Original post dated on 1st of May, 2017.
This is not a hair-related post, nor did I managed to land on the top ten examinees which is what you may be looking for; still, I was hoping I could help the reviewees/examinees in a way I could. I want to share my experience in preparing for the Architect Licensure Exam. Here’s what I did and how — I think — you should do it.
I came up with three phases that I would like to call “Grab, Aim, & Shoot” which represents the whole process: from day one of preparation up to the last day of exams (and even waiting for the results. Yay.)
Grab your requirements.
Grab all the necessary lessons, equipment, materials, and friends! This phase is as important as your aiming stage. It actually works side-by-side.
Stationery! Anything cute that you could buy to help you, like notebooks, pens and sticky notes with colors that could get you working up, organizers, – and calculator. Get the one that you are familiar using for this should help you get your way through the problem solving. Make sure you put these supplies into use!
Stock up on a few No. 2 Mongol Pencils, Eraser, Sharpener, short brown envelope, short plastic envelope – you will be needing these during application, and the day of exams itself.
Requirements! I suggest you work on your requirements for PRC application while, say, waiting for the copies of your review materials or while taking a snack break from your review. Because personally, I had one or two problems with the requirements.
Here’s the list of documents which I personally submitted to PRC:
- Printed Application Form (PRC Online Appointment)
- Birth Certificate*
- NBI Clearance*
- Transcript of Records (TOR) – Photocopy*
- Diploma – Photocopy (CTC)*
- Cedula*
- Passport Size Photo with nametag**
- 2 x 2″ Photo (Softcopy)**
- Logbook***
* Birth Certificate can be requested from the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – this should be the easiest document to acquire.
* NBI Clearance can ba obtained from a wide selection of branches of NBI offices. As of writing, they are now implementing the “No appointment, no processing rule.” Click here to set an appointment for NBI Clearance. Pick the date you are available, preferred NBI branch, submit, take note of your reference number, pay online (or through their partners; I always choose Bayad Center and pay for it through LBC Branches inside Robinson’s), print application form (not required), proceed to the NBI office.
* Request for your Transcript of Records (for board exam purposes; this TOR must have a photo of you printed on it) from your Alma Mater.
* It also depends on your school how many days (or weeks) they need to process your request/s – and while you’re at it, find your Diploma! This is where I had a minor delay: it was not clear that you have to get a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Diploma.
* You do not have to request for a CTC of the TOR, only the diploma is required to have a Certified True Copy.
Just to make sure, what I did was, I made photocopies of both my TOR and Diploma and requested UST for CTC (165.00PHP/document.) I claimed it 5 days from date of payment.
UPDATE (May 06, 2017) My friends who are going to take the board exams this June 2017 said that they were not asked for a CTC of the Diploma, upon submission of the requirements.
* Cedulas are available inside the PRC Compound. (5.00~7.00 PHP/Cedula) — you will need the Cedula No. for the online application.
** Get your photo taken within 6 months before the date of application.
** You need a 2×2″ (or larger) soft-copy of your photo: you will be needing this for the online application — choose your best photo because this will be the photo on your license!
** You also need at least 3 copies of the passport size photo with your name on it.
** Photos must be sharp and clear. White background. Hair away from the face. Do not smile showing your teeth. No accessories. No eyeglasses. Also, wear something clean and with collar, or you could ask the studio to edit your clothes (most studios, if not all, already have templates for that.)
*** You can get your Logbook of Diversified Exprience in Architecture (LDEA) or “Logbook” from the UAP National Headquarters. Office Address: 53 Scout Rallos Street, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103, Metro Manila.
*** Detailed instructions and procedure are stated in the Logbook.
*** You will need a minimum of 3,840 hours of experience before you could take the exam – I’m assuming you already know this.
*** Filling-up you LDEA may take up a few (or a lot) of your preparation time – depending on how you keep the records of your activities within a project.
Luckily, the firm I was in has this weekly accomplishment report that we turn in every week and they compile it for us, which later on, we can request a copy when we are about to apply for the board exams. I also have a personal notebook (that I exclusively use for work) where I record my progress and agendas daily, so I did not have a hard time when I was tabulating my hours. If you can have a great recall of the things you’ve done from day one, then you’re fine.
*** Tabulate your hours per project until you reach the minimum required no. of hours.
*** Make a summary of the total no. of hours for each FOP. If you have two mentors or more: One (1) summary for each mentor and a separate overall summary.
*** The logbook comes with only four (4) pages of DT FORM 002 and you may need more. If you have two or more mentors, then you will be needing an affidavit for each mentor plus a page for the overall summary. Make duplicates of the necessary pages and just insert it. Do not staple or puncture in any way.
*** Fill-up the page nos. (at the upper right corner of DT FORM tables) so you can avoid missing pages.
I could answer more of your questions on how to fill-up your logbook; just send an e-mail.
*** Once completed, make sure your mentor has the following ready:
- Photocopy of mentor’s PRC license, Professional Tax Receipt (PTR), and IAPOA Certificate (preferably in one paper, with 3 specimen signatures and seal)
- Mentor’s Cedula No. (needed for filling up the mentor’s details in the logbook)
*** To date, the college dean’s signature is not required. (But better if you have yours signed. Your college dean will show his support!)
*** You can have the affidavit (last page of your logbook) notarized inside PRC Compound (50.00 PHP/affidavit/mentor.) Just ask the information counters.
Click here for the sample LDEA.
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