Internationally registered architects and individuals with international academic qualifications can pursue licensure as architects in Ontario through several pathways administered by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). These options aim to recognize the qualifications and experience of individuals trained outside of Canada while ensuring they meet the standards required to practice architecture in Ontario.
The Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) play a crucial role in establishing pathways to licensure for architects across the country. While each provincial and territorial regulatory body operates independently, they collaborate through ROAC to establish consistent standards and qualification for licensure.
Current licensure pathways include:
If you are a student at a school of architecture or have a professional degree from one, the
Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) may be your pathway to licence in Ontario. Canada is a signatory to the
Canberra Accord, which is intended to facilitate the portability of educational credentials between the countries whose accreditation / validation agencies signed the Accord.
Non-accredited degrees are assessed and certified by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). To find out more about accredited professional degrees, please visit the
website.
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. The MRA provides for the reciprocal registration of architects who are practising in a jurisdiction that is signatory to the agreement. All Canadian jurisdictions, and a majority of those in the United States are signatories—please use the link above to determine participatory states.
The path to the
Tri-National Agreement has its origins in the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, regarding ways to facilitate the mutual recognition of licensure credentials among United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Tri-National Mutual Recognition Agreement for International Practice of Architecture was jointly developed by the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA, now ROAC), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM) to remove barriers and provide qualified architects with the opportunity to offer professional services across borders while ensuring the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
Architects in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia who are recognized as APEC Architects in their home countries may apply for fast-track registration jurisdictions under the terms of the
Canada/Australia/New Zealand Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). The APEC Architect Framework enables participating economies to enter into bilateral or multilateral arrangements to access fast-track cross-border registration procedures.
The Architects Act of Ontario, along with the Council policies established by the Association, provide procedures to assess alternative qualifications for licensure. These procedures are designed to recognize the diverse backgrounds and experiences of individuals seeking to become licensed in Ontario. The procedures for assessing alternative qualifications for licensure are designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency in the licensure process while maintaining the high standards of the architectural profession in Ontario.
Individuals have the opportunity to utilize these legislative procedures where they can substantiate their qualifications either align with or justify equivalence to the stipulated requirements for obtaining a licence in Ontario. Alternative qualifications can be pursued through either a Registration Committee hearing or by submitting an Exemption Request to Council. These avenues offer individuals the opportunity to submit or present their case and demonstrate how their qualifications align with or warrant exemption from the standard requirements for licensure.
If you have any questions, email the Office of the Registrar. You are reminded that you may not use the professional title “Architect” in Ontario unless you are licensed by the OAA.
The
OAA Registration Committee conducts formal hearings between the Registrar and applicants who wish to practise architecture in Ontario as members of the OAA. When individuals who make an application for a licence or limited licence do not meet all the legislated criteria, the Registrar is obligated to issue a Notice of Proposal to refuse the application. However, within that notice is the ability for the applicant to request a hearing with the Registration Committee. At a hearing, the onus will be on the applicant to demonstrate to a panel that their qualifications, knowledge, or experience merit a licence or limited licence with the OAA in order to practise architecture in Ontario. At the conclusion of a hearing, the Committee makes a determination.
The OAA has a statutory obligation under the Architects Act to ensure those in the architecture profession meet the prescribed requirements prior to membership with the OAA. The Association must consistently apply the legislated requirements in accordance with the Regulation to fulfil its statutory obligation. The academic, examination, and experience requirements are set out under the Act and explicitly in the Regulation. However, prior to application for a licence or limited licence,
requests for exemption from some of the legislated requirements can be considered by OAA Council. The purpose of Section 33 of the Regulation is to provide an opportunity for an individual to demonstrate their qualifications, knowledge, or experience merit exemption from certain legislated requirements.