Exemption Requests to Council

The OAA has a statutory obligation under the Architects Act (the Act) to ensure those in the architecture profession meet the prescribed requirements prior to being granted a licence or limited licence. The OAA must consistently apply the legislated requirements in accordance with the Regulation 27 (the regulations) in order to fulfil its statutory obligation.

The academic, examination, and experience requirements are set out in the Act and explicitly in Sections 31 and 32 of the regulations. Unless these requirements are altered by the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) and/or OAA Council by way of amendment to the regulations, they remain the academic, examination, and experience requirements for issuance of a licence or limited licence to practise architecture in Ontario as defined by the Act.

However, requests for exemption from some of the legislated requirements will be considered by OAA Council as set out below.

OAA Council will respond to all formal and complete requests for exemption to some of the requirements for licence or limited licence. The powers and jurisdiction of Council will be exercised within the principles set out in the Act and the regulations. Exemption requests are not an avenue to bypass the academic, examination, and experience requirements that have been set by the regulations or to provide a right of review or appeal from the decisions of either the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) or Experience Requirements Committee (ERC).

The purpose of Sections 13(1)(d) and (e), and 13.1(1)(d) and (e) of the Act and Section 33 of the regulations is to provide a procedure for an individual who can demonstrate circumstances that their qualifications, knowledge, or experience merit consideration of an exemption. OAA Council will consider requests where the individual can demonstrate their qualifications, knowledge, and experience are determined to merit exception.

Ensuring a fair and equitable registration process requires the consistent application of requirements for all individuals, including those seeking exemptions from certain requirements, regardless of their chosen path to licensure. This consistency is essential to uphold fairness and to ensure all individuals are evaluated against the requisite standards of competency. By applying requirements uniformly, the processes maintain their integrity, promotes transparency, and fosters trust in the profession.

While paths to licensure and individual circumstances may vary, the expectations remain equitable, ensuring that all individuals—including those requesting exemptions—demonstrate the requisite skills and knowledge to meet the OAA’s high standards for practice. This approach not only supports procedural fairness, but also reinforces public confidence in the qualifications of all OAA members.

Exemption requests are not an alternative pathway for licence or limited licence in Ontario.

Legislative Authority

Section 13 of the Architects Act as amended, states:

Issuance of licence

13. (1) The Registrar shall issue a licence to a natural person who applies therefor in accordance with the regulations and,

(a) is of good character;

(b) is not less than eighteen years of age;

(c) is a citizen of Canada or has the status of a permanent resident of Canada or is a member of an organization of architects that is recognized by the Council and that has objects, standards of practice and requirements for membership similar to those of the Association;

(d) has complied with the academic and experience requirements specified in the regulations for the issuance of the licence subject to any exemption by the Council; and

(e) has passed such examinations and completed such courses of study as the Council may set or approve in accordance with the regulations subject to any exemption by the Council.

Grounds for refusal to issue licence

(2) The Registrar may refuse to issue a licence to an applicant where the Registrar is of the opinion, upon reasonable and probable grounds, that the past conduct of the applicant affords grounds for belief that the applicant will not engage in the practice of architecture in accordance with the law and with honesty and integrity.

Referral to committee

(3) The Registrar, on his or her own initiative, may refer and on the request of an applicant shall refer the application of the applicant for the issuance of a licence,

(a) to the Academic Requirements Committee for a determination as to whether or not the applicant has met the academic requirements prescribed by the regulations for the issuance of the licence;

(b) to the Experience Requirements Committee for a determination as to whether or not the applicant has met the experience requirements prescribed by the regulations for the issuance of the licence; or

(c) first to the Academic Requirements Committee and then to the Experience Requirements Committee for determinations under clauses (a) and (b).

Determination by committee

(4) A determination by a committee under subsection (3) is final and is binding on the Registrar and on the applicant.

Hearing

(5) A committee shall receive written representations from an applicant but is not required to hold or to afford to any person a hearing or an opportunity to make oral submissions before making a determination under subsection (3).

Notice of determination

(6) The Registrar shall give notice to the applicant of a determination by a committee under subsection (3) and, if the applicant is rejected, the notice shall detail the specific requirements that the applicant must meet.

