PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES: Licensure and the ARE at MV+A
At MV+A, professional development is a critical core value and central to our professional mission. As part of our comprehensive approach to this aspect of our practice, we have developed a variety of in-house, staff-led knowledge sharing programs. These programs range from participatory sessions like our weekly Design Lab and Unit Design Collaborative to curated, self-directed learning options hosted on LinkedIn Learning. In addition to weekly lunch-and-learns, we routinely schedule quarterly visits to ongoing project construction sites in and around the DC region which are typically attended by a majority of the office staff.
As part of an initiative to engage our staff in cultivating firm culture, several annual issues of the MV+A | Design Brief will focus on professional development. Curated and authored by staff, this series will highlight our commitment and determination to empower our people and improve our professional community—inside and out.
As you will read below, professional licensure and ARE prep figures prominently within these efforts. While long-gone are the days when ARE candidates had to crowd into vast gymnasiums or cafeterias with hundreds of other professionals for several consecutive, 12-hour days to take a total of nine exams in one-weeks’ time, the ARE remains a tall-order for many if not most architectural professionals. In the following section, Architectural Designer, Shalena Dupree shares her recent experiences with preparing for the ARE at MV+A.
Authored by Shalena Dupree | Associate AIA
Over the course of recent professional development discussions here at MV+A, the ARE has been something of a recurring topic. With several members of the firm currently studying for the ARE exams, it has been an imperative to provide adequate resources needed to accomplish this massive task—be it study resources, knowledge sharing, or even simple support or words of encouragement. Getting licensed is one of the most monumental steps in an architect’s career and because of that, MV+A is eager to support our staff in any way possible at every stage of their licensing journey.
The Beginning: Getting Started with the ARE
Most recently, Project Architect Ardavan Tookaloo led a Design Lab presentation about getting started with the ARE process. Ardavan walked us through the NCARB website and discussed how to register for an NCARB record, how to record AXP hours, how to schedule an exam, and how to identify the best study resources. Having recently passed all exams, Ardavan was also able to give an account of his personal experiences while studying and with test-taking. Key takeaways from this presentation were to utilize the NCARB website and resources including the free practice tests, the NCARB Facebook group, the AXP and ARE guidelines documents, and recording one’s AXP hours. He also emphasized not stressing about knowing EVERYTHING as the ARE is more about knowing about a broad but strategic range of topics.
ARE-prep-focused, in-house Design Lab, clockwise from upper left: Ardavan Tookaloo, Eleanor Krause, Kalinda Gathinji.
The Middle: Journey to Licensure
In February of this year, MV+A kicked-off an ongoing series of ARE / Q&A sessions. Organized by members of the firm currently studying to receive their license and hosted by guest colleagues, the Q&A sessions served as a way for the soon-to-be licensed architects to utilize the best resource they have available: their licensed coworkers! Each week a different topic is chosen that relates to the ARE division most of the license seekers are currently studying for. In response, a guest host well-versed in the topic / division, facilitates the discussion in an effort to arrive at meaningful conclusions.
Senior Associates Eleanor Krause (center) and Kyle Mincey (right) leading a lunchtime ARE / Q&A study session.
The End: Passing the Exam
In-house, our ARE participants are affectionately known as the “ARE Study Super Stars”! There are currently nine MV+A team members, along with 3 recent licensees and four firm associates actively engaging with the team to give and get advice and keep everyone motivated and on track.
To highlight the end of this arduous journey, it is with great enthusiasm that we are able to congratulate Dewi Tan and Ardavan Tookaloo, on recently passing all six exams.
Dewi began her test-taking journey last November and inadvertently fast-tracked her process due to an upcoming trip to her native country, taking only three months to pass all six exams.
As for Ardavan, we hope to see him leading some of those lunchtime Q&A sessions in the near future!
RECENT PROMOTIONS
MV+A is pleased to announce the promotion of Dewi Tan, RA and Ardavan Tookaloo, RA to Project Architect!
