Selecting a Supervising Architect
Intern Architects and Student Associates must select a Supervising Architect prior to recording architectural experience in the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB). You should choose someone who is willing to commit to supporting your professional growth and the requirements as set out in the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) and Appendix B.
This person should then complete the Confirmation of Employment Form.
In addition to the IAP documentation listed at right, looking at the Canadian Standard of Competency for Architects will help Supervising Architects and Intern Architects better understand the
competencies expected to be gained on the pathway to licensure.
Changing Supervising Architects
It is your responsibility to inform the OAA at iap@oaa.on.ca if you change your Supervising Architect.
Being a Supervising Architect
In fulfilling its regulatory mandate, the OAA must establish, maintain, and develop standards of qualification for the practice of architecture to serve and protect the public’s interest. To be eligible for licensure, Intern Architects must meet prescribed academic requirements as well as complete at least 3,720 hours of experience under the direct supervision of a person authorized to practise architecture across three broad categories subdivided into distinct experience areas. The future of the profession relies on the dedication of Supervising Architects and Intern Architects to learn from and push each other to understand the complexities of the practice of architecture.
Supervising Architects are members of a professional community within the larger context of the built environment. The public relies on them to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities to a project and to the profession. Whether a seasoned OAA member or newly licensed, each is entrusted by legislation to undertake the protected scope of the practice of architecture as set out in the Architects Act (Architects Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.26).
As professional practitioners, when Supervising Architects make the reciprocal investment to train future architects, it is incumbent they understand the breadth of that obligation. It is not only a commitment to develop the knowledge base of an Intern Architect or Student Associate, but also an investment in their own practice, and the profession. OAA future architects are a reflection on those Supervising Architects who have made the commitment to supervise and support an Intern Architect or Student Associate’s path to licensure.
As a Supervising Architect, you are agreeing to train a future architect to understand the complexities they will face in practice, the competencies required to run projects, and their leadership role in the industry. There needs to be clear communication between an Intern Architect or Student Associate and their Supervising Architect. All parties should understand the extent of their respective obligations and what is possible. As a Supervising Architect signatory, you are affirming to your professional regulatory body that the person under your guidance is acquiring or has acquired the core competencies to practise architecture in Ontario and offer services to the public through a Certificate of Practice.
The role of a Supervising Architect is defined in the Internship in Architecture Program Guide produced by the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC). On page 7 of the 2012 edition of the guide, it states:
“The Supervising Architect is the Architect within the architectural practice or place of employment who personally supervises and directs the Intern on a daily basis. The Architect must be registered/licensed in the jurisdiction in which the Intern is gaining the experience. They must be able to assess the quality of work performed and regularly certify the Intern’s documented architectural experience prior to submission of each section of the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) to the regulatory jurisdiction.”
Additionally, as established in Appendix B, the Supervising Architect is responsible for validating the Intern Architect’s self-assessment submissions related to the Ontario Practice Competency (OPC) requirement (enacted in 2024).
The role Supervising Architects undertake in training future architects is crucial to the profession. The nature of the industry is highly collaborative; within the context of any project OAA members represent what should be expected of an architect and an architecture practice. Additionally, within this collaborative context, architects are the only professional, by law, that are permitted to practise architecture. Architects need to entrust their broad and detailed knowledge base to new generations of architects to ensure that their professional responsibilities are carried out and carried on with the skill and judgement to be expected of an architect in Ontario. This is why the role of a Supervising Architect is so important—they are key stakeholders in the path to licensure for architects in Ontario and, as such, they help guide the future of the profession.
Note: Supervising Architects are eligible to receive a maximum of 10 Unstructured Learning hours per Continuing Education (ConEd) hours per cycle.