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	Guide to Professional Experience
		Introduction
		What does a PSA do?
		What is Professional Experience?
		Template for recording comments
		The RIBA's Requirements
		The ARB's Requirements
		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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What does a PSA do?

Each school of architecture has appointed a member of staff as a Professional Studies Advisor (PSA) who has responsibility for professional studies and the monitoring of graduates undertaking professional experience. The table below gives an indication of the scope of responsibilities the PSA has for guiding the student through their periods in practice and ensuring they have the required level of experience necessary to pass the Part 3 examination and undertake the duties of a Chartered architect.

You are responsible for:		In addition, you must:
a	establishing an organisational framework which will facilitate the provision of high-quality professional experience and development and professional practice education for the student employee
b	advising the student of the educational objectives of professional experience and the general aims and requirements of the RIBA Professional Experience and Development Scheme	sign, date and return the student's record sheet for each 3-month period of professional experience, within a reasonable time frame.
c	providing appropriate advice and guidance on the RIBA requirements for professional experience and development, including advising students who wish to work overseas, complete their professional experience part time or offer a non-conventional pattern of experience	comment on the student's achievements during each 3-month period of professional experience
d	maintaining effective communication with Employment Mentors in practice, the university, the RIBA, and other consultants and principals involved in the supervision of students in placement
e	providing the student with details of the specific course requirements and regulations for the final RIBA Examination in Professional Practice and Management, (Part 3) and the RIBA Professional Experience and Development Scheme, including times and dates for attendance at courses, educational support and access to learning resources.	ensure that a mechanism is established for dealing with the unsatisfactory performance of Employment Mentors and students in placement, including counselling students who have failed to complete their professional experience satisfactorily.

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