Architect
- Regulators
-
- Architects Registration Board
- Nations
- United Kingdom
- Sectors
-
- Architecture
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- Architects Registration Board
- Address
-
8 Weymouth Street
London
W1W 5BU - Email address
- info@arb.org.uk
- Website
- https://arb.org.uk/
- Phone number
- +44 (0)20 7580 5861
Regulation
Regulation summary
Architects have a conceptual and integrative role in the design of buildings and places, working in cooperation with communities, clients and other professionals. The defining skill of the architect is design - the ability to conceive of, and elaborate on, physical artefacts that meet human needs and evoke aesthetic response.
Architects are regulated by the Architects Registration Board under the Architects Act 1997. The ARB is an independent statutory regulator and regulates throughout the UK.
Regulation type
Reserved activities
None - restrictions apply to use of title only
Protected titles
Architect
See the link below for more information about professional titles and letters.
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://arb.org.uk/architect-information/title-protection-toolkit/
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
-
Currently, if you are studying in the four nations which constitute the UK, you will:
- take a three-year full time first degree in architecture (often referred to as ‘Part 1’)
- followed by a year of appropriate professional experience
- then a two-year full time second degree or masters in architecture (often referred to as ‘Part 2’)
- followed by a further year of professional experience
- then the Professional Practice Examination – (often referred to as 'Part 3')You will need to have all three qualifications in order to apply for registration together with a minimum of 24 months appropriate practical experience which complies with ARB's requirements.
ARB has recently approved a new regulatory framework, which is in the process of being introduced. For information on what this will mean, and the likely implementation times, please see:
https://arb.org.uk/consultations/results/education-consultation-results/#Regulatory%20framework - More about qualification
- https://arb.org.uk/student-information/
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
- Summary of routes
-
If you hold overseas qualifications obtained outside the EU or hold a non-recognised UK qualification you may need to pass ARB’s Examination for Equivalence to Prescribed Qualifications (also known as the ‘Prescribed Examination’) to progress towards registering as an architect in the UK. Under this route, once you have satisfied Part 1 and Part 2 requirements, either by obtaining qualifications or by passing the Prescribed Examination, you will then need to obtain a UK Part 3 qualification from a UK school of architecture.
If you obtained your qualifications in the EU you may be able to make use of the current unilateral registration arrangements that the ARB Board has put in place.
If you obtained your qualifications in Ireland, ARB and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) have signed a memorandum of understanding which became effective on 1 January 2021. Both parties have agreed to recognise appropriate UK and Irish qualifications for the purposes of registration until any new UK-EU mutual recognition agreement is implemented.
We have developed new international routes to registration. If you hold qualifications which fall within scope of our US, Australian or New Zealand Mutual Recognition Agreements you may be able to use these routes to join the register.
If you hold EEA EFTA qualifications, please contact ARB directly at info@arb.org.uk for information. - More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://arb.org.uk/architect-information/applying-for-registration-for-the-first-time/
Registration
- Registration requirements
-
After qualification, you should register with the Architects Registration Board. An application must be made and a fee is payable to ARB for joining the UK Architects Register. Refer to ARB's website for further information and update to date fee details.
- More about registration
- https://arb.org.uk/architect-information/applying-for-registration-for-the-first-time
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
-
The Architects Act 1997
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.arb.org.uk/the-architects-act