Mutual Recognition Agreement Between Canada and the United States

Canada/U.S. Mutual Recognition Agreement

As announced by the members of the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between Canada and the United States took effect on January 1, 2014, updating the long-standing relationship related to reciprocal licensure between the two countries.

All 11 of the Architectural Regulators in Canada, including the Ontario Association of Architects, are signatories to the MRA, along with 46 of the U.S. Member Boards of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) through completion of their individual Letters of Undertaking. The MRA provides for the reciprocal registration of architects who are practising in a jurisdiction that has signed a Letter of Undertaking as noted above. Architects holding an NCARB Certificate who are registered in and have their principal place of practice in a jurisdiction that has signed the Letter of Undertaking may transmit their NCARB Certificate Record to a jurisdiction/province provided that jurisdiction has also signed the Letter of Undertaking. Architects considering licensure under this Agreement should contact the appropriate provincial/territorial/state licensing board to understand their individual process for reciprocal registration. U.S. architects who wish to be licensed in Ontario should review the Reciprocal Application and Guidelines for Architects licensed in the United States. 

The MRA is based on Licence/Registration in ‘good standing’ in an individual’s home jurisdiction and one year (2,000 hours) of post-licensure experience. Additionally, the individual’s principal place of practice must be in one of the jurisdictions that have signed on to the Agreement. The following is required:

• a letter of good standing from the regulatory authority in the individual’s principal place of practice;
  
• a letter of declaration from the applicant attesting to one year of post licensure experience;
  
• proof of citizenship/permanent residency in the home country (Canada or the United States); and
  
• a Certificate issued by NCARB.

To familiarize yourself further with the details, click here for a copy of the nationally signed MRA.

The conditions for a U.S. architect to pursue reciprocal licensure in a Canadian jurisdiction through this Agreement include that they:

• are currently licensed in good standing by one or more NCARB Member Board(s) that is a current signatory to this Agreement;
  
• hold an active NCARB Certificate; and
  
• meet the eligibility as outlined in the MRA. (This includes being a citizen or having lawful permanent residence status, as well as being licensed or registered in a jurisdiction, in their home country and having completed at least 2,000 hours of post-licensure/registration experience.
  Note: Those who have been licensed by means of a Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect  program of either of the two countries, or other foreign reciprocal licensing agreement, are not eligible under this agreement.)

The conditions for a Canadian architect to pursue reciprocal licensure in a U.S. jurisdiction through this Agreement include that they:

• are currently licensed in good standing by one or more CALA jurisdiction(s) that is a current signatory to this Agreement; 
  
• hold an active NCARB Certificate; and
  
• meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the MRA. (This includes being a citizen or having lawful permanent residence status, as well as being licensed or registered in a jurisdiction, in their home country and having completed at least 2,000 hours of post-licensure/registration experience.
  Note: Those who have been licensed by means of a Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect program of either of the two countries, or other foreign reciprocal licensing agreement, are not eligible under this agreement.)

Architects licensed in a Canadian jurisdiction should review the requirements for NCARB certification in Section 3 of the NCARB’s Certification Guidelines.

The following is a list of U.S. State Licensing Boards that have currently signed on:

The remaining U.S. jurisdictions are continuing to consider implementation and the list of signatories will be updated accordingly.

This MRA supersedes the previous Canada/U.S. Inter-Recognition Agreement.