Illinois Administrative Code
Title 68 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Part 1150 - ILLINOIS ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE ACT OF 1989
Appendix B - Historical Summary of Minimum Requirements to Qualify for Examination for Licensure as an Architect in Illinois
(For specific details refer to the Rules for the Administration of the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989 that were in effect for the appropriate time period specified in this Appendix B)
a) July 1, 1897 through June 30, 1919: Applicants who are 21 years old and have made payment of $15 fee to take examination. Any person who is shown by affidavit to have been engaged in the practice of architecture on July 1, 1897 shall be entitled to a license without examination; provided that the application is made within 6 months after passage of the Act.
b) July 1, 1919 through July 10, 1957: 21 years old; citizen of U.S. Applicants who are graduates of a high school or secondary school approved by the Department of Registration and Education and 3 years of experience in the office of a reputable architect.
c) July 11, 1957 through September 30, 1977: 21 years old; citizen of U.S. Applicants who are graduates of a high school or secondary school approved by the Department of Registration and Education and 8 years of experience in the office of a registered architect. Applicants with up to 5 years of architectural study in an approved school of architecture and additional years experience in the office of a registered architect that total 8 years of experience and study.
d) October 1, 1977 through December 31, 1984: 21 years old; citizen of U.S. Applicant with a professional degree from an accredited school of architecture were eligible to take Phase I and upon completion of 3 years practical experience could take Phase II. Applicants who are graduates of an approved high school and 8 years of experience.
e) January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1995: The following education and architectural experience under the direct supervision of a U.S. licensed architect qualified for examination/licensure:
1) Applicants with a professional degree from a program accredited by NAAB:
A) 6-year professional degree (M/Arch) and 2 years of architectural experience;
B) 5-year professional degree (B/Arch) and 3 years of architectural experience;
2) Applicants with a degree in architecture from a Board-approved program not accredited by NAAB:
A) Master's degree and 4 years of architectural experience;
B) 5-year bachelor's degree and 4.5 years of architectural experience;
C) 4-year bachelor's degree and 5 years of architectural experience;
D) 4-year degree in architecture-related field or program as listed below and 6 years of architectural experience:
landscape architecture;
interior design;
building technology;
construction management;
urban and regional planning;
historic preservation;
architectural, civil, mechanical, structural, general or electrical engineering;
E) 4-year or more degree in any field and 7 years of architectural experience.
f) January 1, 1996 through August 9, 1998: The following education and architectural experience under the direct supervision of a U.S. licensed architect qualified for examination/licensure:
1) 6-year professional degree (M/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 2 years (or 465 Intern Development Program Training Units (IDP TU's)) of architectural experience;
2) 5-year professional degree (B/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 3 years (or 700 IDP TU's) of architectural experience;
3) Pre-professional 4-year baccalaureate degree in architecture from a program acceptable for direct entry into a first professional master of architecture degree program accredited by NAAB and 5 years (or 1170 IDP TU's) of architectural experience.
g) August 10 through December 31, 1998: An NCARB IDP Record certifying to the completion of the following education and indicated minimum number of acceptable TU's is required for examination/licensure:
1) 6-year professional degree (M/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 465 TU's;
2) 5-year professional degree (B/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 700 TU's;
3) Pre-professional 4-year baccalaureate degree in architecture from a program acceptable for direct entry into a first professional master of architecture degree program accredited by NAAB and 1170 TU's.
h) After December 31, 1998: An NCARB IDP Record certifying to the completion of the following education and indicated minimum number of acceptable TU's is required for examination/licensure:
1) 6-year professional degree (M/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 700 TU's;
2) 5-year professional degree (B/Arch) in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB and 700 TU's;
3) Pre-professional 4-year baccalaureate degree in architecture from a program acceptable for direct entry into a first professional master of architecture degree program accredited by NAAB and 1170 TU's.
