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What is Professional Experience?

To meet the requirements of the RIBA Professional Experience and Development Record, and to have direct experience under supervision of the duties and responsibilities of professional practice which will become the students upon qualification, the RIBA specifies certain mandatory minimum requirements to be achieved by the student within this time period. These are:

1. A minimum of 24 months of recorded professional experience, 12 months of which must be after passing or gaining exemption from Part 2 of the RIBA Examination in Architecture, under the direct supervision of an architect in the United Kingdom. (Regulation 1)
2. A minimum of 10 working days' approved study leading to the RIBA Examination in Professional Practice and Management, (Part 3). (Regulation 3)
3. A minimum 35 hours a year continuing professional development, per year. (Regulation 4)

Although it is not mandatory, the RIBA advises that a minimum of 3 months' experience of professional architectural practice under the direct supervision of an architect outside the United Kingdom provides useful experience for architectural students as part of his or her educational and professional development.

The RIBA Professional Experience and Development Record records professional experience in 3-month periods. A period of less than 3 months' duration will not normally be accepted as valid professional experience. (Except, of course, for CPD, professional and community activity and study for the RIBA Examination in Professional Practice and Management, (Part 3), which are subject to maximum time limits of less than 3 months.) Professional Experience and Development Records should be used to record each 3-month period of professional experience.

The following chart describes the various professional environments in which a student may gain professional experience and the minimum or maximum number of months admissible in each environment. Please note that the practical training requirements of the Architects Registration Board for registration in the UK differ slightly from those of the RIBA. For more information on the ARB's requirements please select the option to the left, 'The ARB's Requirements'.

Notes

• 'Direct supervision' means that the student is working under the direct supervision of a person who has control over and detailed professional knowledge of the work prepared by the student under their supervision. This person is referred to as your Employment Mentor. Direct supervision does not imply that your Employment Mentor necessarily directly employs the student.
• A period of less than 3 months' continuous duration in an architect's office will not normally be accepted as part of the required 24 months' professional training.
• Part time employment of less than 20 hours per week is inadequate for training purposes and is therefore not acceptable as part of the minimum 24 months' professional experience. Normal leave should be counted as working time.
• 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.