Internship in Architecture Program (IAP)

Placeholder page for the supporting reference Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), part of the Examitect reading list for the ExAC.

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IAP at a glance

Full title Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), Fourth Edition
Published by Regulatory Organization of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), jointly with all ten provincial and one territorial architectural associations
Current edition Fourth Edition, July 1, 2020 (Revised July 1, 2022)
Languages English; bilingual organization names throughout; Quebec uses "Stagiaire en architecture" as the French equivalent of Intern Architect
Primary audience Intern Architects and Recognized Students pursuing architectural registration or licensure in Canada
ExAC relevance Required prerequisite: you must complete IAP experience requirements before your ROAC jurisdiction will confirm ExAC eligibility
Where to access Available through each ROAC jurisdiction's website; Appendix D of the IAP lists all provincial and territorial contact details

Why the IAP matters for the ExAC

The IAP is the gate before the exam: you cannot sit the ExAC until your ROAC jurisdiction confirms your CERB meets the experience requirements. But the connection runs deeper than eligibility paperwork. The 17 experience areas in the IAP reflect the same knowledge domains the ExAC tests. An Intern who has logged real hours in Code Research, Envelope Detailing, and Construction Phase: Site isn't just satisfying a checklist. They're building the contextual judgment that ExAC questions are specifically designed to test.

On Examitect's extended reading list, the IAP appears as context rather than a question-specific study source. No ExAC question will ask you to cite section 3.1 of the IAP. However, knowing the program structure: what each experience area covers, how the CERB is organized, what the roles of the Supervising Architect and Mentor are, adds grounding to exam topics in project management, construction administration, and professional practice. Section 4 in particular tests the kind of professional judgement the IAP was designed to develop through supervised practice.

ExAC sections

See the ExAC sections table below for study-plan coverage.

What the IAP is

The Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) is the structured work-experience program that all Intern Architects in Canada must complete before applying for architectural registration or licensure. The Regulatory Organization of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), an assembly of all provincial and territorial architectural regulators, established it jointly with the twelve architectural associations across Canada. The fourth edition, in effect since July 2020 and revised in 2022, reflects current standards for professional entry.

The IAP serves four stated objectives: to define the areas where Interns must gain practical skills; to provide a uniform documentation system; to deliver periodic feedback on experience progress; and to involve practising architects in developing the next generation of the profession. It isn't a textbook or a study guide. It's a program framework with required hours, an official record book, and three distinct roles: the Intern, the Supervising Architect, and the Mentor.

Becoming a registered or licensed architect in Canada requires three things: an accredited degree certified by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), the required hours of documented architectural experience in the CERB, and a passing score on either the ExAC or the US Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The IAP governs the middle requirement.

Inside the IAP: three categories and 17 experience areas

The IAP organizes required experience into three categories. Category A is the largest, covering twelve areas from programming through energy literacy. Category B covers the three areas of construction administration. Category C covers two areas of management. The minimum combined required hours across Categories A, B, and C is 2,960. The remaining 760 flexible hours can be gained in any of the same 17 areas.

Category Experience areas Notes
A: Design and Construction Documents 1. Programming
2. Site and Environmental Analysis
3. Schematic Design
4. Engineering Systems Integration
5. Building Cost Analysis
6. Code Research
7. Envelope Detailing
8. Design Development
9. Construction Documents
10. Specifications and Material Research
11. Document Checking and Coordination
12. Energy Literacy/Sustainability 		Areas 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11 may occur across multiple phases of a project. Individual minimum hours for each area are specified in Appendix A of the IAP.
B: Construction Administration 13. Procurement and Contract Award (120 hrs min.)
14. Construction Phase: Office (200 hrs min.)
15. Construction Phase: Site (200 hrs min.) 		On-site experience during actual construction is explicitly required by the IAP. Site presence cannot be substituted with office review of drawings.
C: Management 16. Management of the Project (120 hrs min.)
17. Business/Practice Management (120 hrs min.) 		Area 17 covers contracts, fee structures, RFPs, professional liability insurance, and marketing, which directly maps to ExAC Section 4 content.
Required category minimums (A + B + C) All 17 areas above 2,960 hrs minimum
Flexible additional hours Any of areas 1 to 17 760 hrs
Total required Minimum 1.5 calendar years to complete; 2-year wait from Intern admission before applying for registration 3,720 hrs total

The CERB: how you document your experience

The Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) is the official log for all IAP hours. You record work by project, noting the project type, building occupancy, gross floor area, budget, and number of storeys, then allocate hours to each of the 17 experience areas. The CERB supports up to ten projects per submission period, with additional sheets for more. Appendix F of the IAP contains all CERB forms.

