California Supplemental Examination – Format Transition

Frequently Asked Questions

At its September 2009 meeting, the California Architects Board (CAB) voted unanimously to convert the California Supplemental Examination (CSE) to a written multiple-choice format. While the current oral format is defensible, transitioning to a written format will increase defensibility, expand our capacity to serve candidates, and preserve the Board’s scarce resources. The CSE was the last licensing examination in California that was provided in an oral format. Examinations for psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists have recently been converted to a written multiple-choice format. Other California examinations available in the written multiple-choice format include landscape architects and pharmacists. The following are responses to some common comments the Board is receiving.

Is the exam being eliminated? No. There will still be a California Supplemental Examination (CSE), but in a different format. The current Test Plan, based on the 2007 Occupational Analysis Study of architectural practice in California, will be the same. This means that the same content will be tested for. Read more...

Click here to download CAB's full FAQs PDF. Stay tuned here for up-to-date information from CAB as it becomes available and dates this transition will go into effect. - AIASD