Limited licence

13.1 (1) The Registrar shall issue a limited licence to a natural person who applies in accordance with the regulations and,

(a) is of good character;

(b) is not less than 18 years of age;

(d) has complied with the academic and experience requirements specified in the regulations for the issuance of a limited licence, subject to any exemption by the Council; and

(e) has passed such examinations and completed such courses of study as the Council may set or approve in accordance with the regulations, subject to any exemption by the Council.

Grounds for refusal to issue limited licence

(2) The Registrar may refuse to issue a limited licence to an applicant if the Registrar is of the opinion, on reasonable and probable grounds, that the past conduct of the applicant affords grounds for belief that the applicant will not engage in the practice of architecture in accordance with the law and with honesty and integrity.

Referral to committees

(3) Subsections 13 (3) to (6) (which relate to the Academic Requirements Committee and the Experience Requirements Committee) apply with necessary modifications in respect of an applicant for a limited licence.

Conditions

(4) Every limited licence is subject to the conditions prescribed by the regulations.

Section 33 of Regulation 27 under the Architects Act, as amended, states:

The Council may, where it is of the opinion that the applicant’s qualifications, knowledge, and experience so merit, grant an exemption from all or part of the academic and experience requirements set out in this Regulation.

Section 31 of Regulation 27 under the Architects Act, as amended, states:

31. The following academic, experience, and examination requirements for the issuance of a licence to a person are prescribed for the purposes of clauses 13 (1) (d) and (e) of the Act:

1. The person must hold a degree in architecture from a post-secondary institution or must have successfully completed the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Syllabus.

2. The person must hold a Certificate of Certification issued by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board.

3. The person must have completed the admission course offered by the Association.

4. The person must have successfully completed one of the following:

i. The Examination for Architects in Canada published by the Association.

ii. The Architect Registration Examination of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

iii. Any combination of the components of the Examination for Architects in Canada published by the Association and of the Architect Registration Examination of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards that, considered as a whole, is equivalent to one of those examinations, as approved by the Council.

5. The person must have completed a total of 3,720 hours of experience, under the personal supervision and direction of a person authorized to practice architecture in the jurisdiction in which the experience is obtained, that meets the requirements of the Internship in Architecture Program published by the Association. At least 940 hours of the experience must have been completed within the three years before the date on which the person applies for the licence.

6. If fewer than 940 of the total hours of experience required by paragraph 5 were completed in Canada, the person must have successfully completed the Council approved courses specified in the Internship in Architecture Program published by the Association.

7. The person must have completed an experience assessment provided by the Association.

Section 32 of Regulation 27 under the Architects Act, as amended, states:

32. (1) The following academic, experience, and examination requirements for the issuance of a limited licence to a person are prescribed for the purposes of clauses 13.1 (1) (d) and (e) of the Act:

1. The person must hold an advanced diploma from an Ontario college of applied arts and technology for a three-year architectural technology program or have graduated from a three-year college architectural technology program accredited by Technology Accreditation Canada.

2. The person must have completed the admission course offered by the Association.

3. The person must have successfully completed the Examination for Licensed Technologists published by the Association.

4. The person must have completed a total of 5,580 hours of experience, under the personal supervision and direction of a person authorized to practice architecture in the jurisdiction in which the experience is obtained, that meets the requirements of the OAA Technology Program published by the Association. At least 940 hours of the experience must have been completed within the three years before the date on which the person applies for the limited licence.

5. If fewer than 940 of the total hours of experience required by paragraph 4 were completed in Canada, the person must have successfully completed the Council-approved courses specified in the OAA Technology Program published by the Association.

6. The person must have completed an experience assessment provided by the Association.

(2) Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Subsection (1) do not apply with respect to a person who successfully completed the Advanced Standing Program that was administered by the Ontario Association of Applied Architectural Sciences (OAAAS) before its dissolution.

Academic, Examination, and Experience Requirements for Licence

Academic

Education
All individuals must hold certification of their academic qualifications from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that acquisition of such a certificate has not been possible, by providing documented evidence of the CACB rejection and the grounds for that rejection. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from this education requirement.

