CPD scheme

The scheme has no minimum requirement for the number of hours or activities. We want architects to focus on the quality and outcome of their development activities instead. However, we recommend architects carry out a minimum of eight CPD activities over the year (which will include activities carried out in respect of the two mandatory topics). This figure is based on a comparison of other professionals’ CPD schemes, and our research into the amount of CPD architects currently undertake. Architects will need to carry out CPD every year and confirm they have undertaken it when they pay their retention fee to satisfy the scheme’s requirements. 

The CPD scheme requires architects to undertake relevant activities to contribute to their professional development, and to record these activities along with a reflection on what they learned as a result. Architects can define their own CPD activities, which can include formal learning or informal development. There will be no minimum time required for an activity to qualify as being relevant.

If an architect has developed professionally and can apply what they have learned to their practice, then it can be considered continuing professional development. Some of the examples of activities shared by respondents to our survey in 2021 include:

• online learning
• learning from technical experts
• peer-to-peer networks
• in-person and online events
• reading
• attending demonstrations
• teaching
• site visits
• visits to or from organisations
• case studies
• mentors
• podcasts

No, please do not upload any kind of CPD certificates or attendance reports for events to evidence your record. Such certificates will not be reviewed. The evidence of your development captured by your learning reflection will demonstrate your compliance with the scheme.

• Formal training: For example a course, seminar or conference session. This list is not exhaustive. You are the learner/trainee. The learning material has been planned with specific learning outcomes identified.

• Peer discussion: A conversation with a peer, colleague or fellow architect where you gain understanding or knowledge and can apply this to your practice.

• Practical experience: For example, on-the-job experience or experience when on a site visit. This list is not exhaustive. You learn or gain knowledge from doing something rather than from a book or course.

• Research: While carrying out research for a project you learn something or consolidate knowledge which you can apply to your practice.

• Self-directed learning: You choose to read a specific article, listen to a radio programme, or podcast, or watch a documentary and you learn or consolidate knowledge which you can apply to your practice.

• Teaching/training: You are the teacher or trainer. You deliver a course. You gain new learning or understanding while preparing and/or delivering learning material

• Other: Any other type of CPD activity not currently covered by the above list.

No, the CPD section of the MyARB profile can only be seen by the individual architect and the ARB staff – this includes reviewers, once a CPD record has been assigned to them. Similarly, the public will not be able to see, on the Register, if an architect has completed CPD. However, the individual can choose to email a copy of their record to themselves which they can then share with anyone they want to, if they wish to do so.  

To meet the scheme’s requirements you would have to participate in appropriate CPD as set out in the guidance. The ARB CPD scheme requires every architect to demonstrate continuing professional development in their field of work. 

We have not taken a ‘one-size-fits-all- approach. The scheme allows individuals to maintain and develop their competence in a way that is relevant to their day-to-day work and practice. As long as you can identify a learning outcome and how this has been applied to your practice or day-to day work, then we will accept it as valid CPD, no matter what field or sector it relates to.  

Compliance with ARB’s CPD scheme will become a requirement of registration, and architects will have to complete their CPD annually to remain eligible to stay on the Register. 

In some circumstances it may not be possible to carry out CPD activities, for example, those on parental leave or if someone is suffering a long-term illness. In such situations, architects may apply to defer their CPD submissions for one year but remain on the Register. Multiple deferments will only be agreed in exceptional circumstances.

If you wish to withdraw from the Register, please refer to the detailed guidance for more information on retiring from the Register.

Compliance with ARB’s CPD scheme will become a requirement of registration, and architects will have to complete their CPD annually to remain eligible to stay on the Register. If you are retired and no longer practicing professionally, you may find that you are unable to meet the requirements of the CPD scheme.

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 here. 

All architects who wish to remain on the UK Register will have to conduct appropriate CPD. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure they maintain and develop their competence and to help reassure the public that all architects, regardless of their employment status and work area, are suitably qualified to work.

To meet the scheme’s requirements you must participate in appropriate CPD, regardless of whether you are practicing in the UK or abroad.