i) January 1, 2000: Section 16.5 of the Act required continuing education. November 12, 2002, Section 1150.105 of the Administrative Rules was approved, requiring the CE for the 2002-2004 renewal and all renewals thereafter.
j) September 2002: Illinois became a "Direct Registration Program" participant with NCARB. Subsequent to that date, all applicants applied directly through NCARB for IDP and approval to take the ARE. Applicants who were previously approved for testing through Continental Testing Services, Inc. before that date continued testing through CTS. Applicants who completed the IDP and ARE through NCARB then were required to submit an application for "Acceptance of Exam" to the Division.
k) October 20, 2004: Section 1150.60 was amended to allow licensure by endorsement based upon the NCARB Council Record.
l) Effective January 1, 2005, pursuant to PA 93-1009, the pre-professional degree was acceptable only until January 1, 2010.
m) Pursuant to PA 94-0543, effective July 1, 2005, the Act changed. The Division will no longer accept pre-professional degrees for licensure after January 1, 2014.
n) January 1, 2006: NCARB "5-year Rolling Clock" for ARE was accepted. All scores prior to January 1, 2006 will be kept indefinitely. After January 1, 2006, all portions of the ARE must be completed within 5 years. If all exams are not passed within the 5-year period, the earliest score is voided and the exam must be retaken.
o) As of July 1, 2008, the ARE 4.0 examination shall consist of the following divisions:
1) Programming Planning and Practice;
2) Site Planning and Design;
3) Building Planning and Construction Systems;
4) Schematic Design;
5) Structural Systems;
6) Building Systems; and
7) Construction Documents and Services.
p) As of January 1, 2011, any division passed prior to January 1, 2006 shall no longer remain valid if all remaining divisions have not been passed by January 1, 2014. Scores prior to January 1, 2006 will cease to be valid as of January 1, 2014. All scores must meet the NCARB "5-year Rolling Clock" requirements.
q) In 2010 NCARB changed the requirements for IDP 2.0 from IDP Training Units to IDP Training Hours. One Training Unit equals 8 hours of acceptable activity. One Training Hour is one hour of acceptable activity. In March of 2010, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) ceased to be offered as the TOEFL-iBT (Internet Based Test) was established and superseded this exam. While in effect, the TOEFL and TSE requirements were a minimum score of 550 or 213 for the computer-based test and the TSE was a minimum score of 50.
r) Pursuant to PA 98-288 (see 225 ILCS 305/13) effective August 9, 2013, acceptance of a pre-professional degree for licensure was extended to December 31, 2015.
s) On July 1, 2015, NCARB reduced the training requirements for IDP from 5600 Training Hours to the core Training Hours of 3740 for a professional degree. Illinois still required the 9360 Training Hours for the pre-professional degree through December 31, 2015. Through that date, an applicant could not sit for the ARE with a pre-professional degree before completing the IDP requirements of 9360 Training Hours.
t) The definition of a pre-professional degree, acceptable through December 31, 2015, had the following requirements:
The overall curriculum shall include a minimum of 120 semester hours or the equivalent and shall include at least the following subjects:
Advanced Mathematics - including calculus and analytical geometry - 8 hours
Basic Sciences - 8 hours
Architectural Sciences - 16 hours
Architectural Design - 18 hours - which may include up to 6 hours of art or freehand drawing
Humanities/Social Studies - 12 hours
History of Architecture - 12 hours
u) On July 1, 2016 NCARB changed the name of the IDP to AXP (Architect Experience Program) and changed the definitions and requirements to 6 experience areas and 96 tasks. The minimum requirement for a professional degree is 3740 hours.
v) On November 1, 2016, NCARB introduced the new ARE 5.0. The ARE 4.0 will run concurrently with the 5.0 until 4.0 is phased out on June 30, 2018. Those applicants who started under 4.0 will have the choice of attempting to complete under 4.0 before June 30, 2018. Any applicant not completing the ARE 4.0 by June 30, 2018 will be transferred into the ARE 5.0 program, and the examinations will be converted by NCARB.
