A new tri-national Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) has been signed by the three largest North American groups representing professional architects in their respective countries. 

The updated agreement between the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), Mexico’s Comité Mexicano para la Práctica Internacional de la Arquitectura (COMPIAR), and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) recognizes the competencies latent in the initial licensure/registration processes while removing several post-licensure barriers to eligibility. 

Victoria Rodríguez Mosqueda, the President of the Federación de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM), said the latest MRA amendment "includes more accessible requirements that will increase its potential coverage, while reducing the economic burden."

• Reducing the required number of years of post-licensure experience from 10 to five, expanding eligibility to architects who have been licensed/registered more recently. In addition, the updated agreement reduces restrictions around where that experience can take place.

• Accepting architects who obtained their license/registration through various routes, including alternative qualifications pathways. This expands access to international reciprocity to a wider pool of architects.  
• Removing the citizenship requirement, allowing architects who are not citizens of their home country to seek reciprocal licensure/registration.

"The updated agreement marks an exciting new stage in our relationship with Canada and Mexico founded on mutual respect and recognition. Now our NCARB Certificate holders who achieved licensure via non-traditional paths will be able to access this MRA, and do it in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. We look forward to supporting architects from all three countries as they take advantage of this opportunity to practice at the international level," NCARB President Kenneth R. Van Tine said.

The original agreement dates to 2005. The latest announcement joins NCARB's recent release of a new 16-point competency standard. 

Read further perspectives on the topic of licensure, including from NCARB CEO Mike Armstrong and other industry leaders, as part of our Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series here.