Career StagesEducator/Practicing Network

The 2003 Internship and Career Survey is divided into 9 categories:

Career Path
Current Employment
Education
Prior Employment/Careers
Firm Support and Mentoring
Internship
Architect Registration Examination
Licensure/Registration
Professional Involvement
About You

Career Path

1. Please rank in order (1, 2, 3) your three most important reasons for going into architecture in the first place. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- putting creative abilities into practical use: 60%
-- improving the built environment: 12%
-- improving the quality of life in communities: 12%
-- the prestige of the profession: 3%
-- good salary prospects: 2%
-- other: 7%

2. Which one of the following best describes your current anticipated career path?

-- traditional architecture career: 79%
-- alternative architecture career: 10%
-- allied field: 10%
-- non-architecture career: 1%

3. How does your current career outlook compare with your expectations when you first embarked on your pursuit of architecture?

Better than expected:
-- professional satisfaction with work: 52%
-- type of work you're doing: 44%
-- hours worked: 26%
-- compensation: 23%
-- indicated one or more: 71%
-- no answer: 29%
Worse than expected:

-- professional satisfaction with work: 24%
-- type of work you're doing: 29%
-- hours worked: 29%
-- compensation: 49%
-- indicated one or more: 71%
-- no answer: 29%

Current Employment

1. In what type of work are you currently engaged?

-- professional architecture job: 82%
-- architecture-related job: 4%
-- allied field: 7%
-- unrelated field or other profession: 1%
-- not currently employed: 5%
-- no answer: 1%

1a. If you did not answer professional architecture job in Question #1, what are your main reasons for not working in a professional architecture job?

-- better salary/benefits/advancement: 46%
-- better respect for skills and knowledge: 30%
-- personal or family circumstances: 20%
-- currently searching, have not yet found a professional architecture job: 18%
-- path to licensure too long and/or difficult: 17%
-- never wanted a traditional career: 11%
-- other: 25%
-- indicated one or more: 91%
-- no answer: 9%

2. How long have you been employed in your current job?

-- 10 years or more: 5%
-- 5 - 9 years: 20%
-- 3 - 4 years: 28%
-- 1 - 2 years: 28%
-- less than 1 year: 19%
-- mean: 3.9
-- median: 3

3. How are you paid?

-- straight salary (no overtime pay): 50%
-- hourly, minimum time-and-a-half for overtime: 16%
-- salary plus overtime: 10%
-- straight salary with comp time: 10%
-- hourly, but not paid for overtime: 9%
-- other: 4%

4. What is your current employment status with your firm?

-- full-time, permanent employee: 86%
-- part-time, permanent employee: 4%
-- temporary employee: 2%
-- contracted consultant or other contracted position: 2%
-- I am the employer: 4%
-- in partnership with an architect: 1%
-- other: 1%

Education

1. Which of these degrees have you earned (if any)?

-- Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch): 52%
-- Master of Architecture (M.Arch): 27%
-- Pre-professional undergraduate degree (BA, BS, BED): 26%
-- Associate degree from community college, junior college, technical school, etc.: 9%
-- non-architecture undergraduate degree: 8%
-- graduate architecture degree (not an M.Arch): 3%
-- indicated one or more: 93%
-- none of the above: 6%

1a. If you've earned a B.Arch or M.Arch, at what point did you obtain your first professional architecture job?

-- prior to entering B.Arch or M.Arch program: 15%
-- during B.Arch or M.Arch program: 42%
-- after earning B.Arch or M.Arch: 40%
-- have not yet obtained first professional architecture job: 2%

2. Are you currently in school?

-- yes, in an undergraduate (bachelors) pre-professional program: 2%
-- yes, in a B.Arch program: 5%
-- yes, in an M.Arch program: 4%
-- yes, in another graduate architecture program: 0%
-- yes, in a graduate non-architecture program: 1%
-- yes, in an undergraduate non-architecture program: 0%
-- no: 87%

2a. If not currently in school, do you plan to someday return to school for one or more additional degrees?

-- yes ... what degree(s)?: 39%
-- M.Arch: 12%
-- MBA: 7%
-- doctorate (unspecified): 3%
-- masters (unspecified): 2%
-- other: 8%
-- no: 58%

3. What level of contact did (do) you have with your IDP Educator Coordinator while in school?

-- Extensive: 1%
-- Regular: 5%
-- Minimal: 17%
-- none at all: 46%
-- I do not know who or what my IDP Educator Coordinator is: 31%

Prior Employment/Careers

1. Did you have a previous career before going into architecture?

-- Yes: 20%
-- No: 80%

1b. If yes [had previous career before going into architecture], for how many years?

