Examination

In 2006, the OAA, the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA), and the Ordre des Architectes du Québec (OAQ) agreed to create a new Canadian licensing/registration examination, over which they would have control of its development, updates, and administration. The Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) appoint members as regional representatives to the Committee for the Examination for Architects in Canada (CExAC), which oversees and administers the exam.

Throughout the ongoing ExAC development process, teams of architects—assisted by consultants in statistical test analysis—design and validate the exam by:

• updating objectives outlined in the ExAC Preparation Guide;
  
• updating questions based on the specific objectives;
  
• validating each question to ensure it is appropriate for all provinces and territories, as well as for clarity, level of difficulty, and adherence to the objectives;
  
• testing the questions and gathering data on their quality; and
  
• conducting a standard-setting procedure to establish the passing score for each of the four sections.
  

The ExAC is administered once a year in four three-hour sessions over two consecutive days in November. (Registration is done through your province or territory’s licensing authority, such as the OAA, and takes place in June or early July.) It is a paper-pencil exam, held at proctored test sites across Canada and offered in either English or French. For consistent and fair administration, a manual is provided to each licensing authority and for each ExAC administration site.

By staggering the start times over Canada’s time zones, the exam is written simultaneously across the country to ensure fairness and that those writing a section are isolated from communication.

The ExAC is based on general and specific objectives aligned with the experience requirements of the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP). As explained in the annually updated ExAC Preparation Guide, the objectives are grouped under 13 general themes (categories) that encompass 38 general objectives developed by 150 specific objectives. 

The ExAC includes: 

• multiple choice (accounting for most questions);
  
• pairing/matching components; 
  
• ordering of elements;
  
• completions (fill in the blank); and 
  
• short-answer questions.

Each theme is allocated to one of the four sections of the ExAC, shown in the following Table of Specifications (e.g. blueprint):

1. Complete the ExAC Registration Form.
   
   
2. Pay the registration fee in full—visit the ExAC site to learn more. The fee is payable to the licensing authority with which you are enrolled (e.g. OAA), regardless of the province or territory where you plan to write the exam. Contact your licensing authority to learn what payment methods are accepted. The OAA accepts credit card, cheque, cash, or online payment.
   
   
3. Within 30 days of submitting the registration form, the OAA will send a letter of acknowledgement by email, confirming eligibility to write the exam.
   
   
4. Approximately three weeks prior to the examination date, you will receive a letter of authorization to write the ExAC, specifying its date, time, and location. Absence from the exam will be considered a “fail.” (You can learn more by reading the Cancellation of Registration).
   

Anyone who needs accommodation at the examination must obtain prior approval from the OAA (or their licensing authority). This can be indicated on the ExAC Registration Form and by submitting a request form found in the registration package.

An accommodation modifies only the way in which a test is administered or how the individual provides answers to parts of the exam—it does not change the exam’s content or performance criteria or compromise its validity or reliability. Individuals may require accommodations for various reasons, such as health conditions or disabilities. To meet such special needs, CExAC can provide: 

• large-print exam papers; 
  
• additional time; 
  
• unobstructed access to the testing site; 
  
• access to snacks, for medical reasons, during the testing period; 
  
• access to a private room; and/or 
  
• access to a transcriber. 

Individuals may request an exemption from time limits placed on successful completion of the examination for personal issues such as pregnancy or unexpected injury. Details about registration, special accommodations, and exemptions can be found on the ExAC website.

Confidentiality is maintained to protect the integrity of the ExAC and the privacy of personal information. 

Results are compiled individually for those sitting the exam and in aggregate form for each province and territory in both official languages. However, only the overall results for all of Canada are made public. (In several of the provinces and territories, fewer than 16 individuals take the ExAC each year. Reporting aggregate results prevents the identification of individuals and avoids the temptation to make inappropriate comparisons among the licensing authorities).

The public results are published annually on the ExAC website after examinees have been sent their individual results, with tables showing the aggregate success rates. CExAC also publishes both a detailed report and an executive summary in English and French.

