Earlier this month, the Government introduced the Professional Qualifications Bill to Parliament. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent, it will help to ensure that regulators like ARB can continue to set professional standards and assess who meets them now the UK has left the EU. It will also allow us to register skilled professionals with international qualifications.

Once the Professional Qualifications Bill receives Royal Assent, ARB will look to put the legislation into operation swiftly. We expect this to happen at some point in 2022, but this will depend on the passage of the Bill through Parliament.

What is changing?

This new legislation means we will be able to establish more streamlined ways for individuals who hold international qualifications to register. It aims to reduce the obstacles architects registered abroad face when seeking to have their qualifications recognised in the UK. It also provides opportunities for UK architects to have their qualifications recognised internationally, enabling the global spread of skills, knowledge and innovation.

We are working hard, in conjunction with the Government, to develop and implement a coherent system for recognising international qualifications. We are holding discussions with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards in the USA as well as the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia and the New Zealand Registered Architects Board; we are also in discussion with the Architects Council of Europe to discuss a potential agreement at an EU-level.

What is the current system?

There are currently interim arrangements in place with the EU, following the UK’s recent exit. This means that those who hold European qualifications that were listed in the ‘frozen’ Annex V.7.1 and have access to the profession in the EU state that the qualification was issued (or an ARB prescribed Part 3) are still, at this point in time (May 2021), eligible to apply for registration in the UK. These arrangements will continue to operate until the new legislation is made law and the new way of recognising international (including EU) qualifications becomes operational.

Those holding Irish qualifications and who have access to the profession in Ireland are eligible to apply for registration under the terms of the memorandum of understanding we have with our counterparts in Ireland, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. This agreement will continue to operate until such time as any new mutual recognition agreement between ARB and the relevant bodies within the EU has been developed, approved and implemented.

The Prescribed Examination route continues to operate for individuals holding international qualifications.  More information is available on ARB’s website.

Where can I find out more?

More information about EU Exit, interim arrangements and international qualifications and registration is available on our website here. ARB will continue to share information through our usual communications channels such as our website and social media pages.