| RIBA-USA National Survey: December 2003:
summary
RIBA-USA National Survey: Dec 2003 Overview
Map of USA showing current member distribution and the following
Chapters:
Chicago (Mid West) Boston (New England) New York (New York) Los Angeles (California/West Coast) 
 Chapter Divisions The lines drawn on the map below
do not reflect any policy of the RIBA organization in the
USA. They respond to the geography of the country, member
distribution and current Chapter interest as revealed by the
survey and existing Chapters (2003). The attached maps indicate the distribution of responses, and the areas in which interest has been expressed in contributing to the Chapter establishment. The majority of members are proud of their RIBA membership, and clearly excited by the rallying of the USA membership to become more active through Chapters and through a national RIBA-USA forum. They value their connection with the UK, even although most have pursued a career in the USA from the moment they qualified. The analysis of responses confirms that members are still experiencing considerable difficulty in becoming registered in the USA, even those who were admitted by NCARB under the previous reciprocity arrangements which ended in 1990. Many mature practitioners indicated that they considered the current registration examination a barrier. Unlike in the 1997 survey the standard of the ARE is being questioned by nearly half the respondents in the 2003 survey, relative to the “superior” alternative of RIBA qualifications. RIBA qualifications were cited as being particularly useful for international practice where several respondents declared that it caries more prestige than AIA ones. Respondents continue to call for UK-US reciprocity to proceed very quickly. “More important than Chapters right now” and “very important for RIBA to understand” were typical comments. A minority of respondents declared RIBA to be irrelevant with zero impact in US work settings, with the implication that current efforts to restore reciprocity will be very welcome if successful. Respondents expressed caution that the US work settings was very different from the UK’s and that UK architects could learn a lot from the US. Compared with the situation in 1997, UK firms still do not seem to have been able to make much of an inroad into the US. By implication the upcoming agreement on license for license inter-recognition between the US and EU will drastically change the prospects for RIBA recruitment in the US, as well as AIA recruitment among UK firms. Compiled by Tim Clark December 15th 2003 |
National Survey Pages |