The licensing authorities receive data files that provide detailed results of the performance of everyone registered in their province or territory. The results are transmitted to the individuals in a performance report that indicates their status, the sections of the ExAC that were passed, and the sections that need to be taken again. The report does not include raw scores—results are indicated as “pass” or “fail” per section. Where an individual has not successfully completed the entire exam, the report provides constructive information on the failed section(s).

You have three consecutive attempts to achieve a passing score on all four sections of the ExAC. If an individual does not pass all four sections on the first attempt, they must register for the next exam sitting and rewrite all failed sections. If one or more sections are failed during this second attempt, there can be one final attempt at the next scheduled sitting. The passed sections do not have to be rewritten. However, if one does not pass all remaining sections on a third attempt, all four sections of the ExAC must be rewritten at a future sitting. 

Individuals unsuccessful at passing one or more sections of the ExAC may request a formal review of their results for a fee. The review is conducted by a small team of architects who are trained markers. They review the written answer booklets under the supervision of an ExAC test consultant. Another consultant reviews by hand the multiple-choice bubble sheets against the answer key to verify the accuracy of the initial computer marking for anomalies. The point is to confirm the original determination of “fail” was accurate. If the results of one or more sections are overturned, the individual receives a full refund of the request for review fee.

In accordance with the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA), the OAA maintains a process to address complaints arising from third-party service providers involved in the licensure process.

Individuals may submit complaints to the OAA about their experiences with the ExAC. This process applies to complaints submitted by individuals who believe they have experienced inappropriate, discriminatory, unsafe, or otherwise unacceptable treatment by the ExAC provider.

Those wanting to raise a concern about their experience during the ExAC should first use the formal complaints process, as outlined on the ExAC website. If this does not address the issue, a complaint can be escalated to the OAA. The Association will follow up with CExAC to understand the circumstances and ensure the issue has been managed in accordance with established procedures and fairness principles. This includes:

• reviewing the concern to determine whether CExAC followed its own complaint-handling process;
  
• seeking clarification from CExAC where necessary; and
  
• taking appropriate follow-up steps if fairness or process issues are identified.

To contact the OAA regarding an unresolved examination-related concern, email officeoftheregistrar@oaa.on.ca with a summary of the experience, confirmation the CExAC complaint process has already been followed, and any supporting documentation or correspondence relevant to the matter.

This process does not review complaints about substantive registration decisions made by CExAC or the OAA; these are handled through the appeal or review mechanisms.

The OAA will review complaints fairly and efficiently, and in a manner consistent with applicable legislation and its own administrative procedures.

To ensure the exam measures individuals’ knowledge and skills in areas relevant to current architectural practice, NCARB bases the ARE on the results of a profession-wide study called an analysis of practice. (NCARB last completed an analysis of practice in 2012, and the results were used to create the current ARE 5.0). Subject-matter experts used the NCARB 2012 Practice Analysis of Architecture to determine the divisions, sections, and objectives needed to evaluate licensure candidates’ ability to competently and independently practise architecture.

Exam items are authored by volunteer architects who have been through the licensure process, but are not employed by NCARB. More than 100 such volunteers gather every year to write and review new items for ARE 5.0 in NCARB’s examination development committees. 

Unlike the ExAC, AREs are offered throughout the year and are available both at a test centre or online—the latter would be suitable for those wishing to take the exam from Canada. It is important to note that testing reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and may be limited by seat or proctor availability.

Appointments should be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance for test centre delivery, or 24 hours in advance for online proctoring.

To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, a newly licensed architect practising independently must demonstrate the competence to be responsible for a project from its inception through completion. This includes the ability to: 

• apply architectural business practices;
  
• evaluate legal, ethical, and contractual standards; 
  
• establish and coordinate project team activities; 
  
• establish programmatic and regulatory requirements;
  
• provide design alternatives;
  
• evaluate and incorporate appropriate materials and building systems; 
  
• provide and coordinate project documentation for a building and site; 
  
• provide construction phase services; 
  
• assess the project during all phases; and 
  
• address environmental sustainability, resiliency, and adaptation throughout project design.
  

