How to validate your Architecture Degree in Canada

In this article, we will talk about the architecture profession and help you understand how to validate your education and experience to work in Canada. It is important to mention that anyone who is not a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, must have a work permit to be able to work in the country legally.

The great expansion in the Canadian real estate market from 2015 to 2020 resulted in the increase of residential and public investment in construction. The architectural industry in Canada had a direct benefit from that expansion, observing an increase in revenue estimated to $4.3 billion over those years. A strong market provides a variety of opportunities to professionals that decide to immigrate to Canada. The salary of a beginner architect can start at CAD $37 000 a year, and can reach CAD $140 000 a year among the most experienced professionals.

In Canada, occupations can fall into two types: non-regulated and regulated. For non-regulated occupations, a license or certification is not required, like, for example, in most IT occupations. For regulated occupations, a license or certification is required to work, and in this case, the license or certification will be issued by the provincial or territorial regulatory authority responsible for the occupation. Most healthcare and engineering occupations are regulated, among many others.

Architecture is a regulated occupation and to work as a licensed architect in Canada, professionals need to be registered with the association of architects in the province or territory they intend to work. Each association individually regulates the practice of architecture and the requirements for registration and licensing. The Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) represents the eleven provincial and territorial associations of the profession of architecture in Canada.

The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) is the national organization responsible for assessing and certifying the academic qualifications of individuals holding a professional degree in architecture. They are also responsible for the standards of the profession and the accreditation of the Canadian schools of architecture. They offer programs for the certification of internationally trained professionals.

Provincial and Territorial Associations

Below is a list of each associations’ websites in Canada:

● Architectural Institute of British Columbia
● Alberta Association of Architects
● Saskatchewan Association of Architects
● Manitoba Association of Architects
● Ontario Association of Architects
● Ordre des architectes du Québec
● Architects’ Association of New Brunswick
● Nova Scotia Association of Architects
● Architects Association of Prince Edward Island
● Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects
● Northwest Territories Association of Architects

The territories of Yukon and Nunavut do not have an association of architects. Professionals that want to practice there, need to contact the province government.

Pathways for Certification

There are 3 pathways for an internationally trained professional to register in one of the associations:

● Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) - internationally trained architects registered in a jurisdiction outside Canada under a mutual recognition agreement, can have a registration by reciprocity. Some examples of those countries with this agreement are: United States, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and recently countries in European Union.

● Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect Program (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect Program – Program) - it assesses the applicant education and experience against the Canadian standard. This program is administered by the CACB.

● Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) - applicants ineligible to apply through mutual recognition agreements or do not meet the eligibility for the BEFA program can complete the IAP program. BEFA, podem concluir o programa de estágio em arquitetura  para obter a certificação no Canadá.

BEFA Program

The BEFA Program have the following steps:

Step 1: Eligibility - to apply for the program, applicants must meet the mandatory requirements:

● Have completed an architectural education program
● Have practiced as a licensed architect in any jurisdiction
● Have at least seven years of experience in architecture within the last twelve years
● Have obtained at least six months of relevant experience in Canada before the assessment interview. This experience:
● Must be gained within three years before the date scheduled for the assessment interview.
● Must be gained under the personal supervision and direction of a licensed architect in Canada
● Deve expor os candidatos à prática e aos requisitos regulamentares da arquitetura no Canadá

Step 2: Demonstration of Competency - applicants are required to prove competencies in the following twelve categories that illustrate the role of an architect throughout an entire project:

● Programming
● Site and environmental analysis
● Schematic design
● Engineering systems – structural, mechanical, electrical, civil
● Building cost analysis
● Code research
● Design development
● Construction documents
● Bidding and contract negotiation
● Construction phase – office and site
● Management of the project
● Professionalism and professional practice

Step 3: Interview - the interview is conducted by the same architects that assessed the competency demonstration submission. The applicant is required to bring documentation from two or more projects to the interview. These do not need to be Canadian projects.

All the documents to be sent with the application, must be certified copies and to be translated by a certified translator if not in English or French.

The total fee (as of December/2020) for the BEFA program application is CAD$ 7000 ( eligibility: $ 1240, demonstration of competency: $ 3200 and interview: $2560). The fees are paid at the beginning of each phase and are non-refundable.

Internship in Architecture Program (IAP)

Professionals that do not meet the requirements for certification through the BEFA Program, need to apply for the IAP directly with the association in the province or territory they want to work. The requirements and procedures to get licensed varies in the provinces, yet three main components in some way must be completed. These components are:

● Education: applicants must submit their academic qualification for evaluation
● Experience: applicants must complete a minimum of 3720 hours of mandatory experience in an approved employment setting, supervised by a licensed architect
● Examination: applicants must successfully complete the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC), after completion of 2800 hours of work experience.

Once the three components have been completed, applicants may apply for a license to practice architecture in the province or territory. The cost of the program is around CAD $3000.

Resources

In the Becoming an Architect do website do Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) website, more information can be found on how to become an architect in Canada.

Note: Due to COVID-19 some changes were made in some parts of the assessment process. Access the CACB and provincial association’ official websites for more updated information.

By Janayna Sercheli

If you wish to immigrate to Canada, contact Klaps Immigration Consulting for more information on immigration processes.