Representatives from the architectural regulatory authorities of United States, Canada, and Mexico have announced a major agreement to mutually recognize architect credentials in the three countries, making it possible for architects to work across North American borders.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in the United States, in conjunction with the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) and the Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM), announced the final implementation of the Tri-National Mutual Recognition Agreement for the International Practice of Architecture among the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The agreement represents over a decade of negotiations, bringing cross-border recognition of professional credentials from concept to reality in the spirit of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Qualified architects, from each country, who satisfy the requirements of the agreement, will be granted a credential that will lead to a license to practice architecture in the host country.
Informally known as the Tri-National Agreement, the pact outlines specific requirements that architects must satisfy when pursuing mutual recognition. These include education and work qualifications, as well as submitting documentation to confirm the individual’s credentials. A few of the basic eligibility requirements include:
• Completion of a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB/CCCA), Acreditadora Nacional de Programas de Arquitectura y Disciplinas del Espacio Habitable (ANPADEH), or recognized equivalent.
• A minimum of 10 years of post-licensure experience in the architect’s home jurisdiction.
• Proof of “Good Standing” in the home jurisdiction, as verified by the local regulatory authority.
• Knowledge of the codes, laws, and other matters applicable to the practice of architecture in the host country.
• Submission of a dossier of work to satisfy the specific competencies outlined in the agreement related to “responsible control and comprehensive practice.”
• Completion of an interview before a review panel in the host country, conducted in the language of the host country.
The agreement, along with similar programs, opens doors to qualified architects as the world and architectural practices become more globally connected. Architects interested in pursuing the opportunity for licensure outside of their home country should review the eligibility requirements and program information in greater detail as posted on the NCARB website. Additional details and standard application forms can be obtained by contacting the regulatory authority in the architect’s home country.
The path to the Tri-National Agreement has its origins in the passage of NAFTA in 1994, which spurred a discussion between leaders and regulators of the architecture profession in the United State, Canada, and Mexico to consider ways to facilitate the mutual recognition of licensure credentials among all three countries.
The initial agreement, signed in 2005 by the leaders of the profession in all three countries, marked what many considered to be one of the first professional services recognition programs under NAFTA. The study of the path to licensure in each country, the subsequent negotiations, the pilot program, and the final mechanisms for implementation continued over the following years, with support from volunteer leaders and staff from all three countries’ licensing authorities.
Throughout the process, the underlying goal has been to remove barriers and provide qualified architects the opportunity to offer professional services across borders while ensuring the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. The agreement applies to architects from the United States, Canada, or Mexico who have not used other mutual recognition agreements for initial licensure in their home country.
Related Stories
| Mar 14, 2012
Plans for San Francisco's tallest building revamped
The glassy white high-rise would be 60 stories and 1,070 feet tall with an entrance at First and Mission streets.
| Mar 14, 2012
Hyatt joins Thornton Tomasetti as VP in Chicago
A forensic specialist, Hyatt has more than 10 years of experience performing investigations of structural failures throughout the U.S.
| Mar 14, 2012
Tsoi/Kobus and Centerbrook to design Jackson Laboratory facility in Farmington, Conn.
Building will house research into personalized, gene-based cancer screening and treatment.
| Mar 13, 2012
China's high-speed building boom
A 30-story hotel in Changsha went up in two weeks. Some question the safety in that, but the builder defends its methods.
| Mar 13, 2012
Commercial glazer Harmon expanding into Texas
Company expanding into the Texas market with a new office in Dallas and a satellite facility in Austin.
| Mar 13, 2012
Worker office space to drop below 100-sf in five years
The average for all companies for square feet per worker in 2017 will be 151 sf, compared to 176 sf, and 225 sf in 2010.
| Mar 12, 2012
Improving the performance of existing commercial buildings: the chemistry of sustainable construction
Retrofitting our existing commercial buildings is one of the key steps to overcoming the economic and environmental challenges we face.
| Mar 9, 2012
2012 Giants 300 survey due Friday, April 13
See how your firm ranks among the AEC industry leaders.