The ARE evaluates knowledge and skills in six areas of practice essential to protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The number of questions (also called items) and the time available to complete them depends on the division:

Any individual interested in taking the AREs should thoroughly review the ARE Guidelines. The OAA will confirm an individual’s eligibility to write the ARE. Once you have created an NCARB Record, the steps to register for exams are:

1. Via the Online NCARB Account, register to take the AREs through Ontario.
   
2. NCARB sends the OAA a link to verify eligibility of the individual.
   
3. If eligible, OAA staff process the eligibility request through the NCARB website. 
   
4. The individual is notified by NCARB that they may start taking the AREs.

The ARE is available at both test centres and through an online proctoring platform. Exam writers will be provided a consistent and secure testing experience in both delivery modalities; review the ARE Guidelines to learn more.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the following steps may be undertaken: 

• take any division of the ARE at any time and in any sequence;
  
• pay for and schedule a separate appointment for each division of the ARE;
  
• write the ARE at any participating test centre or online, regardless of the jurisdiction where initial registration is being sought;
  
• check the “Exams” tab of the NCARB Record to view eligible divisions; and
  
• accept the ARE Candidate Agreement, which requires maintaining the confidentiality of exam content.

Visit the NCARB fees page for the various costs to create a NCARB Record as well as to purchase an exam seat (valid for one year) prior to scheduling the appointment.

Refer to the NCARB Guidelines for detailed information on requesting an accommodation, which must be approved prior to the scheduling of an exam appointment and cannot be retroactively applied to previously scheduled appointments. General steps include:

• completing the Accommodations Request Form through the online NCARB account under the Exams tab, including any supporting documentation (e.g. prior accommodations or a professional diagnosis);
  
• submitting the completed form and documentation for review under ADA policies (NCARB will notify individuals once the request has been processed);
  
• waiting for written approval before scheduling any exam appointments—processing typically takes seven to 10 business days;
  
• following the scheduling instructions provided after approval (some accommodations allow self-scheduling, while others must be scheduled by phone); and
  
• keeping contact information up to date, as the candidate may need to be contacted directly regarding certain accommodated testing appointments.
  

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

NCARB will use the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a guide when evaluating requests. Common examples of reasonable ADA accommodations include additional break time, extended testing time (up to 50 percent longer), and testing in a separate room within the test centre. Testing accommodations are granted to allow equal access to the ARE and to ensure fairness to all candidates while remaining consistent with ADA principles. NCARB will not grant requests that alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge being tested or result in an undue burden.

Pregnancy and Nursing

NCARB offers reasonable ADA accommodations for individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Common examples include additional break time, extended testing time (up to 50 percent longer), candidate-supplied food or drink, and testing in a separate room within the test centre. If you are planning to test while pregnant or breastfeeding, please contact NCARB for more information on how NCARB and PSI can support you.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

NCARB offers two language accommodations for qualified ARE candidates who speak or read English as a second language. You would need to attest English is not your native language as part of the application process. The accommodations include: 

• additional testing time: 20% of the original testing time for each division can be added as an extension to the original testing time; and
  
• word-to-word translation dictionary: for candidates at a test centre, use of a personally supplied, printed word-to-word translation dictionary of the candidate’s choosing that has no additional notes or markings added to the text.

All divisions of the ARE are administered and graded by computer on a pass/fail basis. Validated and official test results are not released at the test centre or during online-proctored delivery. Provisional feedback is provided following an exam. All exam results are analyzed using data forensics to detect exam performance abnormalities, anomalous candidate behavior, unusual testing circumstances, candidate misconduct, and other information that might raise questions about the validity of exam results. 

At the end of each exam, you will be provided with provisional feedback on your performance. The feedback provided is preliminary, unofficial, and based on unvalidated test results. 

