A Call for Candidates

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AIA Virginia and its members benefit enormously from dedicated, effective, and passionate volunteers serving in a number of positions – many of which will be available. Before we provide details on those positions, let’s acknowledge and voice appreciation for those who have been serving so well:

Ashleigh Walker, Associate AIA – Associate Director
Erin Agdinaoay, AIA – Young Architect Representative (YAR)
Amber Hall, AIA – Treasurer
Bill Hopkins, AIA – President-elect
Stephanie Leedom, AIA and Robert Easter, FAIA – Strategic Council
Caitlin Morgan, Associate AIA – State/Territory Associate Representative (STAR)
Charles Piper, AIA – Chair, Large Firm Roundtable
Gina Robinson, AIA – State Licensing Advisor

Applause and appreciation to each and all.  Thank you.

More specific information about each of those positions appears below. Click on the position title to review the description and submission/application requirements. Please encourage qualified candidates (members in good standing) to apply. You are further encouraged to remember that might be you.

Submissions, including a letter of interest, a resume, and any additional items specific to the position sought, as well as any questions should be addressed to EVP, Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org prior to the applicable deadline.

AIA Virginia Board of Directors
AIA Virginia President-elect – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
AIA Virginia Treasurer – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
AIA Virginia Associate Director – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Large Firm Roundtable Chair – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The Firm Size and Career Stage roundtables convene several times each year to discuss issues of common concern. They afford the opportunity to exchange perspectives, identify best practices, and discuss what works – and what doesn’t. We are seeking a chair for the Large Firm Roundtable. AIA Virginia currently defines a firm as “large” if it has twenty-five (or more) employees. This position would commence as soon as possible. The next scheduled meeting of the roundtables will occur during Architecture Exchange East, November 5 to 7, 2025. Prospective candidates should send a letter of interest, a resume, and a headshot to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

National Associates Committee: STAR: State/Territory Associate Representative – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
State Associate Representatives (StARs) serve on the National Associates Committee (the NAC). The NAC  is the voice of Associate members of AIA. It represents and advocates for both mainstream and non-traditional associates – who constitute 19% of national AIA membership – at all components of the AIA.

State Licensing Advisor – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects. The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. Appointees serve a two-year term.

Young Architect Representative – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
A YAR is a Young Architect Representative; an AIA member who has been licensed for less than 10 years and who serves as a liaison between the state chapter (in our case, AIA Virginia) and the Young Architects Forum (YAF) focusing on issues that concern Emerging Professionals (EPs; architects in the early stage of their career). The YAR serves a two-year term, beginning January 1, 2026.

Strategic Councilor – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The AIA Strategic Council (“The Council”) is a diverse group of forward-thinking leaders, charged with exploring new ideas and solutions to significant issues facing the profession of architecture and its role in society. The Council seeks to prioritize and make advancements by informing the AIA Board of Directors and other Institute bodies about important professional issues and opportunities. The Council is not an AIA governing body, which allows it the freedom to explore issues outside of current constructs. The Council’s primary focus is the future of the profession.

A Call for the State Licensing Advisor

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The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects. The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. Appointees serve a two-year term.

As an architect licensing advisor, you’ll gain access to resources and support to ensure you’re equipped to help candidates, including access to NCARB’s online advisors community, exclusive webinars and training resources, and more. Plus, you’ll have direct NCARB staff support for questions and guidance.

Activities of a State Licensing Advisor

Every month this position will require 12 to 16 hours of your time. A licensing advisor is expected to engage with candidates in your community on a regular basis and stay active in the community by:

  • Maintaining a thorough understanding of the AXP, ARE, and NCARB certification requirements, objectives, and resources
  • Connecting with local candidates—both by request and proactively—to provide licensure information and guidance
  • Participating in Architect Licensing Advisors Community training and development events
  • Communicating with your local licensing board to maintain a thorough understanding of licensure requirements and procedures
  • Attending AIAVA member events; e.g., Quarterly Component Calls, Architecture Exchange East, Town Halls in local components, etc.
  • Making sure that your contact info in My NCARB is up-to-date so local candidates can reach you
  • Every other year, NCARB hosts the Licensing Advisors Summit, an exciting and engaging conference where you can meet NCARB staff, engage with other advisors, hear updates on NCARB programs, and explore factors that impact the pursuit of licensure. NCARB waives summit registration fees for all licensing advisors and provides travel funding for many advisors. The next summit will be held in 2027 (date and location TBD).

Application Requirements
AIA Membership – Applicant must be an AIA member in good standing within AIA Virginia (AIA Blue Ridge, AIA Central Virginia, AIA Coastal Virginia, AIA Northern Virginia, and AIA Richmond) and must be licensed not more than 10 years at the time of submission.

