Working With a Supervisor

What is a Supervisor?

A supervisor is someone who reviews and directs the work of others and ensures that work is done within acceptable levels of quality. An IDP supervisor is the individual who supervises an intern on a daily basis. The IDP supervisor is required to certify that the information submitted on an experience report is true and correct and that the work was performed in a technically competent manner.

In most experience settings, an IDP supervisor must be a registered architect; however, in certain experience settings an IDP supervisor may be a professional from another discipline. To learn more about the supervision requirements in each setting refer to the experience settings.

Supervisor’s Role

• Providing reasonable opportunities for an intern to gain adequate experience in each IDP experience area
• Meeting regularly with an intern to review progress and verify their IDP experience report
• Encouraging an intern to participate in seminars and other supplemental experience opportunities.

The intern is the prime beneficiary of the IDP. To gain the greatest benefit from participation, they should pursue it as a cooperative arrangement with their employer.

Since many supervisors may not have participated in the IDP, it is important that the intern be proactive in helping their supervisor understand the program.