Think of an eligibility as a ticket that allows you to schedule a division of the ARE (4.0 or 5.0). Eligibilities are requested through your NCARB Record, but are granted on behalf of the jurisdictional board from which you plan to receive your initial license. Jurisdictions have differing requirements for granting you ARE eligibilities. If you want to check out a jurisdiction, use NCARB’s website to view Registration Board Licensing Requirements.
Based on your jurisdiction’s rules, you’ll receive one eligibility for each division of the ARE. Eligibilities have a start date and an end date and must be used within that timeframe or they will expire. Don’t worry — most jurisdictions give you several years to use your eligibilities. If they do happen to expire, you’ll need to contact your jurisdiction to get your eligibilities reactivated. Reactivation of eligibilities may or may not involve a fee or reapplication to the jurisdiction.
Once you have your eligibilities, you can start testing. Each division eligibility you receive will be unique. When you schedule an appointment using an eligibility, the payment and eligibility are tied to that exam appointment. You can reschedule an appointment per NCARB’s policy and that eligibility will continue to stay linked to the appointment. If you do not show up for an exam appointment, your exam fee is forfeited and you will receive an entirely new exam eligibility for that division. Also, if you fail an attempt, you will automatically have a new exam division eligibility created for that division. It will have a new start date based on NCARB’s retest policy and will continue to have the same eligibility end date.
ARE 4.0 vs. ARE 5.0 Eligibilities
If you already have ARE 4.0 eligibilities, you can keep testing in ARE 4.0 as late as June 30, 2018.
If have met all your jurisdiction’s requirements and qualify to request eligibilities, you can do so through your NCARB Record on or before October 31, 2016. You will then receive ARE 4.0 eligibilities and can keep testing in ARE 4.0 as late as June 30, 2018.
Any licensure candidate that qualifies and requests eligibilities on or after November 1, 2016, will receive ARE 5.0 eligibilities.
Using ARE 4.0 Eligibilities to get ARE 5.0 Eligibilities
Any candidate with active ARE 4.0 eligibilities can self-transition to ARE 5.0 any time after November 1, 2016. Simply log into your NCARB Record and complete the transition process. Upon completion of the self-transition process, you will have only ARE 5.0 eligibilities.
To learn how to request eligibilities, see the step-by-step process outlined below.
- Log into your My NCARB account and go to your Record.
- Select the Exams tab, and click "Request Eligibility."
- Select the jurisdiction under which you would like to test and click "Request Eligibility."
- Our system will automatically verify if you have the required education and/or experience on record to support this request for ARE eligibility.
- If you do meet the jurisdiction’s requirements, an email will be sent instantly to that jurisdiction asking that they review your request for authorization to take the ARE.
- If the jurisdiction you selected participates in NCARB's Direct Registrationor Direct Eligibility programs, your request will be managed by NCARB.
- If you do NOT meet the jurisdiction’s requirements, you will receive a message on the screen indicating why the request cannot be accepted at this time.
- If you do meet the jurisdiction’s requirements, an email will be sent instantly to that jurisdiction asking that they review your request for authorization to take the ARE.
- You will receive an email confirmation immediately after submitting your request. This will provide details on the next steps in this process.
- You will receive a second confirmation email after you have been granted ARE eligibilities.
- Processing times vary by jurisdiction. You may wish to review the Registration Board Requirements on our website and contact your desired board directly to determine the specific criteria required to test for that jurisdiction.
Comments
12 comments
Ryan and other NCARB folks,
I have been waiting for the past three days for a response from NCARB regarding my eligibility. I had my university send my transcript to NCARB back on January 10th. Theoretically, you should have received it by now. My NCARB record is still not showing any verification of my education, so I can't receive my eligibility to test yet. I've been trying to get confirmation from NCARB that the transcript was received, in case the university needs to send it again. They told me to allow 15 business days, and I was hoping to take advantage of the early testing incentives that are guaranteed through the end of February. If I get delayed much longer, I don't think I will be able to do that due to test centers filling up.
Any chance someone can look into this and at least tell me that the process is underway?
Thanks,
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
I checked with Customer Service. They just received your transcript and have a turnaround time for processing of 5 business days. You can always reach out to them directly at 202-879-0520 or at customerservice@ncarb.org.
Thanks for checking that out for me, Joan!
I just wanted to make sure it at least made it to you guys... I'd much rather wait 5 days than an additional 15 for a second one to make it there.
Hello! I have just been informed that I need to bring an "Authorization to Test" Letter with me to my exam. What is that and if I was able to schedule my exam does that mean I'm authorized? Is this something separate?
Kathryn,
The Authorization to Test letter has not been a requirement for years. You've been given very outdated information. Since you were able to schedule, yes, you are already authorized!
I see the following message in my account:
"Your testing eligibilities will expire after 10/2/2017. You will be unable to schedule an ARE division after 10/2/2017, and you must establish a new eligibility under the current procedures of your testing jurisdiction"
Does this mean that I have to schedule and pass ALL my exams before the mentioned date or just that I need to at least schedule one of the exams by that date?
I recently transitioned from 4.0 to 5.0.
Thank you,
Eduardo
Eduardo,
You just need to call the VA Board and ask them to reopen your eligibilities to test.
Hello!
I sent out the request for eligibility in late August. It's been over a month and I still haven't received any response. I e-mailed Customer Service last week and have not received any response from them either.
Does any one know what might cause the processing time to be so long? And could anyone help me look into it?
Thank you!
Lin
Lin,
The Illinois Board is sent some of their candidates' requests for eligibilities so they can review and approve them. Their decision to conduct this review is based on the candidate's education. I asked NCARB Customer Relations to reach out to you today. You likely have heard from them already.
Joan,
Thank you for your swift response! And yes I received their approval already.
Thanks again!
Lin
Hi!
I sent my sent my eligibility request to start the ARE for Illinois on 10/18/17 and haven't heard back yet. Does anyone know what the typical turnaround time is to be approved and receive eligibility?
Thanks!
Margaret
Margaret,
The Illinois Board is sent some of their candidates' requests for eligibilities so they can review and approve them. Their decision to conduct this review is based on the candidate's education. If you don't receive notice of eligibility to test by the end October, please call NCARB's Customer Service at 202-879-0520.
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