BEA Education Dossier

The following description of the BEA education dossier applies to dossiers submitted in the old and the new processes. The specific differences for dossiers in each process are outlined at the bottom of the page.

The objective of the education dossier is to allow you to demon­strate learning through experience as a registered architect to satisfy education deficiencies and meet the requirements of the NCARB Education Standard as an alternative to the education requirement for NCARB certification (a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program). Your dossier must include descrip­tions and documentation of your learning through experience as a registered architect. These must relate directly to your specific education deficiencies.  

It is important that you select practice experience for which you were personally responsible; that meets the definitions of comprehensive practice and responsible control, as defined in program literature; and relates to specific subject areas in which you have education deficiencies.  

Dossiers must conform to specific format requirements and utilize standard forms. These are provided after NCARB has confirmed the applicant’s eligibility and after the EESA-NCARB Education Evaluation, if required, has been completed. Dossiers that do not meet format and submission requirements will be returned to the applicant at the applicant's expense. The Format Review fee is applied to resubmit revised dossiers.

Your dossier will include general forms requiring information necessary to confirm registration, project eligibility, and comprehensive practice and responsible control. There will also be forms and instructions necessary to demonstrate learning through experience. There are three critical elements of the dossier:

1.  Descriptions
You must describe your practice experience as a registered architect through which you gained learning through experience as a registered architect. These must relate directly to the documentation submitted and your specific education deficiencies.

2.  Experience Documentation
There are a number of experiences that can result in learn­ing at the appropriate level. These experiences may include but are not limited to various aspects of practice, architec­tural projects, professional responsibilities, seminars and training programs, continuing education, and professional volunteer and community activities.

3.  Annotation of Experience Documentation
You must annotate your documentation to include detailed information about the significance of each drawing and to identify key elements within each document that demon­strate learning through experience to satisfy the subject area definition of the NCARB Education Standard.

Education dossiers are reviewed by the BEA Committee to determine if they demonstrate that the applicant has achieved the required learning through experience to address education deficiencies and to verify the applicants' role and responsibility for projects and experience included in the dossier. Applicants do not attend or participate in the dossier review. Results of the dossier review are announced approximately four weeks after the review.

Dossier Review fees are due upon dossier submission. Forms, program requirements, and fees are subject to change.

Summary of Education Dossier requirements for Old Process vs. New Process

As indicated on this website since October 2010, the BEA Program is being modified from a two-part process (dossier and interview) to a one-part process (dossier). Please refer to Modifications to the BEA Program for a description of modifications as well as conditions for unsuccessful applicants at the dossier review or interview step.

Following are the specific differences for dossiers requirements in each process:.