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Rwanda Institute of Architects

Professional interns

You have graduated. What happens next

Three things, in this order: find a supervising architect, register with RIA as a professional intern, and start recording your work from the first week.

A planning and building site

In order

Do these in order

  1. 01

    Find a supervising architect

    Your registration depends on having one, so this comes first. RIA publishes a list of licensed architects who have said they are willing to supervise.
  2. 02

    Agree the terms in writing

    Agree the arrangement with your supervising architect before you apply: the work you will be exposed to, and how your record will be reviewed and signed.
  3. 03

    Register with RIA

    You cannot count internship time before the date your registration takes effect, so do not delay this while you settle into a job.
  4. 04

    Start your record on the first day

    Not the first month. The record is what RIA validates at completion.

The mistake that costs people a year

Working without registering

The most common way a Rwandan graduate loses time is working for a year in a practice, assuming it counts, and discovering at application that it does not — because they were never registered, or their employer was not an eligible supervisor, or nothing was recorded. All three are avoidable in the first fortnight after graduation, and all three are expensive afterwards.

If you are already working

Register now rather than waiting for a convenient moment. If you are already in practice and have not registered, contact the Registrar at architectsofrwanda@gmail.com or +250 788 753 224 to confirm how your position is treated before you apply.

FAQ

I have a job offer but the firm has no licensed architect.
Then it cannot supervise you. Ask RIA before you accept: architectsofrwanda@gmail.com or +250 788 753 224.
Do I have to be paid?
That is between you and your employer. RIA registers the internship; it does not set employment terms.
I graduated three years ago and never registered.
Register now. Contact the Registrar before applying to confirm how your earlier practice is treated.

Find a supervising architect

Do these two before anything else. Everything after depends on them.

Find a supervising architect Register as a professional intern