Two of the most influential professional architectural associations in the western hemisphere have pushed forward with their plans for a reciprocal licensure agreement between the US and UK. The UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the American National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have recently ratified a new Mutual Recognition Agreement that will make the registration and licensure process much easier for practitioners in both countries.
The agreement makes it possible for architects to obtain business contracts, network with peers, and pursue new projects in new markets. This forthcoming arrangement is modeled after existing pacts between the American organization and Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The basis of the agreement is three-pronged, and hinges on each architect’s ability to hold an active NCARB certificate, be lawfully permitted to work in the country in which they are registered and hold a valid license from their home country’s registration board.
The historic agreement is the result of over four years of research negotiations between the younger ARB and its American counterpart. The similarities discovered therein were enough for each body to go ahead with the agreement, with the stipulation that the two meet again within three years to review the implementation’s progress and add whatever updates they deem necessary.
Both parties must still wait for the UK parliament to pass forthcoming legislative changes before the ARB can formally sign its side of the agreement. That is expected to take place sometime in 2023. Each individual NCARB jurisdiction must also decide whether it will adopt the agreement separately. Once the ARB gets the agreement formally ratified, architects from either country will have to wait for a period of 60 days before they can start planning business abroad.
“The U.K. and U.S.A. are among the world’s leaders in architecture. A mutual recognition agreement will reinforce this further, helping eligible professionals to register between the two countries, sharing their skills and services," ARB chair Alan Kershaw shared at the end of a press statement. “We’re therefore delighted to see the agreement has been approved by NCARB’s boards. This is a significant step towards its completion and one that many architects in the UK will be pleased to see.”
6 Comments
Blimey, that's wonderful news. What took them so long, I dare say.
I think BREXIT actually made it easier to ink a tentative agreement.
I agree. For better or worse, they have had to turn to other countries for cooperation. So ironically, I transferred my EU license to the UK (before brexit) and now the same transfer to the US. That is for me the only positive thing about this whole debacle.
Both ARB and NCARB have the same challenges. They should resolve their internal problems first. Happy individuals can make happy marriages.
https://www.architecturaldiges...
https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06...
Great way to make that certificate worth more than the paper it's printed on, but only if you need it.
I hope that the statement "hold an active NCARB certificate" means they had to obtain the certificate as any American Architect by the required education of portfolio process. I'm a firm president and practicing American Architect that has over 20 years of active licensure without the education experience and can't get through the portfolio process. It's amazing that over 20 years of real architecture is not equivalent to a college degree. Good luck UK!!
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