State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

In September 2011, NCARB announced the signing of long-term contracts with Alpine Testing Solutions, Inc. and Prometric, Inc. for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). Since that announcement, staff and these consultants have been working to ensure a successful and seamless migration from a single consultant to two consultants in July 2013. At that time, Alpine will take over content and candidate management for the ARE, while Prometric will continue to be the Council’s site management consultant. This switch will offer several benefits for Member Boards and candidates.
 
In order to facilitate the migration of information from Prometric to Alpine, there will be a blackout for up to eight weeks for both Member Boards and candidates beginning 1 July 2013. The blackout will be announced to candidates before the end of the year.
 
It is important to note that there will be no changes to exam content post-blackout; however, the process to schedule an exam and receive scores will be different. Due to the change in scheduling procedure, candidates will not be able to schedule an exam division with an administration date after 30 June 2013 until after the blackout is completed.
 

Estimated Blackout: July-August 2013

To ensure that the candidate and exam data is securely transferred from Prometric’s system to Alpine’s, the consultants must turn off all systems to transfer the data and perform quality control tests. In addition, the Council will connect Alpine’s system to the candidate’s “My NCARB” and link the candidate’s Record information to their exam information when securely verifiable.

During the blackout:

• Prometric will grade the final exam divisions taken on or before 30 June 2013.
• Prometric will securely transfer exam content and candidate information to Alpine.
• Alpine will perform a quality control review on the information received from Prometric and map into their management system.
• NCARB’s Information System team will link candidate information in Alpine’s system to My NCARB for candidates that have identical key indicators in both systems and perform a quality control check. Candidates not linked through this process will need to go through a verification process prior to gaining access to the new system post-blackout.
• NCARB’s ARE, Communications, and Records teams will help prepare Member Boards and candidates for the new ARE portal launch with web pages, videos, and webinars.

During the blackout Member Boards will NOT be able to:

• Enter or change candidate information in Accelerator.
• View candidate information or exam scores stored in Accelerator.

During the blackout candidates will NOT be able to:

• Schedule exam divisions.
• Take exam divisions.
• Contact Prometric to receive an authorization to test or update their information.

Rolling Clock Extension

For all candidates who test in a jurisdiction with the standard rolling clock rules, a 12-week extension to the five-year rolling clock will be given.  Note:  Colorado adheres to the standard rolling clock rules.
 
Please note that the extension does not apply to section B of the Rolling Clock policy: Any division passed prior to 1 January 2006 shall no longer remain valid if all remaining divisions have not been passed by 1 July 2014.

Member Board and Candidate Portal

At the end of the blackout, the Council will launch new Member Board and candidate systems through My NCARB to administer exam eligibilities and scheduling.
 
Post-blackout, Member Boards will:

• Be able to view testing information for ALL candidates eligible through their jurisdiction (even if the jurisdiction participates in Direct Registration). • Be able to create eligibilities for candidates made eligible directly through their jurisdiction.
• Receive electronic score reports and determine when they are viewable to the candidates managed directly by their jurisdiction.

 Post-blackout, candidates will:

• Continue to test at Prometric test centers.
• Schedule exam divisions through My NCARB. Exams will no longer be scheduled by phone or through the Prometric website (except for Special Accommodation candidates).
• Have easy access to their authorization to test, candidate number, testing history, and rolling clock information through My NCARB.
• Be able to view, print, and download score reports processed by Alpine through My NCARB.
• Have redesigned score reports.
• Receive reminders of upcoming rolling clock expirations, test activity requirements, important messages from NCARB, and more.

Candidates will need to have an active NCARB Record to schedule exams and view their exam history. Since 2008, it has been a requirement for newly eligible candidates to have an NCARB Record to take the ARE. However, if for some reason a candidate does not have a Record, NCARB will issue a free Record for one year that will allow access to the ARE portal only. After one year, candidates will have to renew their Record to maintain access. If candidates with this limited Record would like to document experience or education information, they will need to pay the full intern application fee.
 
There will be jurisdictional controls on some information available in the portal, so a board can control what a candidate sees and when they see it. More information on the portal and the new processes will be available in spring 2013.

What's Next: Tentative Timeline

Early 2013
Prometric, Alpine, and NCARB will conduct a pilot test in early 2013 that will test the flow of data from one vendor to the other. The test will replicate multiple complete candidate testing experiences. Once complete, we will begin to release more information on the revised processes that will go into effect after the blackout.

February 2013
A webinar will be offered for Member Board Executives and board staff to provide an introductory overview of the new system.

March 2013
Release of information about the new process to candidates. Will include webpages, webinars, and other resources to help prepare for the blackout and launch.

30 June 2013
Last exam divisions administered by Prometric before the blackout.

1 July 2013
Beginning of Member Board and candidate blackout.

August 2013
Launch of ARE portal in My NCARB; scheduling and testing resumes.
 

ARE Portal FAQs

What are the benefits of the new ARE portal?
The new portal will offer several benefits to candidates.  Through My BCARB, the will:

• Have easier access to their authorization to test number, candidate number, testing history, and rolling clock information.
• Be able to view, print, and download future score reports directly from the portal.
• Receive reminders about upcoming rolling clock expirations, test activity requirements, and important messages from NCARB.
• Be able to update their name and address information.
  In addition, the new portal offers new tools for Member Boards to assistant candidates with questions. They will:
• Be able to view testing information for ALL candidates eligible through their jurisdiction (even if the jurisdiction participates in Direct Registration).
• Be able to create eligibilities for candidates made eligible directly through their jurisdiction.
• Receive electronic score reports and determine when they are viewable to the candidates managed directly by their jurisdiction. More information about the new portal is coming soon!

