What's Happening

REVIEW OF THE AACA REVIEW OF ACADEMIC EQUIVALENCE (RAE) PROCESS

The AACA Review of Academic Equivalence process provides for a review at five yearly intervals to ensure the continuing relevance of the RAE process.

Accordingly AACA has appointed a Work Group to review the RAE process. The Work Group has adopted a strategy of continuing dialogue with those having an interest in the use of the RAE process. A copy of the background paper and Terms of Reference issued to the Work Group may be accessed by clicking here.

Would you please identify the Terms of Reference addressed in any submission you make in order to facilitate classification of responses by the Review Work Group.

If you have any comments, these should be forwarded, by 16 January 2008, to:

AACA
PO Box 236
CIVIC SQUARE  ACT 2608

or emailed to: registrar@aaca.org.au .


 

REVIEW OF THE AACA NATIONAL COMPETENCY STANDARDS IN ARCHITECTURE

The AACA National Competency Standards in Architecture provide for a review at five yearly intervals to ensure the continuing relevance of the Standards.

Accordingly in mid-2006 AACA appointed a Work Group to review the NCSA. The Group has adopted a strategy of continuing dialogue with those having an interest in the use of the NCSA. As a result of consultations a further draft has been developed and may be accessed by clicking here.

If you have any comments, these should be forwarded, by 20 August 2007, to:

AACA
PO Box 236
CIVIC SQUARE  ACT 2608

or emailed to: registrar@aaca.org.au .

 

 

APEC ARCHITECT REGISTER LAUNCH


 The APEC Architect Register was launched on 19 September 2005. Click here for a copy of the press release.

 

Australian Architecture Program Accreditation and Recognition Procedure


The major review of the Australian Architecture Program Accreditation and Recognition Procedure has now been finalised. The document has been endorsed and is available at the Publications page (click here).

 

Review of the AACA Architectural Practice Examination


The AACA Architectural Practice Examination (APE) has recently undergone a comprehensive review. As a result some changes will apply from 1 January 2006 and others from 1 January 2008.

 

1. Changes to apply from 1 January 2006:

 

Part 1 - Eligibility

It will no longer be mandatory to have your log-sheets and Statement of Experience certified by your employer/supervising architect; however you are encouraged to do so.

 

Your application must however be supported by a Statutory Declaration attesting to the accuracy of all the documentation you are submitting. Applications will not be accepted unless accompanied by a Statutory Declaration.

 

Your Statement of Practical Experience may now be up to a maximum of 2000 words in length.

 

Eligibility requirements have been modified for graduates with substantial undergraduate practical experience, and also for successful NPrA candidates. The following changes will apply:

If you have 7 years' practical experience within the last 10 years, including 3 years in an architectural office under the direction of an architect (1 year of which must be in Australia) with a minimum of 3000 hours of logged experience at the prescribed levels in the seven Prescribed Elements of Competency, you may elect to apply for the APE upon successful completion of an accredited qualification in architecture from an Australian school of Architecture, or upon successful completion of the National Program of Assessment.

 

Part 2 - National Examination Paper

The examination will remain a 'closed-book', multiple-choice style paper.

 

However you will be notified in writing by the responsible Architects Registration Authority whether you have 'passed' or 'failed' the Part 2 process. If you have been unsuccessful you will be advised of the areas of deficiency (competency and topic areas). Counselling will no longer be provided.

 

Part 3 - Examination by Interview

The Examination by Interview will comprise one examination only, known as the Part 3 examination. There will no longer be a Part 3(B) examination.

 

If you are successful in Part 3 the relevant Architects Registration Authority will invite you to apply for registration.

 

If you are unsuccessful you will be advised in writing; this advice will include the areas in which weaknesses have been identified.

 

Where appropriate unsuccessful candidates be invited to undertake a Supplementary Examination. The Supplementary Examination is by invitation only. A fee will apply. The Supplementary Examination will be conducted in the same form as the Part 3 Examination by two assessors not previously involved in your assessment.

 

Grievances and Appeals

If you are aggrieved by the outcome of any Part of the APE you must lodge your grievance in writing with the relevant Architects Registration Authority within 21 calendar days of the date of notification of the result to which your grievance relates. Counselling will no longer be available.

 

 

2. Changes to apply from 1 January 2008:

 

Part 1 - Eligibility

From 1 January 2008, the hours and levels of experience required across the Mandatory Elements of Prescribed Competence (sections 3.1.6 and 3.1.7 of NCSA 01/GC and section 5.2 of NCSA 01/LG) will be as follows:

 

You must have a minimum of 40 hours of experience in each of the seven mandatory elements of competency - Elements 2.2.2, 2.2.4, 3.1.2, 3.1.4, 3.2.3, 3.2.5, and 3.3.1.

 

You must have a minimum total of 120 hours of experience at Executive level across at least three of the mandatory elements of competency

 

You may have no more than 160 hours of experience at Observer level in each of Elements 3.2.3 and 3.3.1. These are the only two Mandatory Elements in which Observer experience is accepted.

 

 

APE review 2004 Ape changes - proposed notification for webpage