You submit the signed CERB to your ROAC jurisdiction every 900 to 1,000 hours of experience, within 8 weeks of your last entry. Your Supervising Architect signs and dates each page and certifies your experience; your Mentor completes a separate Mentor Declaration. After review, your jurisdiction returns a Periodic Assessment Form showing running totals and any comments. If experience is submitted more than 12 months after the last entry, it faces special review, potential additional fees, and possibly an interview. Some jurisdictions will not accept it at all.

The CERB isn't just a compliance form. Use it as a planning tool. If Code Research hours are thin, ask your Supervising Architect to involve you in the next permit set before the window closes. Gaps are easier to fill proactively than to explain retroactively at a late-submission review.

Key IAP terms every ExAC candidate should know

TermWhat it means
Intern Architect The person enrolled in the IAP gaining supervised experience. In Quebec the equivalent title is Stagiaire en architecture; in Manitoba it is Intern of Manitoba.
CERB Canadian Experience Record Book: the official log of all hours, submitted to your ROAC jurisdiction every 900 to 1,000 hours.
ROAC Regulatory Organization of Architecture in Canada: the assembly of all provincial and territorial architectural regulators that governs the IAP and sets the Common Admission Standards.
CACB Canadian Architectural Certification Board: certifies academic credentials of architecture graduates. CACB certification is a prerequisite for enrolment as an Intern.
Supervising Architect The licensed architect at your workplace who personally directs your daily work and certifies each CERB section. Must hold registration in the jurisdiction where experience is being gained.
Mentor An independent architect outside your workplace who reviews your progress, discusses career development, and signs the Mentor Declaration in each CERB section. Required in all jurisdictions except Quebec.
Recognized Student A student in the final two years of a CACB-accredited program who records pre-graduation experience. Up to 760 pre-graduation hours may be credited toward the IAP total.
Periodic Assessment Form The form your ROAC jurisdiction returns after each CERB review, showing total accepted hours to date and any comments from the reviewer.
AXP Architectural Experience Program: the US equivalent of the IAP, administered by NCARB. Some ROAC jurisdictions credit AXP hours toward IAP requirements with proper documentation.
Parallel documents / observer When direct experience is impractical, an Intern may participate as an observer or prepare parallel documents. Credit is granted only in exceptional circumstances, noted by the Supervising Architect in the CERB.
3,720 hours The total IAP minimum: 2,960 in required category hours plus 760 flexible additional hours in any of the 17 areas.
Two-year minimum Even if you complete 3,720 hours faster (overtime is possible after 1.5 calendar years), you cannot apply for registered membership until two years after admission as an Intern.

How the IAP compares to other ExAC references

The IAP is fundamentally different from the six primary ExAC study references. CHOP, CHING, NBC 2020, NECB, RSMeans, and Yardsticks are content resources you read to learn subject matter tested on the exam. The IAP is a program document that defines required work experience before you can sit the exam. You don't study the IAP for code questions or cost estimates; you follow it to qualify for the exam in the first place.

Reference Type Role in the ExAC pathway
IAP Program framework Eligibility prerequisite: governs the experience you must complete before sitting
CHOP Practice reference Primary study source for professional practice, contracts, and project management across all four ExAC sections
CHING Visual reference Primary source for building systems, construction details, and design concepts in Sections 1, 3, and 4
NBC 2020 Code document Primary source for all building code questions in Section 2
NECB Energy code Primary source for energy performance and sustainability questions in Section 2
RSMeans Cost data Primary source for US construction cost data in Section 1 cost management questions
Yardsticks Cost data Primary source for Canadian construction cost data, paired with RSMeans in Section 1

How to track your IAP experience for the ExAC

  1. Enrol early. Contact your ROAC jurisdiction as soon as your CACB credentials are in order. You can enrol without a job lined up. Pre-graduation Recognized Student status can give you up to a 760-hour head start, so check Appendix B for your jurisdiction's rules before graduation.
  2. Confirm your Supervising Architect and Mentor before logging any hours. Both must submit a Letter of Confirmation to your ROAC jurisdiction. Changing either person mid-program requires new letters and triggers the start of a new CERB section.
  3. Log hours by project and by experience area, not by job title. Record your specific role for each project. Reviewers look for evidence that you personally performed the work, not that your firm handled the project type. Vague entries invite follow-up questions.
  4. Track a running balance across all 17 areas outside the CERB. A simple spreadsheet works. Gaps in Code Research, Envelope Detailing, or Site experience are easier to fill while you still have time before the next submission than to explain retroactively.
  5. Submit within 8 weeks of reaching 900 to 1,000 hours. Get your Supervising Architect's signature and the Mentor Declaration completed before the window closes. Keep a copy of everything you submit.
  6. Read Appendix B for your specific jurisdiction. Rules on overtime experience, international work, part-time employment, pre-approval requirements, and additional pre-registration steps vary by province and territory. Discovering a provincial rule late can add months to your timeline.