-- 10 years or more: 21%
-- 5 - 9 years: 38%
-- 3 - 4 years: 23%
-- 2 years: 12%
-- less than 2 years: 7%
-- mean: 6.5
-- median: 5
-- no answer: 1%

2. How important was each of these factors in choosing where to seek your first professional architecture job? (Rated "important" or "very important.")

-- level of responsibilities: 67%
-- location: 66%
-- reputation of firm: 55%
-- compensation: 49%
-- practice emphasis/specialty: 48%
-- firm's commitment to interns: 47%
-- size of firm: 43%
-- personal/family considerations: 40%
-- principals: 36%
-- fringe benefits: 36%
-- indicated one or more: 95%
-- no answer: 5%

3. Have you left any previous professional architecture job(s)?

-- yes, have left one previous professional architecture job: 31%
-- yes, have left more than one: 36%
-- no: 33%

3a. If yes, please rank in order your three most important reasons for leaving that previous job. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- moved from the area: 18%
-- professional advancement: 18%
-- wanted a change in practice focus: 11%
-- better pay/benefits: 9%
-- chance to do more design: 7%
-- I was laid off: 7%
-- more respect for skills and knowledge: 6%
-- improved quality of life: 6%
-- to complete NCARB's IDP or my state's intern training requirements: 1%
-- chance to do more management: 1%
-- better hours: 1%
-- I wanted to leave the profession of architecture: 0%
-- other: 9%
-- indicated one or more: 96%
-- no answer: 4%

Firm Support & Mentoring

1. What level of commitment do you feel your current firm exhibits toward providing a quality internship experience?

-- high: 28%
-- moderate: 42%
-- low: 19%
-- none: 4%
-- don't know / does not apply: 5%
-- no answer: 2%

2. What level of monetary support (if any) does your current firm provide in each of these areas?

NCARB's IDP or state internship fees:

-- firm pays 100%: 21%
-- firm pays 1-99%: 8%
-- firm pays nothing: 45%
-- don't know: 16%
-- does not apply: 8%
-- no answer: 2%

ARE fees:

-- firm pays 100%: 31%
-- firm pays 1-99%: 14%
-- firm pays nothing: 35%
-- don't know: 12%
-- does not apply: 6%
-- no answer: 2%

Professional organization dues:

-- firm pays 100%: 49%
-- firm pays 1-99%: 20%
-- firm pays nothing: 19%
-- don't know: 7%
-- does not apply: 4%
-- no answer: 2%

Continuing education costs:

-- firm pays 100%: 21%
-- firm pays 1-99%: 31%
-- firm pays nothing: 26%
-- don't know: 15%
-- does not apply: 5%
-- no answer: 2%

3. Which of these statements (if any) are true about your current firm's support for employees taking the ARE?

-- firm gives paid time off to take the ARE: 39%
-- firm maintains a library of ARE study materials: 37%
-- employee must use vacation time to take the ARE: 22%
-- employee must take time off with no pay to take the ARE: 12%
-- firm organizes ARE study groups: 6%
-- firm gives 20% or greater salary increase upon completion of ARE and licensure: 6%
-- don't know: 21%
-- none of these: 8%

4. How satisfied are you with the level of mentoring provided by your current employer?

-- very satisfied: 14%
-- satisfied: 29%
-- neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: 30%
-- dissatisfied: 11%
-- very dissatisfied: 4%
-- employer provides no mentoring opportunities: 7%
-- not interested in being mentored: 2%

5. Of the following, I would be most interested in a mentoring program coordinated by:

-- my local AIA component: 39%
-- my employer: 34%
-- my school: 7%
-- the national AIA component: 4%
-- I would not participate in a formal mentoring program: 15%

6. Of the following, please rank in order (1, 2, 3) the three most important benefits a firm could offer you, aside from pay. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- salary increase with passing the ARE: 42%
-- mentoring: 15%
-- ARE fees: 12%
-- continuing education costs: 10%
-- professional organization dues: 9%
-- IDP fees: 4%
-- paid time off for ARE: 2%
-- indicated one or more: 94%
-- no answer: 6%

Internship

1. What is your status regarding NCARB's IDP?

-- I have completed IDP: 37%
-- I am currently enrolled in IDP: 28%
-- I am not currently enrolled in IDP because state doesn't require it: 11%
-- I am not currently enrolled in IDP by choice: 23%

1a. If you have completed IDP, how long did it take to actually complete it - from your first internship job to completion?

