Now ready to take that next step in your career and earn that Professional Identification Card to practice your profession as an architect? Then this is a must-read for you.
We’ll disclose to you all you will need to take the Architecture Licensure Board Exam, including the prerequisites you should present, the opening and shutting dates for submitting applications, and, most importantly, what will be asked during the day of examination.
In case you’ve resolved to get your license, continue to read.
Contents
What do Architects do?
Architects are licensed professionals who have earned training in the art and science of architectural design. They construct designs for buildings and then transform those concepts into images and projects.
Architects plan the overall layout of houses and other structures, but a building’s design entails much more than its appearance. Buildings must also be efficient, secure, and cost-effective, as well as satisfy the needs of the people who use them. Architects take all of these considerations into account when designing houses and other structures.
What are the Architect Licensure Board Exams?
The Architect Licensure Board Examination is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), a government commission in charge of all licensing evaluations except the bar examination.
All applicants who wish to take the licensure exams must have a four-year undergraduate degree in BS in Architecture from an accredited academy, college, or university.
These standards are mandatory in order to ensure the quality of the workforce created for an Architect license examination. There are no disadvantages to this. They simply teach you to be ready to enrich your experiences with essential knowledge and information about the practice.
PRC Architecture Board Exam 2021 Requirements
All candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. The following are all of the PRC application requirements for the architecture board exam 2021 when filing an application:
- A Philippine Statistics Authority issued birth certificate;
- A copy of the marriage contract from the NSO or the PSA for married female applicants;
- Transcript of Records accompanied by a scanned image and the remarks “For Board Review Purposes”;
- A valid NBI Clearance;
- A transaction and examination payment of Php 900.00 (complete)
The following are all of the additional board exam requirements you must meet before applying to take the Architect Licensure Board Exam for those with a BS in Architecture (Post Graduation with diversified training and experience of at least two years):
- Diversified experience logbook
- Affidavit of Experience which has been signed and sealed by a registered Architect with updated ID
- At least one year practical experience – Masters Degree in Architecture
- Payment of 900 pesos
Architecture Licensure Examination Application Process
The PRC LERIS system simplifies the data structure for all licensing examinations. Before submitting the paperwork to a Regional or PRC Satellite Office of your choosing, the PRC recommends the applicant to validate their appointments via the PRC LERIS website.
If you do not know how to get started, our step-by-step process can assist you to set a date of appointment you want to execute – or if you already have a good idea of the procedure already, go straight to the PRC LERIS website to launch the application.
Architecture Board Exam Coverage
Six board topics are covered in the Architect Licensure Board Exam. We have detailed a complete list as a guide for all examinees below:
History and Theory of Architecture; Principles of Planning; and Architectural Practice
History of Architecture
A. Rationale and Description
a. Analysis of architectural manifestations from the beginning of civilization to contemporary periods of development;
b. Analysis of the influences of environmental, historical, and sociocultural factors and their relevance to the development of art, buildings, structures, as well as of human settlements.
B. Scope
a. Introduction
i. History
ii. History of architecture
iii. Historic style of architecture
iv. Origin of architecture
v. Factors affecting the style of architecture
b. Pre-Historic Architecture
i. Centers of development
ii. Dolmen, Menhir, Cromlech
c. Historic Styles of Architecture
i. Period/extent and centers of development
ii. Factors that affect the development of architectural style (historical, environmental, and socio-cultural)
iii. General characteristics (architectural, structural, decorative)
iv. General contributions
v. Notable examples
vi. Ancient architecture and the Western succession
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- Egyptian
- West Asiatic
- Greek d. Roman
- Early Christian
- Byzantine
- Romanesque Architecture in Europe
- Gothic Architecture in Europe
- Renaissance Architecture in Europe
- Nineteenth and Twentieth Century in Great Britain
- The architecture of Africa, Australia, and New Zealand
- Nineteenth and Twentieth Century architecture in Continental Europe
- The architecture of the Americas
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vii. Architecture in Asia and the Pacific Region
viii. Architecture in the Philippines
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- Architectural legacies
- Architectural preservation, conservation, and restoration
- Pillars of Philippine Architecture
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Theory of Architecture
A. Rationale and Description
a. Understanding of the theories and principles of design and architectural design process;
b. Analysis of anthropometric, proxemic, and kinesthetic requirements of space in relation to architectural design;
c. Analysis of socio-cultural and technological trends which are contributory to the development of contemporary architecture.
