I read with interest the recent article in AIA Architect Online, regarding the ability of interns to work for free and get IDP experience. I am a member of the previous “lost generation” of architects. I chose to stay in the profession, but have witnessed the significant impact this loss has had on the profession, firm transitions, etc. The likelihood that we will lose another large number of talented individuals from the profession concerns me greatly.
I have been on both sides of this economic situation. Twenty years ago, I found myself trying to get the work experience I needed as a majority of my intern friends and I were being laid off. At the time, I resided in Nevada – one of the first states to adopt IDP. I felt fortunate to land one of the very few available jobs when I moved back to Tucson in the midst of that economic slump. Today, as a firm principal, I have had the difficult task of reducing my own staff. It was with great sadness that I let go a very promising student intern, knowing that I was losing a talented employee and that he was losing out on necessary experience. Not even the promise of academic credit could overcome the reality of the labor laws.
There is a silver lining in all of this, though. NCARB has recognized the hardship that current interns are facing, and has taken action to provide some assistance. Interns now have several options for getting some of the required experience without being employed in a traditional office. They can take advantage of continuing education programs by AIA and CSI. They can do exercises from the Emerging Professionals Companion. They can participate in design competitions. They can go on site visits with a mentor. They can perform work for non-profit organizations. And there are several other options. Many of these options do require the involvement of a registrant, who can sign off on the participation of the intern. There is a wealth of information available on the NCARB website. A more detailed explanation, and complete list of options, is included in the Supplemental Experience category of the IDP Guidelines. There is also information available regarding what is necessary for a supervisor or mentor.
As professionals, we may not be in a position to employ any interns right now, but we can have a positive impact on their professional development by volunteering to serve as mentors and assist them with some of these efforts. I strongly encourage you to do so. If you know interns who are struggling to gain the IDP credits they need, please advise them that they do have a variety of options. Direct them to the NCARB website. And please do your part to help them by serving as a mentor. All of the reporting is now done online and it takes very little time; however, the impact on an aspiring architect - and the future of our profession - can be huge.
Susan Schaefer Kliman, PhD, AIA
Susan currently serves as one of the architect members on the Arizona Board of Technical Registration. In this position, she represents the Arizona to NCARB. For the past two years she has served on NCARB’s IDP Committee/Task Force.