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	Guide to Professional Experience
		Introduction
		Frequently Asked Questions about Working in Practice
		What is Professional Experience?
		The Learning Environment
		Stage 1 & 2 Activities
		Criteria for Validation: Part 3
		The RIBA's Requirements
		The ARB's Requirements
		What does a Professional Studies Advisor do?
		Duties and Responsibilities of the Employer
		Duties and Responsibilities of the Student
		RIBA Plan of Work
		RIBA Policy on pay and conditions for Stage 1 students
		Terminology

	Professional Experience and Development Record
	Certificates of Professional Experience
	Employing Students
	Education and Part 3 Courses
	Job opportunities
	Recommended Reading
	RIBA Membership
	News
	Useful Resources / Links
	Free Stuff / Practice Guides
	Your Account

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Terminology

ARB	The Architects Registration Board
Architect	In the UK an architect is a person who is registered with the Architects Registration Board, and may be a corporate member of the RIBA, the RIAS or the RUIA. Outside the UK, an architect is a person who complies with the local regulations (or competent authority in the EU), concerning the use of the title or function of an architect.
RIBA	Royal Institute of British Architects.
Student	The student is the individual undertaking professional experience and development as a part of the RIBA Examination in Professional Practice and Management, (Part 3), the final examination of an architectural student's training. The status of the student is that of an employee first and foremost, but may also be a registered student at an RIBA recognised school of architecture.
Employment Mentor	The Employment Mentor is the individual who directly supervises and has detailed professional knowledge of the work prepared by the student undertaking professional experience. The Employment Mentor should be an architect with at least 5 years' experience of the design of buildings and the administration of subsequent contracts. In non-architectural work settings, the Employment Mentor should be an experienced professional in their own field, and if possible, a member of an appropriate professional organisation. The Employment Mentor may not necessarily directly employ the student.
Professional Studies Advisor	The Professional Studies Advisor is a member of staff at an RIBA recognised school of architecture who has responsibility for professional studies.
Learning Objectives	The learning objectives of professional experience are specific competencies expressed as an ability to complete a defined task. Students, as part of their Part 3 Examination, are required to demonstrate their competency in meeting the learning objectives in the Part 3 Outline Syllabus. An illustrative list of activities for Stage 1 gives guidance for the learning objectives for the year out.
CPD	Continuing Professional Development.
Location of Experience	The office, or place of work where professional experience is undertaken. This is most usually an architect's office, in the United Kingdom or overseas, but can be a variety of other settings according to the Professional Experience Regulations, for example, a Quantity Surveyor's Office.
Direct supervision	The Employment Mentor should directly supervise the student undertaking professional experience. The Employment Mentor should have control over, and detailed professional knowledge of, the work prepared under his/her supervision. Direct supervision does not imply that the Employment Mentor necessarily directly employs the student.
Stage 1 Professional Experience	Professional Experience undertaken prior to passing Part 2.
Stage 2 Professional Experience	Professional Experience undertaken after passing Part 2, prior to passing Part 3.

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