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NCARB announces reciprocity program across the US, Canada and Mexico
NAFTA logo, via Wikipedia.
NCARB has just announced an avenue for qualified, licensed architects from the U.S., Canada or Mexico to offer their services across any of those countries. The mouthful of the "Tri-National Mutual Recognition Agreement for International Practice of Architecture" formally allows for architects to be "mutually recognized" across those countries, by qualifying for a "credential that will lead to a license to practice architecture" throughout those three countries.
Conceived jointly by registration bodies across all three countries (NCARB, the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA), and the Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM)), the MRA was initially drafted as part of the 1994 NAFTA agreement, and after a series of tests and pilot programs, NCARB has formally announced the program.
Here are the current eligibility requirements according to NCARB:
- Citizenship or permanent residency status in the United States, Canada, or Mexico
- Completion of a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB/CCCA), Acreditadora Naciaonal de Programas de Arquitectura y Disciplinas del Espacio Habitable (ANPADEH), or recognized equivalent;
- A minimum of 10 years of post-licensure experience in their home jurisdiction;
- Proof of “Good Standing” in their home jurisdiction as verified by the local regulatory authority;
- Knowledge of the codes, laws, and other matters applicable to the Practice of Architecture in the host country;
- Submission of a dossier of work to satisfy the specific competencies outlined in the agreement related to “responsible control and comprehensive practice”;
- Completion of an interview before a review panel in the host country conducted in the language of the host country.
More information is available here from NCARB.
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8 Comments
more fine print:
Fees
Fees for completing the Tri-National MRA process will be assessed by the national regulatory authority of the host country and are subject to change.
NCARB Certificate Application: $500
Dossier Review: $5,000
Interview: $2,000
Evan, yeah, kinda like out of state tuition.
lol
How is this any different from the Broadly Experienced Architect Program? If anything it actually appears to be more stringent...
Michael: NCARB's BEA Program doesn't make a U.S. architect eligible to practice in Mexico or Canada, whereas MRA is all about opening up more opportunities for architects to practice throughout those three countries. Paraphrasing NCARB, the BEA is simply an alternate route for architects to satisfy NCARB's "Education Standard", in a slightly different way than as stipulated in the education requirement for NCARB certification. The BEA doesn't give the architect any special credential to operate in another NAFTA country, as the MRA does.
Just what the USA needs: more architects competing for the same work.
regarding this specific line. When it states "home jurisdiction" does it necessary mean the country of your citizenship? I'm Canadian, but I did my undergraduate study in New York and have also worked only in New York/New Jersey area for the last 4 years. I'm planning now to pursuit my M Arch in the US as well, and already begun recording my hours under the NCARB.
So I guess my question is "home jurisdiction" the country of your citizenship or the country where you received your architectural license?
Thanks
ncarb is a money sucking beurocratic cancer on this profession.
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