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To call yourself an architect in the UK, you must be registered with ARB. To be eligible to join the Register, you must demonstrate that you have met our Competency Outcomes, which describe the competencies required for registration as an architect and consist of ‘Academic’ and ‘Practice’ Outcomes.
There are different combinations of qualifications and routes that you can use to demonstrate these Outcomes.
You will also need to complete professional practical experience as part of meeting the Competency Outcomes. How, and when you choose to do so, can be unique to you, and will depend in part on the types of qualifications you decide to undertake.
If you are completing your education and training in the UK and want to register as an architect, it’s important you undertake qualifications that we accredit. You can find a list of accredited qualifications and learning providers here.
The information below explains the different routes available to you, what each involves and the support you can expect to receive throughout the process.
Registering with UK qualifications under the new framework
To register as an architect with UK qualifications you will need:
- a) An accredited master’s level qualification that encompasses the Academic Outcomes, and
b) an accredited practice level qualification that encompasses the Practice Outcomes normally be gained after some professional practical experience),
or
- a ‘combined’ accredited qualification that encompasses both Academic and Practice Outcomes.
Learning providers may offer different combinations of these qualifications. You can complete all your qualifications with a single learning provider throughout your education and training, or gain different qualifications from different providers.
It is your choice which type of qualification you complete and where you study. If you intend to use your qualification to apply for registration, it must be accredited by ARB while you are studying it. ARB sets Standards for learning providers that they must follow when delivering accredited qualifications. These Standards require learning providers to support you on your route to registration while you are studying an accredited qualification.
This includes supporting your employability by helping you prepare for practical experience and to understand how it forms part of gaining the Outcomes required to register as an architect.
For practice level qualifications, they should use a Trainee Record of Experience to reflect with you on your progress. Your learning provider will expect you to maintain and complete this Record. The Record allows you to track and reflect on your progress towards the Competency Outcomes. ARB will not assess the record as part of your application when you apply for registration, but your learning provider may use it as part of their own individual assessments.
Your learning provider should also have an individual who maintains contact with you during periods of employment during the qualification, assists you if you have concerns and develops relationships with employers to support you and other trainees. How this is done might vary between providers but you can read our full requirements under Standard 6 here.
ARB has published guidance to support you and your employer during your professional practical experience and understand what to expect. Your learning provider will be required to share this guidance with you.
This guidance will help you gain the most from your experience, supported by senior leadership’s commitment to creating a workplace that enables your development. This includes providing appropriate supervision and a structured environment where you can learn safely and effectively.
If you are carrying out your training with an architect, they must comply with the Architects Code of Conduct and Practice. ARB also provides guidance to architects to support the practical application of the Code’s six Standards, including in relation to mentoring.
If you have some qualifications from the old framework (these may be called a Part 1, 2 or 3)
I have some UK qualifications from the old framework
If you have a UK Part 1 only
You will need:
- An accredited Master’s level qualification that encompasses the Academic Outcomes or an old Part 2 qualification;
- and a practice level qualification that encompasses the Practice Outcomes or an outgoing Part 3 qualification;
- Or a ‘combined’ qualification that encompasses both Academic and Practice Outcomes.
Please refer to the information listed in ‘Registering with UK qualifications’ above for further details regarding your accredited qualifications.
If you have a UK Part 1 and a UK Part 2
You will need a practice level qualification or an outgoing Part 3.
If you gain an outgoing Part 3, you are likely to be required to have undertaken 24 months of professional practical experience, of which 12 months must be undertaken in the UK, and directly in the two years before you apply for registration.
If you gain a new practice-level qualification under the new framework before 2028, we will have confirmed with your learning provider as part of the accreditation process whether you will need to complete the existing practical experience requirement of 24 months. Your learning provider will be able to tell you whether this applies to your qualification. ARB will also publish information identifying which practical experience requirements apply to each qualification during the transition period.
If you have a UK Part 1, 2 and 3, and completed the latest of your qualifications under two years ago
You are eligible to join the Register. You can apply here
If you have a UK Part 1, 2 and 3, and completed the latest of your qualifications over two years ago
You are eligible to join the Register, but you must demonstrate that your knowledge and ability remain relevant. As of August 2026, this must be done through an application to our Competency Standards Group. In spring 2027, we expect to operationalise a new Registration Assurance Process. ARB will publish guidance ahead of implementation of the new process covering eligibility, the evidence requirements and how to apply.
I have a mix of UK and international qualifications
If you have a UK Part 1 and an international qualification equivalent to a Part 2
You will need to sit ARB’s Prescribed Exam at Part 2 or Master’s level. You can find more information about this here.
You will need to obtain a ARB-accredited practice level Qualification or outgoing Part 3.
If you only have a UK Part 2, a UK non-prescribed architecture undergraduate degree, and/or other international qualifications
You will need to acquire a UK accredited practice level Qualification or outgoing Part 3.
If you only have a UK Part 3 and other international qualifications:
You will need to sit ARB’s Prescribed Exam at Part 2 or Master’s level. You can find more information here.
Further information
If you have any questions about becoming an architect, or if your specific circumstances are not covered by the information above, please contact us on info@arb.org.uk.
If you wish to make a complaint about a learning provider or an employer, please refer to our complaints process for further information about how we can help you.