B. Scope
a. Introduction
i. The nature of architecture
ii. Architecture as art and science
iii. Processes in architectural design
b. Elements of Architecture and Basic Principles of Design
i. Need-specific elements
ii. Structural, circulatory protective, and decorative elements
iii. Influences in architectural design
iv. Basic principles of design
c. Design Perception
i. Anthropometric basis of architectural design
ii. Space articulation and territoriality
iii. Visual and perceptual language
iv. Psychology of space
v. Proxemics and culture
d. Tropical Architecture
i. Influences and elements of tropical architecture
ii. Specific examples of tropical architecture
e. Masters of Architecture
i. Philosophies of Great Architects
ii. Examples of great works
Architectural Practice
A. Rationale and Description
a. Understanding of the role, legal rights and obligations, and responsibilities of the architect;
b. Analysis and application of the various statutes, codes, and regulations affecting the practice of architecture in the Philippines;
c. Understanding of the various aspects of the professional practice of architecture, including tools and techniques related to production, construction, resource allocation, and project management, as well as the efficient conduct of client and business relations for building design and construction projects.
B. Scope
a. Certification of Architects and Standards of Professional Practice
i. Statutes regulating the practice of architecture in the Philippines
ii. Professional organization of architects
iii. Architects- Code of Ethics
iv. Rights and responsibilities of the profession
v. The spectrum of architectural services
vi. Architectural fees and charges
vii. Architectural competitions
b. Building Standards, Laws, and Regulations
i. Architectural design standards, building, and construction-related laws
ii. Laws on real estate and subdivisions
iii. Laws on housing and human settlements.
c. Aspects of Architectural Practice
i. Operating divisions of architectural practice, development, production, administration, and management (with emphasis on preparation of contract documents)
ii. Specifications writing and quantity surveying
iii. Legal and business aspects of architectural practice
Theory and Principles of Planning
A. Rationale and Description
a. Analysis of the concepts and techniques in the general planning process, urban and regional planning, land use planning, and human settlements planning;
b. Understanding of the art and science of site planning with emphasis on ecological, socio-psychological, aesthetic, and functional basis of site planning.
B. Scope
a. General Principles of Planning
i. Definitions and classification
ii. History and scope of planning
iii. General planning process
b. Urban and Regional Planning and Urban Design
i. History of the city and the region
ii. Theories of urban and regional planning
iii. Comprehensive planning
iv. Land use planning
v. Urban design
vi. Urbanization and urban social relationships
c. Housing and Human Settlements Planning
i. Definition and classification
ii. Housing policies and programs
iii. Housing finance, production, and practices
d. The Art and Science of Site Planning and Landscape Architecture
i. Site analysis and site development
ii. Landscape design
iii. Primary considerations in site planning and development (physical and aesthetic, ecological, socio-psychological, management, and maintenance).
Utilities
A. Rationale and Description
a. Understanding of the basic practices, principles, general design and installation, and/or construction of utilities required for a building or structure and its premises;
b. Analysis of utility, facility, and equipment requirements in relation to aesthetics, function, and strength of a building or structure and its premises.
B. Scope
Design and construction and/or installation of the following utility systems:
a. Sanitary and Plumbing Systems and Equipment
i. Water source, storage, supply, and distribution
ii. Plumbing roughing-in and fixtures
iii. Drainage and sewerage systems
iv. Waste disposal, treatment, and recycling
b. Mechanical Systems
i. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems
ii. Conveyors and other building mechanical equipment
c. Electrical and Other Power Systems
i. Electrical power and lighting supply, distribution, and fixtures
ii. Electrical power source and alternative power sources
d. Acoustics and Illumination
i. The psycho-physics of acoustics and lighting
ii. Acoustical treatment and corrections
e. Disaster Prevention and Protection Systems; Security Systems
i. Building fire-fighting, prevention, and protection apparatus
ii. Installation and/or construction
iii. Materials and fixtures
iv. Disaster prevention and mitigation systems
f. Communication Systems
i. Electronics system
ii. Telephone, intercom, cable TV, audio/video facilities, PA system
g. High-tech Systems
i. Application in buildings and structures
ii. Robotics
iii. Intelligent buildings
Building Materials and Methods of Construction
A. Rationale and Description
a. Understanding of the properties of building construction and finishing materials; their application and articulation; systems and methods of specifying and construction;
b. Application of the principles of design and construction methods of various types of materials used in construction.
