Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are there yearly dues associated with ACHA?
A. Yes, the yearly dues are: Board Certified - $550, Board Certified Fellow - $600, Emeritus Status - $150

Q. What are the fees for applying for ACHA Board Certification?
A. A check in the amount of $400 must be submitted with your application and portfolio. $150 will be applied to the Application Fee, which is non-refundable. $250 will be applied to the Examination Fee (If an application is not deemed complete and cannot be accepted, or is withdrawn, the $250 examination fee will be refunded.)

Q. Is there a deadline for applying to ACHA?
A. Your application and portfolio must be received at the Executive Office 60 days prior to first day the examination is adminstered.(December 31, March 31 and June 30)

Q. When will I be notified that I am accepted for an examination?
A. After your have completed the application, portfolio, letters of reference and fees have been submitted and approved, you will receive written notice that you are eligible to take the ACHA Examination approximatey one month after the application deadline. The period of eligibility is one year.

Q. Do I send the letters of recommendation directly to ACHA or include them in the portfolio?
A. All materials, including the letters of recommendation must be sent along with the application and portfolio.

Q. Who do I need to contact to schedule an Examination appointment to take the exam?
A. After your portfolio has been reviewed and approved you will receive notification of your eligibility from ACHA with the scheduling instructions. ACHA's contracts with the testing company Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP). AMP offers over 120 locations throughout the United States, to find an assessment center in your area, visit the AMP website at www.goAMP.com.

Q. What will be covered on the Examination?
A. The examination is based on a content outline developed from a national survey of healthcare architects, which identified tasks significant to practice. Examination questions were written by committee members and other practitioners to assess the knowledge and skills required to perform the identified tasks. The objective examination consists of 110 multiple choice questions (100 scored and 10 non-scored pretest items). The content outline can be found in the ACHA Candidate Handbook.

Q. How long will the Examination take?
A. Candidates are allotted 2 hours to take the examination.

Q. I am an Architect who provides healthcare planning (or other "non-traditional") services, and the project facts for my portfolio as requested in the Application and Checklist (i.e. construction cost, construction start/completion dates, etc.) do not relate to my personal role an involvement on a project-what should I do?
A. Architects providing "non-traditional" consulting services (i.e. Healthcare Planning, Programming, Facilities Based Services, Construction Management, Agency Review etc.) should modify the portfolio's pertinent project facts to best demonstrate their respective roles in their areas of specialty. Non-traditional practitioners are encouraged to apply.

The Diagram above describes the four-step process required to earn the Board Certificate in Healthcare Architecture. The Basic Criteria for ACHA Certification are:

• Professional degree in architecture from an accredited program.
• A valid license to practice architecture in the US, its territories, or Canada.
• A minimum 5 years as a practicing architect and at least 3 years in the specialty of healthcare architecture.
• Verification of significant roles on substantial healthcare projects with a portfolio of work including letters of recommendation.
• Written examination on the specialized requirements of healthcare architecture

If a candidate possesses the experience and credentials necessary, the review and examination process should not be difficult. ACHA recommends, whenever possible, that new candidates follow the basic path outlined in the box diagram above.

The completed application, references and portfolio are provided to the Certification Committee, in one hard copy and one CD-ROM so that three individuals may review the submission. If the Certification Committee approves, the candidate will be admitted to sit for the ACHA Exam, which is offered three times a year, in the months of March, June and September. If the Committee is unsure of the candidate's credentials, they may request an oral interview.

Candidates who successfully complete the ACHA Examination will have their names forwarded to the Regents, in order to be formally Board Certified as a specialist in healthcare architecture.

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Download: ACHA Candidate Handbook/Application (PDF)

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