What do the consultants have to do to get ready for the launch of the new portal?

In early 2013, Prometric, Alpine, and NCARB will conduct a pilot test that will test the flow of data from one vendor to the other. The test will replicate multiple complete candidate testing experiences.

On 1 July 2013, Prometric will turn off all access to its system to grade the final batch of exam divisions taken on or before 30 June 2013, and to begin the data migration with process to Alpine. During this time, an estimated eight-week blackout from all ARE related testing systems will be in effect for Member Boards and candidates.

Why is the blackout expected to take eight weeks?

All data—both candidate related and content related—currently stored in Prometric’s system will be securely migrated to NCARB’s new candidate and content management consultant, Alpine Testing Solutions, Inc. This includes name and contact information, candidate number, eligibility history, and all test history, including dates of division administration, scores, form and vignette delivery, and all item responses for all ARE candidates administered since 1997. This equates to candidate and examination data for over 90,000 candidates—including those who have completed the ARE and those still in progress.

Both consultants and the Council will be doing multiple levels of quality control checks to ensure the data is transferred accurately. In addition, a candidate’s history will be linked with his or her NCARB Record when securely verified. Because of the amount of the information being migrated and the sensitive nature of the data, the blackout is estimated to be eight weeks. Our staff and consultant team will make every effort to expedite this process.

What can candidates do during the eight-week blackout?

While candidates will not be able to schedule or take any divisions of the ARE during the blackout, NCARB expects to have several resources available for candidates to review prior to the launch of the new portal. Updated guidelines and exam guides will be available for review as well as a webcast introducing the new processes post-blackout.

Candidates are encouraged to continue studying for the exams, as there will be no changes to the content post-blackout. They can contact their local AIA component or AIAS chapter to find study groups opportunities.

Will candidates receive an extension to their rolling clock?

Yes. NCARB will grant an automatic 12-week extension to the rolling clock, and is working with jurisdictions with their own rolling clock rules to ensure all candidates receive the same extension. If the blackout is shorter than originally estimated, candidates will still receive the full 12-week extension.

Will a candidate need to keep their NCARB Record active through testing?

Yes.

What if a candidate doesn't have an NCARB Record?

Since 2008, it has been a requirement for newly eligible candidates to have an NCARB Record to take the ARE. However, if for some reason a candidate does not have a Record, NCARB will issue a free Record for one year that will allow access to the ARE portal only. After one year, candidates will have to renew their Record to maintain access. If candidates with this limited Record would like to document experience or education information, they will need to pay the full intern application fee.

How will a candidate’s testing information be linked to their NCARB Record?

The candidate management consultant and NCARB’s information systems team have identified several key indicators that must be identical in both the consultant’s system and the candidate’s NCARB Record for their examination and Record history to be linked. If all the identifiers are the same, the examination history and Record will be linked automatically. Any candidates not matched through this process will need to go through a verification process to link the information. Of the 90,000 candidates in the consultant’s system, NCARB estimates 40,000 will be automatically linked. This 90,000 includes candidates in progress as well as candidates who have completed the ARE since 1997.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Kathy Hillegas at NCARB at (202) 879-0540 or khillegas@ncarb.org.

Application Deadline Dates

The application deadline for engineer and surveyor applications is June 1, 2013 to be eligible to take the October 2013 examinations.

The application deadline for engineer and surveyor applications is December 1, 2013 to be eligible to take the April 2014 examinations.

*****December Graduates: plan accordingly as the application deadline will not be changed.*****

Plan accordingly with plenty of time to gather your documentation.

FE and FS Exams Continue Transition to Computer-Based Testing: The first computer based exams are scheduled to be given in early 2014. Click here for more information.

NCARB Intern Development Program (IDP) Update: The final phase of IDP 2.0 was implemented April 2012. Find out more at www.ncarb.org.

Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Updates: Stay apprised of any updates and changes to the ARE at http://www.ncarb.org/ARE.aspx

ARE Rolling Clock At A Glance: A Summary of information at http://www.ncarb.org/are/enews/2010/august/index.html

Engineering Examination (PE and FE) Updates: Find out about changes to the upcoming PE and FE examinations at http://www.ncees.org/Exams.php

Surveying Examination (PS and FS) Information:
Check out http://www.ncees.org/Exams.php

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Software Engineering exam will be offered for the first time in April 2013. After that, the exam will be administered yearly.

Groups representing software engineers have long maintained that software engineering should be licensed because it is increasingly practiced in areas that reach into the everyday lives of the general public, such as traffic control systems and the electrical grid.

The new exam specifications are posted on www.ncees.org/exams. IEEE-USA (the sponsoring technical society) will publish study materials later this year.

The PE Industrial exam will have new specifications and move to a spring administration schedule in April 2013. October 2012 was the last time this exam is offered in the fall. The new exam specifications are posted on www.ncees.org/exams. The Institute of Industrial Engineers (the sponsoring technical society) will publish revised study materials later this year.

In April 2013, the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam will have new specifications and become a closed-book exam, as specified in EDP 3. The new exam specifications can be reviewed at www.ncees.org/exams.

When the first closed –book PS exam is administered in April 2013, it will contain NCEES supplied-reference material in the exam book, the way material is currently provided for Fundamentals of Surveying examinees. No other references will be allowed for PS examinees. A new edition of the NCEES PS Sample Questions and Solutions became available for sale in November 2012. It will reflect the new specifications and include the supplied references.

The PE Civil exam will have revised design standards for the Construction, Civil Structural, and Transportation modules starting in April 2013. The standards are posted at www.ncees.org/exams.