The UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) has announced its intent to issue major overhauls to its registration process for non-UK architects wishing to pursue work within the country. 

The organization is now in the process of pursuing a public consultancy that will seek to eliminate demonstrated knowledge gaps while streamlining the number of examinations and outsourcing their administration. The proposed changes apply to the Prescribed Exam and UK Adaptation Assessment, the latter being a prerequisite for architects seeking to join the UK register through via the ARB’s international agreements with the United States, Australia/New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

The changes break down into one of five categories:

Competence-based assessment 

• Assessment would be based on ARB’s Academic and Practice Outcomes (in place of the outgoing Criteria)
• It would assess equivalent competence and UK context-specific knowledge (instead of equivalent qualifications)

Single gateway 

• There would be a single examination gateway to the Register (instead of requiring two exams to prove equivalence to Part 1 and/or Part 2, and in addition, requiring a Part 3 UK-accredited qualification)

Improved eligibility

• Simpler eligibility requirements would be based on qualifications that focus on architecture and meet ARB’s UK professional practical experience requirements (without reference to the number of years spent in education and training)

Accredited providers  

• ARB would accredit assessment(s) offered by providers, including any potential adaptation requirements such as preparation courses (rather than running exams in-house)

Modern assessment format 

• We would introduce an online gateway assessment of UK-specific knowledge and readiness to practise in UK context, which would be designed to also operate as the UK Adaptation Assessment
• We would invite providers to develop the online gateway test and the subsequent competence assessment exercise(s) for ARB to accredit. There might be a range of formats of the assessment exercises, to increase options for candidates.

This follows years of statements from the ARB and RIBA declaring their intentions to author foundational reforms to existing pathways into practice for both international professionals and domestic students. The public consultation phase closes on Monday, January 6th, 2025. 

Read more about the push to reform registration and licensure in the country via our recent feature interview with ARB as part of our Archinect In-Depth: Licensure.