I am against allowing interns to sit for the ARE until they have had at least 3 years experience working for a licensed, practicing architect. However, I do not believe that completion of a structured IDP program should be required prior to taking the exam.  In short, experience is critical but IDP is not. I believe that as long as an intern has worked for three years in a firm (with or without an IDP program) they should be allowed to sit for the exam, even if that time was obtained as a student. Completion of an IDP program could still be required as a prerequisite to licensure.