architect54

At the AIANY’s Got License disscussion, NCARB’s Nick Serfass gave some pointers for using the new online employment verification tool, e-EVR.

Nick suggested inputting IDP training units on a shorter period, such as weekly. Every Friday put your time in. Or every day. Perhaps if you complete a project timesheet, input your IDP training units at the same time. This way you’ll be able to remember what you worked on.

Nick suggested being strategic about evaluating your time. He gave the following example. Let’s say you spoke to an engineer for 15 minutes on the phone regarding a project on which you’re doing a construction document set. Now instead of lumping this 15 minutes as Construction Documents units, it could be assigned to Project Management or possibly even Document Checking & Coordination.  Inputting your time on a shorter basis (weekly or daily), will help your memory and you can be more strategic about placing time into appropriate categories.

Don’t become complacent and think, I’m only doing one task such as construction documents and log all your time in one area. Divide your time accurately. The e-EVR program was put into place to help you develop and acknowledge your experience. So if you spoke to an engineer for 15 minutes, place that time as appropriate.

Nick also encouraged using the online method, because it “self-audits”. You won’t be able to put in incorrect information that could trigger problems later. For example, hard to decipher handwriting, incorrectly added units and certain human errors are eliminated using e-EVR. This point doesn’t matter much, because by July 1st, 2009, everyone has to use the online reporting method anyway.

Update: For those not familiar with e-EVR @mfrech’s blog has a screenshot here of e-EVR.

Establish your experience record, so you don’t lose valuable work time that you have accummulated. Tell your architectural students, co-workers, alumni and friends to start a NCARB council record by Tuesday, June 30th, 2009.

What is an NCARB council record?
This is your education and experience verification record that is transmitted to your state board when you want to take your architectural registration exam to become licensed.

What happens if I don’t establish a council record before July 1st, 2009?
You will NOT be able to get credit for experience beyond an 8 month period. If you setup a council record on or after July 1, 2009, you have to follow the “6 month rule”. Which means you work for 6 months and then have a 2 month filing period to have a supervisor verify that experience with NCARB.  You will lose all prior experience time you have accumulated beyond 8 months (6+2).

I don’t want that to happen. How do I avoid that?
Easy. Visit NCARB and click where it says “Click here to apply for an NCARB record.” It’s on the left side. If you setup a council record before July 1st, 2009, then you’re good until July 1, 2010. You will be allowed to report experience beyond 6 months up until July 1st, 2010. To setup a NCARB record you’ll have to pay $285 or $100 if you are or were recently a student.

If you think you setup a council record already long ago, contact NCARB using the contact page. You may not remember the old email, old home address or some other necessary fact. Be sure to communicate with NCARB to confirm you have an NCARB record number on file. After you get your NCARB file number, I suggest logging into e-EVR to confirm everything is working.

Remember your deadline to straighten this out is June 30th, 2009. Don’t wait to resolve this.

Why do you include students?
There are more unusual cases than I actually understand. What if you did a 4 year program, worked 2 eligible years and now you’re in grad school, but you never established an NCARB record. If you don’t establish a record before July 1st, 2009, you will lose more than a year of your prior experience. I’m sure there are more scenarios.