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Supervisors and Mentors

What is the Emerging Professional's Companion?

The EPC is an online resource primarily intended as a means for interns to supplement and bolster their knowledge as soon-to-be-licensed architects and to earn IDP credit. It is important for seasoned architects who serve as IDP supervisors and mentors to be familiar with this resource so they can guide each intern to learning opportunities appropriate for that individual.

How do I use the EPC to support my interns?

Interns may ask you to help them select an EPC activity to best get them started. You can download the entire EPC PDF to become familiar with supplemental activities your interns are covering and with the EPC itself. This familiarity will allow you to use the EPC activities to prepare an intern for an upcoming work assignment as well.

Supervisors and/or mentors must be available to review the intern's work with the Emerging Professional's Companion and to provide feedback and guidance in the development of work products. You are not responsible for record-keeping; documentation is the intern's responsibility. However, your online approval of their IDP Experience Report is certification that you have reviewed the material and believe the intern has grasped the basic competencies within the activity.

I want to start using the EPC with my interns; how can I get more information?

Whether serving as an IDP Supervisor or IDP Mentor, an architect has a rewarding opportunity to influence an intern's career and to contribute to the future of the profession. The AIA provides a number of resources to help architects with the daily supervision and regular mentoring activities that support an intern's path toward licensure.