The NPrA provides an alternative entry to the Architectural Practice Examination for experienced design practitioners who have not completed an architectural qualification.
The AACA’s National Program of Assessment is recognised by all Australian Architect Registration Boards as an alternate entry to the Architectural Practice Examination, successful completion of which is required prior to applying for registration as an architect.
The NPrA is a design exercise that tests candidates’ competency in architecture on the basis of their acquired knowledge and experience. The focus of the design exercise is to design a complex building in response to a hypothetical design brief. Applications for Stage 1 Eligibility close on 28 February 2020.
Following the last two years of implementation of the Architecture Program Accreditation Procedure in Australia and New Zealand, a variety of amendments have been incorporated and the updated Procedural documents published in December 2019.
The amendments include a small number of material changes and a larger number of procedural clarifications. There has been no material change to the underpinning focus of the Procedure, which is to assess that architecture programs are designed to enable a graduate to achieve the required 37 Performance Criteria of the National Standard of Competency for Architects.
The complete updated procedural document set can be downloaded from this link. This 58 page PDF contains the main procedural document and all supporting guidance documents in a single PDF.
Previously issued clarification documents are now withdrawn.
The AACA office will be closed over the holiday period from 1pm Friday 20 December 2019 and re-open on Monday 6 January 2020. If there are any enquiries during this time please email [email protected] and you will receive a response shortly after the office resumes.
The AACA wishes everyone a happy holiday and best wishes for the new year.
We are very pleased to release the Architectural Education and the Profession – the result of an in-depth study across Australia and New Zealand supported by all stakeholders in the profession.
Thank you to the many academics, practitioners and students who participated in the research; our research team and editors; and our expert advisory group.
We expect to see a number of exciting and relevant research projects arising out of the findings of this comprehensive report.
AACA has published the public report for the August 2019 APE National Examination Paper.
The report explains how the Examination is developed. Separately, you can see a national summary of how candidates performed in each scenario by questions and relevant performance criteria in the August 2019 National Examination Paper.
The AACA and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
TEQSA and industry professional accreditation bodies with links to the higher education sector have a mutual interest in maintaining and improving quality in the provision of Australian higher education.
For the accreditation of architecture programs, the linkages to TEQSA, the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) and the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) are noted in the Architecture Program Accreditation Procedure for Australia and New Zealand (see here).
The aim of the MoU is to facilitate the sharing of non-confidential information and reduce regulatory burden on higher education providers through joint and streamlined approaches to assessment.
The MoU can be found on the AACA Publications page (see here) or can be accessed directly from this link: TEQSA and AACA MoU.
You can read more about TEQSA’s engagement with professional bodies here.
AACA has just launched a paper titled ‘Online Architecture Education and the Australian Context’. Access here.
This paper provides some background to online university education – particularly as it applies to professionally accredited disciplines such as architecture – that may assist in placing the accreditation process in the context of developing norms of teaching and learning in higher education internationally.
AACA has just published its first public reporting on the APE National Examination Paper.
The report explains how the Examination is developed. Separately, you can see a national summary of how candidates performed in each scenario by questions and relevant performance criteria in the April 2019 national Examination Paper.
The Report has been distrbuted to the following groups:
– Architect Registration Boards (ARBs)
– The Executive of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)
– The Executive of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)
– The Executive of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA)
– The Executive of the Australian Deans of Built Environment and Design (ADBED)
– Head of School listing for Australian and New Zealand architecture programs
– The New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB)
Any inquiries on the Update Report should be directed to the Accreditation Secretariat C/AACA via [email protected] or telephone inquiries via the AACA Office +61 2 8042 8930.