Letter of Interest – From Applicant. Indicate understanding of the position, qualifications/experience, and reasons for seeking election. Limit one page.

Letter of Nomination – From an AIA local or state component Board Member. Indicate the connection between the State Licensing Advisor position and the Nominee’s leadership qualities. Limit one page.

Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate the Nominee’s qualifications for the licensing advisor position. Limit one page.

Letter of Support – From Employer. A Principal (or Officer) within the candidate’s firm must commit to supporting the candidate in fulfilling the role’s obligations. Limit one page on company letterhead.

Resume – Indicate education, employment history, organizations, activities, honors, and awards. Limit two pages (It is NOT in the applicant’s best interest to simply submit a firm resume with project experience).

Prospective candidates should send their application materials to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Submissions will be reviewed by the Nominating Committee to confirm eligibility. The Board of Directors will review candidates and make an appointment during its Meeting scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025 for a term commencing on September 1, 2025.

A Review of the Recent Changes to the ARE 5.0

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If you’re a current licensure candidate or AXP supervisor, you’ve probably heard about recent changes to the ARE 5.0. If this is news to you, fear not – NCARB is only making some small changes based on industry updates and data they’ve gathered – it’s not a complete overhaul of the exam. The changes include:

International Code Council Version Update

All ARE 5.0 exams will now reference the 2021 ICC family of codes and include all codes that the current version of the International Building Code references. The intent of this change is to keep the exam items consistent with current professional practice, as many jurisdictions have adopted the 2021 code. Keep in mind that the exams do not require (or even expect) candidates to memorize the building code, but you do need to understand the content and be able to interpret and apply any references provided within the exam.

Quantitative Fill in the Blank (QFIB) Item Retirement

No more transcribing numbers into a blank answer box! ARE Candidates will still be required to complete calculations in order to answer exam items, but you will no longer have to type a number from the calculator into a box in order to answer the item. All of the other item types will still be included in each of the exams, including multiple-choice, check all that apply, hotspot, and drag and place. This change comes directly from NCARB’s industry research which has found that the other item formats are more consistent and effective. Everything else about the exam format will stay the same.

Exam Security Enhancements

If you have taken a division of the ARE, you know that NCARB and the testing centers they work with are serious about exam security. It might seem a little over the top to sign the ARE Candidate Agreement and roll up your pant legs for inspection, but all the implemented security measures are intended to ensure the validity of the ARE. The content of each exam division is confidential (and copyrighted) and sharing or discussion of specific ARE items is prohibited by the Candidate Agreement. You may have seen that just last month, three ARE Candidates were reprimanded by NCARB for Seeking or Failing to Report Disclosed ARE Content, and their names were shared publicly. An official reprimand is often accompanied by invalidated test results, suspended testing authorization, or denial of an NCARB Certificate. Reprimands are also shared with licensing boards, who may revoke the candidate’s license. The updated Exam Security and Candidate Misconduct section of the ARE 5.0 Guidelines has more information. These tests are tough for a reason, so don’t risk delaying or losing your opportunity to get licensed by looking for a loophole.

These three changes went into effect just a few weeks ago on February 27, 2024. If you’re an ARE candidate who has exams scheduled and has started studying, don’t let these changes discourage you. The content of the items and overall format of the exam is not fundamentally changing, and you do not need to re-study information if you’re already comfortable with it. NCARB has also updated its free practice exams to reflect the 2021 ICC and QFIB changes.

If you’d like to learn more about these updates, NCARB has a recorded webinar on their YouTube page which includes a deep dive into the exam security updates and a Q&A with Candidates. There’s also a post on their press page with links to the resources you’ll need.

As always, your questions about AXP, the AREs, or NCARB in general are always welcome and encouraged. Happy studying and good luck with your exams,

Gina Robinson, AIA
Architect Licensing Advisor – Virginia
gina.robinson@hdrinc.com 

Virginia Licensing Advisor

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The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects.

The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. AIA Virginia members are fortunate to have been guided by Michael Hammon, AIA the last 4 years (2 terms). As Michael finished his term this summer, we are looking for a new State Licensing Advisor. Are you interested in helping young professionals through the licensure process? Do you like to help your colleagues with issues of reciprocity and licensure? If you are interested in being considered for this appointment, please email pbattaglia@aiava.org.

Here’s some more info from NCARB on the Licensing Advisor appointment>>

If you are on the path to licensure and have any questions, you can still reach out to Michael at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com before the end of June or Cathy Guske at cguske@aiava.org.