ExAC sections the IAP supports

The IAP doesn't appear as a reading reference on Examitect's ExAC study plan in the way CHOP or CHING does. Its 17 experience areas do, however, map closely to the knowledge domains each ExAC section tests. Understanding that alignment helps you see why certain experience areas are worth pursuing actively, not just completing on paper.

ExAC Section Overlapping IAP experience areas Why it matters for the exam
Section 1: Design and Analysis 1 (Programming), 2 (Site and Environmental Analysis), 3 (Schematic Design), 4 (Engineering Systems Integration), 5 (Building Cost Analysis), 7 (Envelope Detailing), 8 (Design Development) Section 1 tests conceptual design decisions, site analysis, and cost management. Real IAP hours in these areas build the practical judgement ExAC questions draw on.
Section 2: Codes 6 (Code Research), 12 (Energy Literacy/Sustainability) Section 2 is almost entirely NBC 2020 and NECB. IAP code research hours provide the navigational familiarity those open-book questions require.
Section 3: Sustainability and Final Project 7 (Envelope Detailing), 9 (Construction Documents), 10 (Specifications and Material Research), 11 (Document Checking and Coordination), 12 (Energy Literacy/Sustainability) Section 3 covers building science, assemblies, and documentation coordination. Hours in envelope detailing and specifications directly reinforce the technical content tested here.
Section 4: Construction and Practice 13 (Procurement and Contract Award), 14 (Construction Phase: Office), 15 (Construction Phase: Site), 16 (Management of the Project), 17 (Business/Practice Management) Section 4 is where IAP Categories B and C experience pays off most directly. Bidding, contract administration, site observation, and practice management are all tested here.

Tips for Intern Architects navigating the IAP

Tip 1, treat the CERB as a planning tool, not just paperwork. Review your running totals every few months, not only at submission time. If Construction Phase: Site hours are thin because your firm does mostly design-only projects, ask your Supervising Architect to flag the next site visit so you can attend. Waiting until the final submission to notice a gap can delay your ExAC eligibility.

Tip 2, describe your specific role in every project entry. ROAC reviewers look for evidence that you personally did the work. "Assisted with construction documents" is vague. "Drafted the reflected ceiling plan and coordinated with the electrical consultant's drawings for a Level 2 office fitout" is specific. More detail means fewer follow-up questions from your jurisdiction.

Tip 3, do not let submissions lapse past 12 months. The IAP gives you 8 weeks after reaching 900 to 1,000 hours to submit. If you miss the 12-month mark from your last entry, your jurisdiction can require a special review interview and may charge additional fees. Some jurisdictions will not accept the experience at all. Set a calendar reminder.

Tip 4, read Appendix B before you start, not after. Provinces and territories have individual variations on overtime rules, international experience, mentor requirements, and additional pre-registration steps such as oral interviews or supplementary courses. Discovering a provincial requirement after the fact can add months to your timeline.

Tip 5, pick a Mentor who will push back. The IAP minimum is a Mentor meeting every 900 to 1,000 hours. That minimum handles the paperwork but not the professional development. A Mentor who asks hard questions about your experience balance and career direction will prepare you for the kinds of professional judgement the ExAC tests in Section 4.

Tip 6, link your IAP areas to ExAC study while you're practising them. When you're logging Building Cost Analysis hours (area 5), work through Yardsticks and RSMeans questions on Examitect's platform at the same time. When you're on site doing Construction Phase: Site work (area 15), run through Section 4 construction administration scenarios. Active experience and active study reinforce each other in a way that passive reading alone doesn't.

