Today’s world of design and construction, given its multitude of complex issues, demanding schedules and finances, has squeezed this apprenticeship into a smaller and smaller segment. Architecture students leave school unprepared and with so much knowledge to absorb from their short formal apprenticeship.

This formal apprenticeship, IDP, has become a valuable tool for Intern Architects. Is there too much to absorb in such a small amount of time? Computer applications, new materials and methods, and faster processes require a lot of an Intern.

One of the best things about the current IDP system is that it covers a broad range of topics and experiences an Intern must complete. This is a valuable tool and learning opportunity. It gives the Intern to have a tool for explaining to their supervisor why they need to have a varied internship. But this tool needs to be more than a checklist of hours logged. Two ways to improve this tool are to better train and empower mentors, and to streamline the entire paperwork process.

Mentors should better understand that their role is not just to review one’s paperwork. Mentors need to be better educated about how they can better work with their mentee. They should not just be signing off on paperwork but be meeting or talking regularly with their protégé to better understand the intern and their strengths or weaknesses. NCARB, AIA, AIAS, ACSA and NAAB could all be playing a role in giving mentors more information and assistance in how to be a mentor.

Another way to improve IDP is to streamline the paperwork process by having one’s entire NCARB file and workbook on the Internet. An online workbook would allow an Intern to check or update their progress from anywhere. They would also be able to allow their mentor and/or supervisor to review their progress perhaps monthly or whenever necessary. When the workbook is completed every few months, it could be electronically submitted to NCARB for review. This process could help alleviate a big problem with IDP: processing paperwork. This streamlined approach encourages Interns to fill out their paperwork weekly or frequently. My observations and conversations with
others indicate that many people wait to process their information and then have many months or years to track. Perhaps an intern could even sign up for a friendly email reminder each week.

A more automated, user-friendly method would allow the Intern’s supervisor and mentor to be more involved with the process and be able to give more timely feedback. It would also encourage Interns to use the NCARB website more regularly. This could enliven this online forum and encourage Interns to interact with others in their area, meet for site visits, community service, support, and maybe even study together for the ARE. IDP has become a very important part of career in Architecture. As an Intern who has recently finished IDP and is taking the ARE, I believe my IDP experience was equally valuable to my education. The biggest strength was that I have an excellent mentor who wholeheartedly believed in IDP and his role as my mentor. I know our mentor/ mentee relationship will last for many years after IDP, and this is my greatest benefit of IDP.