To be licensed as an architect, the Architects Act requires an applicant be of “good character.”
This good character requirement is intended to protect the public and maintain high ethical standards in the profession by ensuring those who are licensed by the OAA conduct themselves with decency, honesty, and integrity.
How is Good Character Assessed?
In the licensing application, an applicant must answer questions that assist the OAA in determining whether the applicant is of good character. These questions require applicants to self-report conduct or circumstances that may raise issues about their character. Self-reporting includes providing full and detailed information about the issues and providing any supporting documentation.
If an applicant’s circumstances change after submitting an application, necessitating a revision to the responses to any of the previously submitted questions, they must immediately notify the OAA and provide an amended application (or amendment form, if created).
Answering “yes” to one or more of the good character questions does not necessarily mean an applicant will be refused a licence. Rather, their application will then enter the good character review process.
All information provided to the OAA will be held in strict confidence and only be accessible to staff working directly on the review of the application.
The Good Character Review Process
If an applicant has answered “yes” to any of the good character questions, the applicant must provide the relevant dates, details, or documents. The application will be reviewed by the Deputy Registrar, who will determine whether the issues disclosed are sufficiently serious to warrant a formal investigation. In most instances, the matter will be resolved either on the basis that the issues disclosed do not require additional review, or on review of additional information or clarification requested by the OAA.
Depending on the nature of the information disclosed by the applicant, the OAA may commence a formal investigation. If an investigation is warranted, the applicant will be notified in writing and provided with an explanation for the investigation.
If the good character investigation was initiated as a result of information that the OAA received from a source other than the applicantion, the applicant will be provided with details and given an opportunity to comment on or respond.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of factors that may be considered when assessing whether an applicant is of good character:
- when the incident or conduct occurred;
- the nature and duration of the conduct;
- whether rehabilitation efforts have been taken, as well as their success; and
- systemic or background factors that may have played a part in those incidents to which an applicant’s responses refer.
At the conclusion of an investigation, the Registrar may decide to refuse to issue a license to the applicant, if there is strong evidence to support a finding of misconduct that would call into question the integrity of the profession. Should the Registrar make this determination, the applicant is afforded the right to a hearing by the Registration Committee, which makes the final determination as to licensure.