B. Scope
The design and specifications of materials and methods of construction for the following works:
a. Civil works
b. Carpentry and joinery
c. Concrete and masonry
d. Sheet metal and tinsmithry
e. Structural steel
f. Concrete and reinforced concrete
g. Waterproofing, damproofing, and insulation
h. Glass and glazing
i. Painting and varnishing
j. Fenestration
k. Hardware
l. Specialized works (bank vaults; signage; etc.)
Architectural Design and Site Planning
A. Rationale and Objectives
a. Application of the logical approach to design and site planning solutions to architectural problems with emphasis on design methodology, qualitative and quantitative aspects of space, circulation, and interrelationships of space, structural and form envelopes, and building utilities and facilities.
b. Application of skills and ability to visualize architectural design problems and present solutions in appropriate graphical language.
B. Scope
Architectural design and site planning problems involving the following types of buildings and structures and their built environment;
a. Residential
i. Residential houses and subdivisions, apartments, housing for special groups (low-cost housing, housing for the aged etc.)
ii. Lodging houses, etc.
b. Commercial and Business
i. Business (office, bank, hotel, etc.)
ii. Commercial (department store, market, retail store, etc.)
iii. Mixed business-commercial or mixed business-residential
c. Industrial and Agricultural
i. Large-scale industry (manufacturing, shipyard, etc.)
ii. Small-scale industry (factory, cinema studio, etc.)
iii. Mixed industrial-residential
iv. Industrial estate/agro-industrial establishment
d. Public and Government
i. Educational and cultural (schools, research laboratory, public hall, library, museum, historical/ monumental building/structures, etc.)
ii. Health and medical (hospital/clinic, health fitness club, specialized medical center, etc.)
iii. Governmental and quasi-public (national or public building, police/fire stations, embassy/consulate, penitentiary, etc.)
iv. Parks and recreational (ecological/botanical gardens, theater, cinema, casino, beach resort, etc.)
v. Sports and athletics (sports plaza, stadium, gymnasium, golf course, tennis/basketball courts, billiard hall, etc.)
vi. Religious and funerary (church, temple, mosque, monastery, convent, seminary, crematorium, memorial park, cemetery, etc.)
e. Facilities
i. Transportation (airport, seaport, railway station, terminal, port facilities, pier, etc.)
ii. Service (power station, water treatment/filtering plant, sewerage, crematory, slaughterhouse, TV-Radio-Telephone stations, newspaper plant, etc.)
iii. Military (military camp, depot, etc.)
f. Complex Projects (involving a combination of several buildings and structures in a given site or area).
What to bring during the Architect Licensure Board Exam
Other than the basic brown envelope, Notice of Admission (NOA), etc, examinees for this licensure examination must also bring the following:
- Calculator with Trigonometric Function, Logarithm
- A printed copy of Rules VII and VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1096 / 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines
- Architect Scales (English & Metric Scales)
- 30 x 60 and 45-Degree Triangles
- Protractors
- Pencils and Related Sketching Material
Architecture Board Exam Schedule in 2021
According to the PRC, the Architecture Licensure Board Examinations are normally performed at least twice a year.
The next architecture board exam will be held on June 25 & 27, 2021. The opening of applications started back on March 25. 2021, while the deadline for application filing will be on May 25, 2021.
The full timeline for all licensure examinations can be found here. You’ll find the necessary schedule for the Architecture board exams.
If you have any concerns or questions about the license examination, particularly in light of the pandemic ramifications, you can always go to the Professional Regulation Commission’s official website to get the most up-to-date information and notifications.