Registering in the UK with Canadian Qualifications

Registering in the UK with Canadian Qualifications

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada / Regroupement des Ordres d’Architectes du Canada (ROAC) have signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). The agreement states that the two parties will mutually recognise UK and Canadian qualifications within its scope for the purposes of registration

You will need to be eligible under the agreement to be able to use this application route. 

Canada to UK applicants must:

• Hold a current ROAC certificate confirming successful completion of a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB); or
• A professional degree or diploma in architecture from a non-accredited institution which has been certified by CACB as meeting the Canadian Educational Standard endorsed by ROAC.

and

• Have completed the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) or its predecessor the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB);
• Have passed the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) or equivalent; and
• Be licensed/registered in a province or territory of Canada and not be subject to any current conditions, sanctions, or penalties arising out of disciplinary or conduct processes.

Start your application by contacting ROAC. This will begin the process of certification and provide you with confirmation that you are eligible to use the route. You can contact ROAC here:

Canadian Secretariat for the ARB (United Kingdom) Agreement
ROAC c/o Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
Suite 100 – 440 Cambie Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2N5

Related inquiries: registration@aibc.ca

Qualifying applicants will receive a ROAC certificate. 

You should then contact ARB via info@arb.org.uk, submitting your ROAC certificate, and we will then provide you with information on the additional requirements which must be satisfied. This will include the UK Adaptation Assessment to demonstrate that they are able to practise safely and effectively in the UK context. Canada to UK architects will need to pass this before being admitted to the UK Register.   

After we have received and checked your ROAC Certificate we will send you the following documents: 

• the UK Adaptation Assessment Procedures and accompanying guidance on preparing for the assessment; and
• a UK Adaptation Assessment application form to complete.

At this point, you will be required to pay the UK Adaptation Assessment fee of £2,950. 

After your UK Adaptation Assessment fee has been received, we will then send you:

• a “Reflective Career Summary” template for you to complete; and
• a practice-based scenario and a set of scenario-based questions, which you will need to respond to in writing.
• These will form the basis of the UK Adaptation Assessment professional interview, which is designed to ensure that anyone who joins the UK Register of Architects meets the standard required to practise safely and effectively in the UK.
• We will also liaise with you regarding dates for your UK Adaptation Assessment professional interview. This will be online during UK office hours. You will be allocated an interview in either the morning or the afternoon, UK time. We cannot accommodate requests to change the time of day you are allocated.

You can find out more about the UK Adaptation Assessment here.

Having passed the UK Adaptation Assessment, you will be eligible to make an application to join the UK Register of Architects. Successful applicants will be provided with information on how to proceed when notified of the outcome of their UK Adaptation Assessment.

FAQs and more information on the mutual recognition agreement are available here.