The National Competency Standards (NCSA)

This booklet lists all the Competency Standards required for registration as an architect in Australia and New Zealand. That is, the ability required to perform the activities within the profession of architecture to the standard expected in practice.

Please note: The National Competency Standards in Architecture (NCSA) were reviewed in 2008. As a result the layout in the NCSA booklet has been rearranged for legibility and clarity, and to emphasise the inter-relationships between the Performance Criteria (PC) with their relevant Context and Element. In the main the PCs remain unchanged; some, however, have been split into discreet topics where multiple measures with a single PC may have been implied in previous editions. This has resulted in the total number of PCs increasing from 142 to 149.

The other documents in the NCSA suite (i.e. Guide for Candidates, Reference Guide for APE Candidates, and the Log Book of Experience in Architectural Practice) have also been updated. Please Note: Candidates who already have a Log Book are not required to complete the new edition.

• Section 1: NCSA/LB Log Book Information
• Section 2: NCSA /LS Log Sheets

Please note:On 21 July 2011 the 80 page Logbook was updated.  If you have been using a version of the Logbook published prior to that date  click here for information about how it may affect you.No action is required if your completed logbook will require 40 pages or less.

This booklet provides reference information for intending APE Candidates.

• Sample Paper
  
• Answers to Sample Paper

Note:  The sample paper is posted to illustrate the nature of the questions likely to be encountered in the APE.  The issues frequently concern matters of current practice which can develop with the effluxion of time.  Candidates are cautioned to ensure that the answers remain relevant to contemporary practice before relying on particular answers.