Our role in prescribing qualifications

Prescribing qualificationsOur role in prescribing (recognising) qualifications leading to registration
Under the Act, ARB has responsibility for setting the standards for entry onto the UK’s Register of Architects and prescribing (recognising) the qualifications and practical training experience for this purpose. ARB sets out the criteria that those successfully achieving the relevant qualifications and practical training experience must achieve in order to demonstrate that they are competent to join the Register. The criteria include the minimum levels of knowledge and skills that individuals must hold on completion of the relevant qualifications and periods of experience.

Institutions wishing to renew prescription (recognition) of existing qualifications or seeking to have their qualifications prescribed for the first time must present documentary material to demonstrate that key objectives have been or will be met. Meeting the key objectives provides the Board with confidence that, among other things, students obtaining a prescribed qualification will have demonstrated that they have met all of the relevant criteria. Once prescription has been granted for the first time or renewed, qualifications are then subject to an annual review to check that the Board’s requirements are continuing to be met.

We run a rolling cycle for renewing prescription of the 148 qualifications we recognise, in addition to considering qualifications where prescription is being sought for the first time.

Whilst the number of annual monitoring submissions and applications to renew prescription continued to increase steadily, we have improved on our turnaround times over the last three years. We have achieved this by streamlining our internal processes and procedures. For example, we now develop summaries of previous applications/annual monitoring submissions in order to identify areas to focus on when reviewing an application. We have also improved the way in which we track and monitor applications as they progress through the process against the stated deadlines within our Procedures.

Our role in liaising with universities
University Liaison visits continue to form an important part of our work. These visits establish a useful and constructive point of contact between ourselves and the schools/institutions of architecture. In addition, they prepare students for what being in a regulated profession means by raising awareness of the responsibilities placed on architects by the ARB’s Code of Conduct and Practice, along with an understanding of professional regulation.

message-smallPositive feedback from students and professional studies advisers – The feedback that we regularly gather from students and professional studies advisers continues to confirm that these workshops are highly valued.

  • “The feedback from all 86 of the final year students was highly enthusiastic.”
  • “As always the presentation was clear and covered all the main aspects well. We very much look forward to your invaluable contribution again next year.”
  • “Thank you for your contribution at the first lecture of our new series. I have already had three emails from students saying how much they enjoyed it.”
  • “I am so pleased we found a way to host your presentation. I felt the presentation made to the students was perfect.”
  • “Excellent lecture today.”