OAA Admission Course Lectures

All individuals must complete the current OAA Admission Course, or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that there are circumstances that make attending the course impossible, unreasonable, or unnecessary. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from participation in the OAA Admission Course.

Examination

All individuals must complete the current Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) or the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that there are circumstances making this impossible, unreasonable, or unnecessary. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the examination requirement.

Experience

All individuals must complete the experience requirements of the Canadian Experience Record Book (CERB) of the national Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council the circumstances making it impossible or unreasonable to meet the experience requirements set out in Regulation 27. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the experience requirement.

Individuals who completed all their CERB experience while enrolled in the IAP are required to complete an experience assessment or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council the circumstances making it impossible or unreasonable to meet the experience assessment requirement set out in the regulations. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the experience assessment requirement. (Individuals who attend an Experience Requirements Committee (ERC) assessment will not be subject to the experience assessment requirement unless directed by ERC.)

Academic, Examination, and Experience Requirements for Limited Licence

Academic

Education
All individuals must hold an advanced diploma from an Ontario college of applied arts and technology for a three-year architectural technology program or have graduated from a three-year college architectural technology program accredited by Technology Accreditation Canada or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that acquisition of such a diploma has not been possible. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from this education requirement.

OAA Admission Course Lectures
All individuals must complete the current OAA Admission Course, or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that there are circumstances that make attending the course impossible, unreasonable, or unnecessary. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from participation in the OAA Admission Course.

Examination

All individuals must have successfully completed the Examination for Licensed Technologists published by the Association or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council that there are circumstances making this impossible, unreasonable, or unnecessary. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, that their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the examination requirement.

Experience

All individuals must complete experience requirements of the Experience Record Book (ERB) that meet the requirements of the OAA Technology Program (OTP) published by the Association or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council the circumstances making it impossible or unreasonable to meet the experience requirements set out in the regulations. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the experience requirement.

Individuals enrolled in the OTP are required to complete an experience assessment or demonstrate to the satisfaction of Council the circumstances making it impossible or unreasonable to meet the experience assessment requirement set out in the regulations. Further, they must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Council, their qualifications, knowledge, and experience merit an exemption from the experience assessment requirement. (Individuals who attend an Experience Requirements Committee (ERC) assessment will not be subject to the experience assessment requirement unless directed by ERC.)

Process Information

Council will consider the nature of the circumstances of the individual that have prevented them from meeting the prescribed requirements for licence or limited licence.

When making request for exemption, the Registrar will require that individuals provide:

a written submission;
details of the specific requirements in the regulations that they are unable to meet;
a non-refundable fee; and
a response to questions a) and b) below.

a) Why does the individual believe their qualifications, knowledge, and experience warrant an exemption from the regulations?
b) What are the circumstances that would warrant OAA Council granting an exemption from the present legislated requirements for licence or limited licence?

Where a request for exemption received by the Office of the Registrar includes exemption from all or part of the experience requirements, that portion will be forwarded directly to the Experience Requirements Committee (ERC) for consideration. The ERC will provide a written recommendation to Council as to whether the individual’s experience merit an exemption from the experience requirement(s).

Where a request for exemption received by the Office of the Registrar includes exemption from all or part of the educational requirements for licence, a letter from the CACB will be required to confirm if an individual’s academic qualifications are in compliance with the Canadian Education Standard (CES) in Architecture for entry to the profession.

Once in receipt of the information from the CACB and/or the Experience Requirements Committee, Council will make the final determination as to whether the individual merits the requested exemption from the requirements for licence or limited licence.

Any individual seeking more information on Exemption Requests to Council should contact Camelia Bostan, Administrator Licence and Registration.

The Office of the Registrar advises individuals requesting an exemption from academic, examination, and/or experience requirements that, if one is granted by OAA Council, they may not necessarily qualify for recognition under the Mutual Recognition Agreement with the United States of America.

CONTACT

Office of the Registrar Staff
t: 416.449.6898 Ext: 285 or 297
e: licence@oaa.on.ca