HKIA or RIBA? Choosing Your Path and Using AI to Prep Smarter.

​When I finished my Master's, I didn't have a full picture of what it meant to take the HKIA licensing exams versus the RIBA licensing exam. Sure, people told me I needed X years of experience and that there were a certain number of exams to pass. But you know what? What I really needed was someone I could ask: "How is taking this exam going to actually impact my life?"

​Fast-forward: I got my RIBA, and I set up AAL with Anne, my university classmate, who had gotten her HKIA. Now, from where I stand—together with her—I can really see clearly what taking each of these exams means and how the experience of preparing for them helped shape our career paths.

​And you know what? I wish I had AI back then. I would have made an AI study agent and shared it with my study group so everyone could upload notes into a shared database, and we could all revise with that AI.

​Then I thought, well, I'd love to share this experience with those who are about to take the exams soon.

​So, here we are.

​Part 1: Introduction

• ​Who we are: Adeline (RIBA) and Anne (HKIA), co-founders of AAL.

• ​Our story: From university classmates to licensed professionals running our own practice.

• ​The "why" behind this workshop: Giving you the clarity we wish we’d had.

​Part 2: The HKIA Experience – Presented by Anne

• ​A candid walkthrough: The journey from graduation to becoming a HKIA member.

• ​The real impact: How the HKIA process shaped my skills, my career opportunities in Hong Kong, and my professional identity.

• ​Key takeaways and things I wish I knew before starting.

​Part 3: The RIBA Experience – Presented by Adeline

• ​A candid walkthrough: The journey from graduation to becoming a RIBA Chartered Member.

• ​The real impact: How the RIBA process shaped my thinking, my career mobility, and my approach to practice.

• ​Key takeaways and things I wish I knew before starting.

​Part 4: Side-by-Side: Choosing Your Path

• ​A direct comparison of pathways, timelines, and commitments.

• ​Critical questions to ask yourself: Where do you want to live and work? What kind of practice do you envision?

• ​Interactive Q&A: Get your specific questions answered.

​Part 5: Building Your AI Study Assistant – Bite-sized workshop

• ​Introduction: How AI can transform your study group's efficiency.

• ​Concept: Creating a shared "second brain" for your revision.

• ​Step-by-Step Rundown (Demo only):

  1. ​Choosing Your Tool: Overview of accessible AI platforms to build upon.

  2. ​Setting Up Your Database: How to structure and upload notes, past papers, and key resources for the group.

  3. ​Training Your Agent: Prompting strategies to make your AI an effective study assistant.

  4. ​Using It Safely and Smartly: Best practices for collaboration and critical thinking alongside AI.

• ​Live Demo: A quick preview of what a simple AI study agent can do.

​Part 6: Final Q&A & Next Steps

• ​Open floor for any remaining questions on exams, career paths, or AI.

• ​Suggested next steps for your journey.

• ​How to stay connected with our community.