Architectural Practice Examination Overview

Year Specific Information

Refer to the relevant tab above for the specific Exam year.

General Information

For full details and specific requirements, refer to the relevant Exam year tab above.

Part 1: Submission of Logbook and Statement of Practical Experience

Eligibility: Professional Education

Candidates may be eligible for the Architectural Practice Examination Part 1 through successful completion of one of the following pathways:

Eligibility: Practical Experience

All Candidates must complete a minimum of 3,300 hours (approximately 2 years) usually under the supervision of an architect.

Candidates who have completed an accredited qualification; or with a qualification approved through AACA’s Overseas Qualifications Assessment process, must complete a minimum of 12 months experience subsequent to successfully completing that Australian or Overseas qualification in architecture.

Candidates who are successful in completing the AACA National Program of Assessment may apply for the next session of the APE providing they meet the requirements of a minimum of 3,300 hours of experience that ranges over all mandatory Performance Criteria; and 12 months of logged experience in Australia.

Logbook

Candidates must log their experience in the AACA APE Logbook.

The purpose of the Logbook is to record in a condensed format, the Candidate’s fulfilment of the Practical Experience required for the Architectural Practice Examination.  

Statement of Practical Experience

The objectives of the Statement are to provide:

  • evidence of satisfaction of the practical experience requirements; and
  • Assessors with information on the Candidate’s practical experience, which will be referenced in the APE Part 3

The Statement should be well considered, precisely expressed and cross-referenced to the Performance Criteria included in the Logbook. Candidates should select the project, or projects, that best illustrate the application of the Performance Criteria. This provides a basis for Assessors to explore the nature and level of experience in the Part 3 of the Examination by Interview.

Applications

Applications including the Logbook and Statement of Practical Experience are submitted directly to the State or Territory architect registration board in which the applicant wishes to practice. The decision on admission to the examination is made by the respective architect registration board.

Part 2:  National Examination Paper 

Candidates who have met the eligibility requirements for APE Part 1 are eligible to sit the National Examination Paper.

Examination of professional knowledge is an important part of the APE as a whole. The objective of the National Examination Paper is to provide a reliable and valid test of knowledge and application of relevant performance criteria in the National Standard of Competency for Architects. Candidates must pass the National Examination Paper as a condition of admission to Part 3, the Examination by Interview.

N.B. The examination results are meticulously reviewed for each cycle, with potential adjustments made to account for differences in exam difficulty to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.

Part 3:  Examination by Interview

Candidates who successfully complete the National Examination Paper are invited by the relevant architect registration board to submit for an interview conducted by two experienced practising architects.

Candidates are examined on their range of work and experience and are expected to be familiar with topical professional issues. The Interview also considers candidates’ responses to practice situations that may be outside their personal experience. The Interview may test knowledge and experience in both actual and hypothetical situations.  Candidates may be examined across a variety of procurement issues and should be able to demonstrate competence in contracts that may be administered by an architect.

Success in Part 3 of the Architectural Practice Examination allows the candidate to apply for registration in any state or territory in Australia.

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Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
Gadigal Country
Suite 3, Level 5, 75 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Located on Gadigal Country, the AACA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.