-- 8 years or more: 8%
-- 7 years: 4%
-- 6 years: 5%
-- 5 years: 17%
-- 4 years: 24%
-- less than 4 years: 41%
-- mean: 5.0
-- median: 4

1b. If you have not completed IDP, how long do you expect it to take--from your first internship job to completion?

-- 8 years or more: 4%
-- 7 years: 2%
-- 6 years: 5%
-- 5 years: 15%
-- 4 years: 19%
-- less than 4 years: 52%
-- mean: 4.7
-- median: 4
-- no answer: 4%

2. Were you able to (or do you expect to) complete all 16 of NCARB's IDP Training Areas while staying with one firm?

-- yes: 51%
-- no: 47%
-- no answer: 3%

3. What level of contact do (did) you have with your IDP State Coordinator?

-- extensive 0%
-- regular: 2%
-- minimal: 26%
-- none at all: 46%
-- I do not know who or what my IDP State Coordinator is: 25%

4. Have you had trouble contacting NCARB?

-- yes: 29%
-- no: 59%
-- not applicable: 12%

Architect Registration Examination

1. If you were allowed to take some or all of the ARE upon graduation or concurrent with your internship experience, would you?

-- yes: 89%
-- no: 9%
-- no answer: 3%

2. Which option best matches your current status regarding the ARE?

-- I do not plan to take the ARE: 4%
-- I have not yet taken any divisions of the ARE: 56%
-- I have taken some divisions of the ARE: 16%
-- I have taken all divisions of the ARE: 23%

2a. If you do not plan to take the ARE or have not yet taken any divisions, please rank in order (1, 2, 3) your three main reasons for not taking the ARE. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- not yet eligible: 50%
-- no time to prepare: 13%
-- paperwork and/or scheduling hassles: 7%
-- not required for career or job: 6%
-- cost: 5%
-- difficulty: 1%
-- other: 4%
-- indicated one or more: 85%
-- no answer: 15%

2b. If you have taken or plan to take the ARE, please rank in order (1, 2, 3) your three main motivations for taking the ARE. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- personal goal and fulfillment: 57%
-- career enhancement: 18%
-- IDP completion and eligibility: 3%
-- competitive advantage in a down economy: 1%
-- firm pressure: 1%
-- parental pressure: 1%
-- peer pressure: 0%
-- other: 1%
-- indicated one or more: 82%
-- no answer: 18%

3a. How many divisions of the ARE have you taken?

-- 9: 62%
-- 8: 4%
-- 7: 2%
-- 6: 3%
-- 5: 4%
-- 4: 6%
-- 3: 5%
-- 2: 6%
-- 1: 9%

3b. How many divisions of the ARE have you passed?

-- 9: 52%
-- 8: 5%
-- 7: 5%
-- 6: 4%
-- 5: 4%
-- 4: 5%
-- 3: 5%
-- 2: 7%
-- 1: 10%
-- 0: 4%

4a. Do you feel your education adequately prepared you for the ARE?

-- yes: 45%
-- no: 54%

4b. Do you feel your internship adequately prepared you for the ARE?

-- yes: 60%
-- no: 40%

5. If you have completed all divisions, how long did it take you from first exam to last? If you have not yet completed all divisions, how long do you expect it will take?

-- 5 years or more: 6%
-- 3 to 4 years: 15%
-- 1 to 2 years: 30%
-- 6 months to 1 year: 21%
-- less than 6 months: 11%
-- mean: 2.1
-- median: 1.6

6. How do you rate the difficulty of the ARE?

-- +2 (too hard): 6%
-- +1: 42%
-- 0: 44%
-- -1: 7%
-- -2 (too easy): 2%
-- mean: 0.4

Licensure/Registration

1. Do you intend to get licensed/registered as an architect?

-- yes: 74%
-- no: 6%
-- I am already licensed/registered: 20%

1a. If no, why not?