ARB has developed a flexible scheme in order to avoid duplication. If an architect has developed professionally and can apply what they have learned to their practice, then it can be considered continuing professional development. It doesn’t matter where or how you did your CPD, so long as it’s an activity that helped you to learn and develop in your work.

CPD can be recorded on MyARB or on RIBA’s platform. Architects will need to record the CPD activities they carry out and the outcomes from them. They will also need to reflect on what they learned from their CPD activity, how it has been applied to their practice and any known benefits, how it has helped their competencies and any further development.

Architects only need to record their CPD on one platform – be it ARB or RIBA. If an architect is selected for a CPD review by ARB and they have recorded their CPD on RIBA’s platform, a copy of those records can be uploaded to the ARB platform or sent electronically to ARB. Those electing to record their CPD activities on RIBA’s platform must still ensure they cover the two mandatory ARB topics.

Those architects who choose to use RIBA’s platform will also still have to confirm with ARB that they have done their CPD when they pay their retention fee to stay on the Register each year. If an architect is selected for a CPD review by ARB and they have recorded their CPD on RIBA’s platform, a copy of those records will have to be uploaded to MyARB.  

ARB may mandate particular areas of architectural practice that must be covered by an architect’s CPD activities.

The two mandatory topics for 2024 are fire and life safety design and environmental sustainability.

Any mandated topics will be decided following engagement with the profession and key stakeholders, including government departments and professional membership bodies across the United Kingdom. While all architects must carry out CPD on these mandatory areas, they will have the discretion to do so in a way that is relevant to their practice.

Guideline competencies available on the ARB website provide details of what you should know for each mandatory topic. You can review these guidelines here.

No, ARB will not provide or accredit or approve CPD resources. This applies to mandatory topics as well.

We will however signpost to resources. Please see here for resources for environmental sustainability, and here for resources for fire and life safety. Please see here for general CPD resources.

Yes, the purpose of the CPD scheme is for every architect to develop professionally in their field of work. We encourage you to participate in CPD activities that will enable you to develop in your role.

ARB may also, on occasion, choose to mandate specific topics. Architects must carry out CPD on these mandatory areas but will have the discretion to do so in a way that is relevant to their practice. The topics for 2024 are fire and life safety and environmental sustainability.

ARB will annually review a selection of architect’s CPD records. If you are included in that selection, ARB will notify you. If you are using RIBA’s platform to record your CPD, you will be asked to upload a copy of your record to the MyARB portal by a set date. You can find more information on documenting your CPD records here.

A proportionate percentage of architects will be selected for review each year. Their records will be reviewed by our reviewers, all of whom are registered architects who have experience with peer review. The review is an exercise in quality assurance to ensure registrants are compliant with the scheme and to offer feedback should this be required. The reviewers are not there to judge individual architects, but rather to confirm that the selected architects have carried out CPD, that they have identified lessons learned from their CPD activities and have identified how they can apply what they’ve learned to their practice. They will not be assessing whether the CPD undertaken by each individual architect is suitable for that individual’s needs. Our scheme is based on four principles, one of which is ‘tailored by architects to their own practice and needs’ – it is the responsibility of each individual architect to decide if the CPD they have undertaken is suitable for their own day-to-day practice. 

There are three outcomes of the review: 

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

Those with the outcome ‘action needed’ will be given clear guidance on what changes are needed to meet requirements and a period of time to make those changes. They will be asked to resubmit by a set deadline and their record will be reviewed again. 

No, the CPD scheme is designed to encourage architects to develop. Where an architect has been informed that they are not compliant with ARB’s CPD requirements, they will be given the opportunity to take necessary remedial steps within a required period. If after that period, they still fail to comply, they will be removed from the Register.  

Please note that if an architect confirms during retention that they have completed their CPD records and it is subsequently shown that they had not done so, then it would be considered a matter of dishonesty, and they would be subject to an investigation of unacceptable professional conduct. If this leads to a PCC hearing and the outcome is a sanction for the architect, then this will be publicly announced, as are all PCC hearing sanctions. 

As far as possible, the scheme will avoid any additional costs for architects. Due to the flexibility of our scheme, we believe it will be possible for you to complete CPD activities without having to spend additional money attending courses or events. We know that some architects choose to pay for CPD courses or events, and this will be entirely at their discretion.