Common ExAC scenarios where IAP knowledge is the answer

  • A Section 4 question asks about the Architect's responsibilities during the construction phase. Understanding the IAP's Category B areas (Procurement, Construction Phase: Office, Construction Phase: Site) gives you the practical vocabulary to distinguish between close answer options about site observation versus supervision.
  • A Section 1 question presents a schematic design scenario with a budget constraint and asks which step comes next. Knowing that IAP area 5 (Building Cost Analysis) requires Interns to work through cost estimates at each design stage helps you recall the typical sequence of cost control decisions.
  • A Section 4 question covers consultant contract structure and scope of services. IAP area 17 (Business/Practice Management) explicitly requires Interns to review professional service contracts for structure, content, and enforcement procedures.
  • A Section 3 question asks how the architect coordinates documentation with the structural consultant. IAP area 11 (Document Checking and Coordination) covers exactly this workflow: checking for conflicts between architectural and consultant drawings, tracking revisions, and ensuring all documents are consistent before permit submission.
  • A Section 4 question about Requests for Proposals and consultant selection maps directly to IAP area 17, which lists RFP preparation, evaluation of fee submissions, and contract award as required Intern activities.
  • A Section 2 question involves an energy performance requirement. IAP area 12 (Energy Literacy/Sustainability) requires Interns to analyze sustainability costs and understand energy performance metrics, providing practical context for NECB questions.
  • A professional practice question asks about the roles and responsibilities of the Mentor versus the Supervising Architect. The IAP defines both roles in detail, and that framework is directly testable in Section 4 professional practice questions about who is responsible for what during an internship.

How Examitect reinforces IAP preparation

Examitect's practice platform is organized around the same four ExAC sections that the IAP's 17 experience areas feed into. When you're deep in Section 4 construction and practice questions, the scenarios draw on the same professional knowledge the IAP was designed to develop through real project work. Practising questions while you're actively gaining IAP hours creates a feedback loop: work reinforces study, and study reinforces work.

Examitect's study notes tie directly to the primary references for each ExAC category. CHOP is the main source for professional practice content. NBC 2020 and NECB cover Section 2. CHING, Yardsticks, and RSMeans fill out Sections 1 and 3. When a practice question covers a topic you've logged IAP hours on, the answer explanation points you to the exact reference section. Try a free question to see how the explanations work, or see pricing to start a full practice plan.

IAP and ExAC FAQ

You can write the ExAC once your ROAC jurisdiction confirms your CERB meets the 3,720-hour experience requirement and all other IAP conditions. You must also have been enrolled as an Intern for a minimum of two years before applying for registered membership, even if you complete the hours faster through overtime.

The IAP requires a minimum of 3,720 hours total. The required category minimums across Categories A, B, and C total 2,960 hours. The remaining 760 hours are flexible and may be gained in any of the same 17 experience areas. Some ROAC jurisdictions may require additional hours in specific areas; check Appendix B for your province or territory.

The Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) is the official IAP document for logging and submitting architectural experience. You record work by project, allocating hours to each of the 17 experience areas. Submit it to your ROAC jurisdiction every 900 to 1,000 hours, signed by your Supervising Architect and Mentor, within 8 weeks of your last entry.

Your Supervising Architect is the licensed architect at your workplace who personally directs your daily work and certifies each CERB section. They must hold registration or licensure in the jurisdiction where you are gaining experience. If you change employers, you start a new CERB section with the new Supervising Architect and notify your jurisdiction.

Yes, in most ROAC jurisdictions. If you become a Recognized Student while enrolled in the final two years of a CACB-accredited program, up to 760 hours of pre-graduation experience may be credited toward your IAP total. The terms and conditions vary by jurisdiction, so check Appendix B before relying on this.

Yes. Interns transferring to a new ROAC jurisdiction retain all previously accepted CERB experience. You must have documentation signed off before leaving your current jurisdiction and must contact the receiving jurisdiction for their specific application forms and any additional requirements.

Experience submitted more than 12 months after the last CERB entry faces special review. Your ROAC jurisdiction may require an interview and additional fees, and some jurisdictions will not accept the late experience at all. The IAP requires submission within 8 weeks of reaching 900 to 1,000 hours. Don't wait.

It may. Interns who completed experience under the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) in the USA may apply to have that experience credited toward IAP requirements, provided acceptable documentation is available. Policies vary by jurisdiction; confirm with your specific ROAC jurisdiction before relying on AXP hours.

Other ExAC reference books

The six primary references on Examitect's ExAC study plan cover the content the exam actually tests.

CHOP

Canadian Handbook of Practice: the core professional practice reference for contracts, project management, and office procedures across all four ExAC sections.

CHING

Building Construction Illustrated: primary visual reference for building systems, construction details, and design concepts in Sections 1, 3, and 4.

NBC 2020

National Building Code of Canada: the primary source for all building code questions in Section 2.

NECB

National Energy Code for Buildings: primary source for energy performance and sustainability questions in Section 2.

RSMeans

US construction cost data: one of two primary costing references for Section 1 cost management questions.

Yardsticks for Costing

Canadian construction cost data: the paired Canadian reference for RSMeans in Section 1 cost management.

All supporting resources

See the full Examitect reading list, including extended references used across all four exam sections.