Section 1150.40  Examination

a)         The examination for licensure as an architect is a computer based examination prepared by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

1)         An applicant who has an NAAB accredited professional degree may begin taking the NCARB Architecture Registration Exams (ARE) after successful completion of the professional degree and with concurrent enrollment in the IDP.

2)         An applicant who has a pre-professional degree will not be approved to take ARE prior to completion of the required training units of the IDP as stated in Section 1150.10(b)(3)(B).

b)         The examination shall consist of the following divisions:

1)         Pre-Design;

2)         Site Planning;

3)         Building Planning;

4)         Building Technology;

5)         General Structures;

6)         Lateral Forces;

7)         Mechanical and Electrical Systems;

8)         Building Design/Materials and Methods; and

9)         Construction Documents and Services.

c)         Site Planning, Building Planning and Building Technology are graphic design problems, with all other divisions being a multiple-choice format.  All divisions are graded with a score of pass or fail.  To pass the examination, the applicant must achieve a passing grade on each division of the examination.

d)         An applicant failing a division may repeat that division test 6 months after his or her unsuccessful attempt.

e)         All applicants who are in the process of taking the examination formerly administered by the Division shall receive credit for previous NCARB examinations passed with transfer credit to the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) divisions in Appendix C.

f)          If an applicant fails to pass an examination for licensure under the Act within 3 years after filing an application, the application shall expire and be denied.  The applicant may, however, make a new application for examination accompanied by the required fee, and must furnish proof of meeting the qualifications for examination in effect at the time of new application. Scores from divisions of the examination already passed under a previous application shall be carried over and applied to subsequent applications. After January 1, 2006, the Department will hold scores of examinations passed as valid for a period of 5 years in compliance with the NCARB "5-year Rolling Clock".  All scores of previously passed examinations prior to January 1, 2006 will be valid permanently.

g)         Applicants who fail to achieve the required passing score in any division of the examination will be afforded unlimited opportunities to repeat the failed parts of the examination.

h)         The provisions of this Section shall be waived for an applicant for licensure as an architect who makes application in form and substance satisfactory to the Division pursuant to the standards set forth in Section 1150.30 and causes to be filed with the Division, in addition to his/her application, proof of successful completion of the NCARB examination administered pursuant to the standards outlined above in another jurisdiction.  The proof of successful completion must be forwarded directly to the Division from the jurisdiction in which the examination was taken.

i)          Divisions of the examination passed in another jurisdiction will be accepted toward licensure in this State if the division was not subsequently failed.

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