-- current position does not require licensure: 52%
-- I do not plan to seek a position that requires licensure: 44%
-- not worth the time or effort: 38%
-- exam is too expensive: 13%
-- annual license renewal fees are too expensive: 10%
-- not encouraged by my firm: 7%
-- other: 38%
-- not eligible: 11%
-- pursuing alternate career: 10%
-- other: 16%
-- indicated one or more: 98%
-- no answer: 2%

2. Where did you learn about your state's licensure/registration requirements?

-- NCARB: 35%
-- at work: 35%
-- state licensing board: 34%
-- in school - from faculty or professional practice class: 31%
-- the AIA: 19%
-- in school--from AIAS or extracurricular programs: 10%
-- ArchVoices: 4%
-- indicated one or more: 93%
-- none of the above: 7%

Professional Involvement

1. For me, engaging in community and professional service is:

-- a high priority and something I do regularly: 29%
-- a priority, but not something I do regularly: 58%
-- not a priority: 13%

2. Are you currently a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)?
-- no: 21%
-- yes, an Associate member: 61%
-- yes, a registered/licensed architect member: 19%

2a. If you are currently an Associate member of the AIA, how much communication (if any) have you had with your regional representative on the National Associates Committee (NAC)?

-- extensive: 1%
-- regular: 5%
-- minimal: 22%
-- none at all: 46%
-- I am not familiar with the NAC: 25%
-- no answer: 1%

2b. If you are not currently an AIA member, why not?

-- not now, but I may join the AIA after I'm licensed/registered: 45%
-- not enough value for costs: 33%
-- dues too expensive: 32%
-- firm will not pay dues or partial dues: 16%
-- not aware I was eligible: 16%
-- I am not currently pursuing a traditional architecture career: 8%
-- other: 21%
-- student: 10%
-- AIAS: 3%
-- no benefit: 2%
-- other: 6%
-- indicated one or more: 98%

3. Are you currently a member of any other professional organizations (other than AIA)?

-- yes: 22%
-- no: 71%
-- no answer: 8%

4a. Whether you are currently an AIA member or not, please rank in order (1, 2, 3) what you feel are the three most important benefits of AIA membership. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- networking opportunities: 21%
-- access to resources: 20%
-- career enrichment: 15%
-- continuing education: 14%
-- prestige: 10%
-- conventions and seminars: 5%
-- free first year membership after graduation with professional degree: 3%
-- social: 2%
-- newsletters: 2%
-- indicated one or more: 95%

4b. Please rank in order (1, 2, 3) what you feel are the three least important benefits of AIA membership. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- free first year membership after graduation with professional degree: 25%
-- prestige: 23%
-- social: 19%
-- newsletters: 7%
-- research: 6%
-- networking opportunities: 3%
-- conventions and seminars: 2%
-- career enrichment: 2%
-- access to resources: 1%
-- continuing education: 1%
-- other: 3%
-- indicated one or more: 93%
-- no answer: 7%

5. Are you (were you) a member of the AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) during architecture school?

-- yes, very active: 10%
-- yes, moderately active: 22%
-- yes, but not active: 22%
-- no, did not join AIAS: 35%
-- no AIAS chapter at my school: 7%
-- did not go to architecture school: 4%
-- no answer: 1%

6. Do you currently subscribe to ArchVoices email newsletter?

-- yes: 40%
-- no, but someone forwards it to me: 6%
-- no, but I am aware of ArchVoices: 17%
-- I have never heard of ArchVoices: 36%

7. Please rank in order (1, 2, 3) the top three resources that make you feel connected with the greater architecture profession. (The following were ranked #1.)

-- Architectural Record magazine: 38%
-- AIArchitect newsletter and website: 19%
-- Architecture magazine: 10%
-- ArchVoices newsletter and website: 9%
-- AIA component newsletters: 6%
-- AIASinfo email newsletter: 1%
-- NCARB Direct Connection newsletter: 1%
-- Archinect.com website and discussion forums: 1%
-- Crit, the journal of the AIAS: 1%
-- nac-q, the publication of the AIA National Associates Committee (NAC): 0%
-- other: 7%
-- indicated one or more: 92%
-- no answer: 8%

About You

1. In what state do you currently live? (These responses are grouped by region.)

-- New England: 6%
-- Middle Atlantic: 9%
-- East North Central: 18%
-- West North Central: 9%
-- South Atlantic: 19%
-- East South Central: 3%
-- West South Central: 12%
-- Mountain: 9%
-- Pacific: 15%
-- Other: 1%

2. Age

-- 65 or older: 0%
-- 55-64: 1%
-- 45-54: 6%
-- 35-44: 23%
-- 25-34: 54%
-- 18-24: 15%
-- mean: 32.6
-- median: 31

3. Gender

-- male: 64%
-- female: 36%

4. Racial/ethnic background

-- White/Caucasian: 78%
-- Asian: 7%
-- Hispanic or Latino: 7%
-- Black or African American: 4%
-- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 1%
-- American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0%
-- other: 3%
-- no answer: 2%