The official score report will be available in the “Exams” tab in the exam writer’s NCARB Record within seven to 10 calendar days of the test date. After forensic data analysis has been completed and the score has been processed, individuals will be notified via email when their results are available for viewing in their NCARB Record. The official score report contains complete information about the appointment and their performance on the exam. For information on how to read the official score report, review the Reading Your Official Score Report section of the ARE Guidelines. 

Each division of the ARE has a minimum, or cut, score that must be met to pass. If your score is equal to or greater than the cut score established for the division you are taking, you will pass. If your score is less than the cut score, you receive a failing score. Your score is based on your performance across the entire division, not section by section. If you do poorly in one section, it is still possible to pass by doing well in other sections.

NCARB establishes a cut score for each new division. A cut score is the defined threshold at which an exam writer has achieved the passing standard. Establishing a cut score for each division of ARE ensures a fair assessment of all candidates taking the exam and maintains the validity of the results. NCARB uses the Modified Angoff method—the most used way to establish cut scores in licensure and certification testing—based on the professional recommendations from its testing consultant. 

The cut score process involves an architect task force, NCARB’s Examination Committee, and the NCARB Board of Directors to ensure comprehensive and inclusive decisions. Each cut score is criterion-based, establishing a minimum standard against which an individual is measured independently. Any individual who performs at or above the cut score will receive a passing score, regardless of the performance of other exam writers.

Any exam writer can request a score verification, which will involve the review of their performance on all questions by NCARB staff. The process will verify that the score and feedback on the score report accurately represent performance on the division. Exam writers can request a score verification of a failed division up to 60 days from the date their test was administered by contacting NCARB. The fee for a score verification is US$100. If NCARB determines that the score or feedback reported to you was not accurate, NCARB will refund the score verification fee.

If there are concerns about an exam, do not wait to receive test results before expressing these concerns. NCARB can only respond to complaints received within 15 days of a test date. Individuals must send their complaint to NCARB in writing via the contact form. Note: the filing of a report by the test centre administrator or online proctor does not satisfy the requirements of notifying NCARB directly. 

NCARB employs extensive quality control procedures throughout the development of the ARE. However, individuals may encounter typographical errors or flawed questions on rare occasions. If you suspect an error in a specific question, write to NCARB after taking the test. In the correspondence include the name of the division, the test date, and the specific concern(s) about the question. Individuals are not permitted to copy the question before leaving the test centre or completing the online exam and are not expected to recreate the entire question in their correspondence. NCARB will review the question, and individuals will be notified of the findings. 

In accordance with the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA), the OAA maintains a process to address complaints arising from third-party service providers involved in the licensure process. 

Individuals may submit complaints to the OAA about their experiences with the ARE. This process applies to complaints submitted by individuals who believe they have experienced inappropriate, discriminatory, unsafe, or otherwise unacceptable treatment by the ARE provider during their interactions related to the examination process. 

Individuals who wish to raise a concern about their experience during the ARE should first contact the ExAC through its formal complaints process outlined above. If this process does not address the concern, complainants can escalate their complaint to the OAA, which will then follow up with the NCARB to understand the circumstances and ensure the issue has been managed in accordance with established procedures and fairness principles.

Where an individual believes the NCARB has not handled their concern appropriately, the OAA will:

• review the concern to determine whether the NCARB followed its own complaint-handling process;
  
• seek clarification from the NCARB where necessary; and
  
• take appropriate follow-up steps if fairness or process issues are identified.
  

To contact the OAA regarding an unresolved examination-related concern, email officeoftheregistrar@oaa.on.ca with a summary of the experience, confirmation the NCARB complaint process has already been followed, and any supporting documentation or correspondence relevant to the matter.

This process does not review complaints about substantive registration decisions made by NCARB or the OAA; these are handled through the appeal or review mechanisms.

The OAA will review complaints fairly and efficiently, and in a manner consistent with applicable legislation and its own administrative procedures.