACB certification and being appointed as an Intern Architect with the OAA. Please note that, in addition, you must complete and submit to the OAA a minimum of 2,800 hours of approved experience recorded in the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) at the time you submit your ExAC Registration Form, or have submitted this prior to registration. If fewer than 2,800 hours or experience are approved by OAA, you will not be permitted to register for the ExAC. To become eligible to take the ExAC or ARE, you should contact the OAA. OAA staff can direct you to the ExAC website where you can download the application, or OAA staff will prepare an Eligibility Form and forward it to the USA-based Test Consultants who administer the ARE. You must receive the Authorization to Test before you can take the ARE.

The Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)

The ExAC has four sections and is written over a period of two consecutive days. Each section is three hours and consists of a variety of questions including multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions.

• Section 1-- programming; site and environmental analysis; cost management; co-ordinating engineering systems; schematic design; and design development
• Section 2 -- building code research
• Section 3 -- final project
• Section 4 -- bidding and contract negotiations; construction phase (office); construction phase (site); and project management

Visit the ExAC website for more information.

Preparing for the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)

The principal sources of the examination content are:

• the Canadian Handbook of Practice for Architects (CHOP)
• OAA's Internship in Architecture Program (IAP)
• National Building Code of Canada (2005 edition, without the provincial adaptations)

For a list of texts, documents, and Internet links that will assist you to prepare for the ExAC, you can download the the References/Resources file from ExAC website.

Taking the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)

The ExAC is a paper-based test offered once a year in Toronto, London, Ottawa, or Sudbury.

To be eligible to write the ExAC, you:

• must be "in good standing" with the OAA; this means you must hold current status as an Intern Architect and not currently be the subject of a complaint or disciplinary proceeding

and

• you must complete and submit to the OAA a minimum of 2,800 hours of approved experience recorded in the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) at the time of submission of your ExAC Registration Form, or have submitted this prior to registration. If fewer than 2,800 hours of experience are approved by the OAA, you will not be permitted to register for the ExAC. For a listing of all the requirements for taking the ExAC, refer to the downloadable Preparation Guide available on the ExAC website.

Results of your Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)

The examination results will be mailed to you in the form of a transcript issued by the OAA. The results for each section of the ExAC will be identified as pass or fail. You will not receive a score or a percentage. In the case of a fail score, brief feedback is given to you about the general objectives you may need to focus on. No further details will be provided to you.

An Intern who does not successfully complete all the sections of the examination must rewrite all the failed section(s) at the next session of the ExAC. If he/she fails to succeed at this first retaking, he/she will be offered a final attempt to complete all the remaining failed section(s) at the next session of the ExAC. If the Intern fails at this final attempt, he/she will be considered as a new candidate for the examination and he/she will therefore have to rewrite all the sections of the examination. Please note for an Intern who is registered but is absent at an examination, that section is considered a failure.

For more information, see the FAQ section of the ExAC website.

Fees for the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)

These fees are in Canadian dollars for 2010. No tax is applicable to the fees for the ExAC in most jurisdictions in Canada. Verify with your local jurisdiciton. ExAC candidates can expect an increase to the ExAC fees of
approximately 5% annually.

Section 1	CAN $ 183.75
Section 2	CAN $ 183.75
Section 3	CAN $ 183.75
Section 4	CAN $ 183.75

The Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

The ARE has seven divisions: six divisions contain a section of multiple-choice items and a separate section including one or more graphic vignettes. The multiple-choice section consists of a fixed number of questions delivered within a maximum time limit. The schematic design division has two sections containing one graphic vignette each. No multiple-choice items are delivered in the schematic design division.

Visit the website for the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB) for detailed information about the ARE.

Information about the ARE is also available on the OAA website.

You do not have to take all divisions of the ARE at the same time. Once you have been approved to take the ARE, you can write the exam in any order at any time you choose during your eligibility period. If you fail a division, you must wait for six months before you can retake this division.

Preparing for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

A test information package will be sent to you as soon as the test administrators receive your Eligibility Form from the OAA. The information package contains:

• the ARE guidelines, including a detailed description of the exam, information on testing centres and scheduling, and references
• a practice program for the graphics components of the exam
• your Authorization to Test letter

Practice problems (vignettes) are available at the NCARB website. A free tutorial is also offered 30 minutes before the exam. Prior knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) or other drawing software programs is not necessary.

Taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

The ARE is administered and graded by computer in test centres across Canada and the United States. Ontario centres are located in Kitchener, Toronto, London, Hamilton, and Ottawa. Test centres may be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday, 50 weeks a year. All divisions of the ARE are offered year-round. Contact the test centre of your choice in any jurisdiction or in the jurisdiction where you become eligible. Although the OAA sends your eligibility information directly to the testing organization, you are responsible for scheduling exams.You must contact the testing centre closest to you when you are ready to take an exam. You may write the different divisions of the exam in any order, and at any time. If you fail a division, you must wit for six months before you can retake this division.

Results of your Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

Your test results are sent directly to the OAA, and the OAA will forward your results to you.

Outcome of Test	Next Step
Passed all divisions	Proceed to Step Four
Failed one or more divisions	You must wait at least six months to retest

Fees for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

These fees are for 2010 and are in US dollars. Canadian applicants must pay the exchange rate plus 13% HST. Test fees cannot be refunded once an appointment to write has been set.

Programming Planning & Practice	US$ 210.00
Structural Systems	US$ 210.00
Schematic Design	US$ 210.00
Construction Documents and Services	US$ 210.00
Site Planning & Design	US$ 210.00
Building Design & Construction Systems	US$ 210.00
Building Systems	US$ 210.00