Having been in the works for some time alongside the wider free trade negotiations between the UK and Australia, the agreement between the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), the UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) means that from 25 May, eligible architects can benefit from a streamlined registration process that will reduce costs and examinations, making it easier for them to register to work in each country. It is an especially notable development in light of the ramifications of Brexit for British architects.

The agreement will open up the architects’ profession whilst upholding and maintaining the high standards and safety that help to protect the public. This is because of the alignment between the rigorous competencies required to register in each country, reinforced by the three regulators’ quality assurance processes.

To help improve access to the profession, this unique agreement will also recognise an individuals’ relevant qualifications along the path to becoming an architect. This means someone who has been educated up to and including Master’s level can complete their training in another partner country and benefit from the agreement.

“Architects are among the most highly qualified professionals alongside the legal and medical fraternities. Architecture is also one of the professions that benefit most from collaboration, and this agreement enhances the ability of both registered architects and graduates with accredited qualifications to move between the UK and Australia or New Zealand,” says Kathlyn Loseby, CEO of the AACA.

“Our three nations have an obvious affinity based on shared language and cultural similarities and the new professional recognition process is straightforward and simple. AACA thanks both the ARB and NZRAB for the six years of collaboration culminating in this agreement.”

Related: British-Australian free trade in 2023

Hugh Simpson, chief executive and registrar at the UK’s ARB, adds: “The agreement builds on the close links between our three countries and has been made possible because of the constructive engagement between regulatory bodies and the confidence we have in the integrity of regulation and assurance of standards across Australia and New Zealand.

“We’re delighted that as well as helping eligible architects to register, saving them time and money, the new and more proportionate process will also create opportunities for tomorrow’s architects to study internationally across the three countries.”

Gina Jones, chair of the NZRAB also states: “This agreement will facilitate the mobility of architects registered in the United Kingdom and New Zealand and between our countries. We want our registration processes to be as straightforward as possible, while still ensuring new registrants have what is necessary for safe and effective practice. Mutual recognition agreements such as this benefit qualifying architects with a simpler pathway to registration between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.”

AACA
aaca.org.au
NZRAB
nzrab.nz
ARB
arb.org.uk

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