If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD. However, as a RIBA member, you may choose to record your CPD on the RIBA platform. In this case, you do not need to also record CPD on MyARB, and you do not need to upload a copy of your RIBA record to MyARB. However, you still need to meet the learning reflection and mandatory topic requirements set out in the ARB CPD guidance. RIBA’s core topics, Health, Safety and Wellbeing and Sustainable Architecture are recognised as being equivalent to the ARB mandatory topics. You will need to sign a declaration when paying your retention fee to confirm that you have completed your CPD with RIBA, and you may be asked to provide an Excel copy of your RIBA record if chosen for review. 

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD – even if you are semi-retired or retired.

If you are no longer engaged in professional practice and have retired, you may not need to be on the Register. You can continue to call yourself an architect in social settings, as long as you are no longer carrying out any type of architectural work. You can find more information about calling yourself an architect in retirement here.

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD – even if you are not living or working in the UK. Your CPD should be relevant to the context and requirements of the location in which you practise.

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD – even if you are working in academia, construction or some other sector. We recognise that architects work in diverse roles, and so the ARB CPD scheme requires every architect to demonstrate continuing professional development in their own field of work. This means that you should maintain and develop your competence in a way that is relevant to your day-to-day work and practice. If you can identify a learning outcome and show how this has been applied to your practice or day-to day work, or how this has improved your competency, then it will count as CPD, no matter what field it relates to.

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD – even if you are not working. For your learning reflection, you can reflect on how a CPD activity has improved your competence rather than how you have applied it to your practice.  

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD. However, we recognise that there may be circumstances – such as maternity or parental leave – where it is not possible to carry out CPD activities for six months or more within a calendar year. In such cases, architects may apply to defer their CPD submission for one year while remaining on the Register. Further deferments will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD. However, we recognise that there may be circumstances – such as long-term sick leave – where it is not possible to carry out CPD activities for six months or more within a calendar year. In such cases, architects may apply to defer their CPD submission for one year while remaining on the Register. Further deferments will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

If you are on the Architects Register, you must undertake and record CPD – even if you work part-time. Those architects working part-time are subject to the same requirements as those in full-time employment.

You must record your CPD using either MyARB or the RIBA platform. Recording CPD locally or through other organisations’ platforms is not accepted.

No. CPD must be recorded directly within the MyARB platform. You cannot upload external documents, such as Word or Excel files, as your CPD record.

No, we will not accept CPD certificates as evidence of CPD.

You can only tag one topic per activity. To record, please choose the topic most relevant to your activity.

Yes, you can save and edit your CPD entries at any time up to the submission deadline. Entries can be updated until midnight on 31 December of the reporting year. After this date, your record will be locked and no further edits will be possible.

The ARB scheme does not set a minimum number of hours to complete. The ARB scheme is activities-based. We suggest (but do not mandate) that you complete at least eight activities per year.

The ARB scheme is not points-based, rather it is activities-based. We suggest (but do not mandate) that you complete at least eight activities per year.

We suggest (but do not mandate) that you complete at least eight activities per year.

No. CPD activities must be recorded in the year they were completed. However, you can build on previous learning in your current CPD record. For example, if you gained new knowledge in the previous year and applied it to a project in the current year, that application may be considered practical experience. You must still be able to clearly identify what you learned and explain how it either enhanced your professional practice or contributed to your ongoing competency.

ARB will review each year whether to set mandatory CPD topics for the following year. If any topics are set, we will provide advance notice and publish guidance outlining the competencies expected of architects in those areas.

Information regarding mandatory topics will be communicated via email and published to this webpage. The mandatory topics are also listed on MyARB.

No, ARB does not provide formal CPD courses. However, time spent attending ARB events or participating in peer discussions about new ARB materials can count as CPD – if you can clearly identify what you learned and explain how you applied this learning in your work or how it has improved your professional competence.

No, ARB does not recommend or approve any CPD materials. We do signpost some CPD learning resources on our website here.

Each year, a proportionate sample of architects is selected for review. Their CPD records are examined by experienced reviewers familiar with peer review.

The purpose of the review is quality assurance: to ensure architects comply with the CPD scheme and to provide feedback if needed. Reviewers do not judge individual architects but confirm that:

• CPD has been undertaken,
• Lessons have been identified from CPD activities, and
• Architects have considered how to apply what they’ve learned in their practice and/or how what they’ve learned has developed their competency.

Reviewers do not assess whether the CPD is suitable for each architect’s individual needs. Our scheme is built on four principles, including the idea that CPD should be tailored by architects to their own practice and needs. It is each architect’s responsibility to determine if their CPD is appropriate for their work.

There are three possible outcomes:

• Meets requirements
• Action needed
• Doesn’t meet requirements

Architects who receive an action needed outcome will be given clear guidance on what changes are required and a deadline to resubmit their records. Their updated submissions will then be reviewed again.

Yes, for the outcome ‘doesn’t meet requirements’.

No. The CPD section of a MyARB profile is only visible to the individual architect and ARB staff – including reviewers assigned to that record. During the annual review, records are anonymised so reviewers do not know the identity of the architect.

The public cannot see whether an architect has completed CPD on the Register. However, architects can choose to email a copy of their CPD record to themselves and share it with others if they wish.