Architect

Accreditation of your qualifications and skills assessment

As an overseas qualified architect, you will need to gain qualification recognition from the AACA. If you are from Canada, Japan, Singapore, the United States or the United Kingdom, please click the 'Mutual Recognition' button below. If successful in this way, you will not need to complete the APE. For all other overseas qualifications, please see the pathways to registration below. The most common way to gain registration in Australia is to complete the Architectural Practice Exam (APE), however, those with extensive experience may be able to apply for the Experienced Practitioner Assessment. According to your circumstances, you will need to begin your application for registration via one of the following pathways:

Overseas Qualifications Assessment (OQA) leading to the APE: for those who cannot apply for mutual recognition or the APE to determine if your overseas qualification is equivalent to the Australian standard. You are required to have a 5-year tertiary qualification (Master of Architecture) that permits a graduate of the degree to be registered in the country of the awarding institution, as well as 6-months of paid architectural work experience (excluding course-integrated work experience). In some cases, a 4-year degree will be accepted with additional documentation and experience.

The OQA includes two parts:

1. Assessment of tertiary qualifications that would allow for registration in the awarding country.
2. Competency Assessment Interview that includes the submission of a Portfolio of 3 to 4 projects with written statements addressing the National Standard and an Assessment Interview.

If your OQA is unsuccessful, your outcome will include advice regarding deficiencies, and you may resubmit evidence to the AACA for further assessment. You must complete this within the given time restrictions.

National Program of Assessment (NPA) leading to the APE: for those whose qualifications are not recognised as equivalent to Australian standards according to the AACA. You can complete the NPA to prove your skills and knowledge.

This is completed in two stages:

1. Eligibility: Candidates must satisfy academic, English language, work experience and residency requirements. Candidates who are successful in Stage 1 will be invited to participate in Stage 2 - Design Brief.
2. Response to the Design Brief: Candidates must respond to the Project Brief by addressing particular Performance Criteria in the context of the National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA). Submissions take the form of a report and companion drawings. Candidates work alone in responding to the Project Brief and are given one opportunity to submit questions to the Management Group on the Project Brief.

Once this is successfully completed, you may apply for the APE.

Experienced Practitioner Assessment - Overseas (EPA): for those with a Master of Architecture not recognised in mutual recognition agreements and a minimum of 10 years post-graduate architectural practical experience at a Principal Decision-Making level on complex projects. This includes a review for eligibility and content verification, followed by a Competency Assessment Interview. If successful, you will not need to complete the APE.

Pathways to Registration

Mutual Recognition

Architectural Practice Exam (APE)

For those who completed the OQA or the National Program of Assessment and need to complete the APE prior to registration in Australia.

The APE includes three parts:

1. Eligibility: Successful completion of the OQA or the NPA. Additionally, submission of a logbook and statement of practical experience, involving a minimum of 3,300 hours (approx. 2 years) of experience usually under the supervision of an architect. Candidates who have completed an accredited qualification, or with a qualification approved through AACA’s Overseas Qualifications Assessment process, must complete a minimum of 12 months of experience subsequent to successfully completing the Australian or Overseas qualification in architecture. The logbook and statement of practical experience must be used in applications to the State or Territory Board of Architect Registration where you wish to work. The relevant Board will then decide if you are eligible to sit the National Examination Paper.
2. National Examination Paper: this tests your knowledge and skills according to the National Standard of Competency for Architects. You must pass this to continue to part 3.
3. Examination by Interview: after successful completion of the Exam, you will be invited by the relevant State or Territory Board to submit for an interview conducted by two experienced practising architects. Success in this interview will allow you to register with the State or Territory to work in Australia.

Architectural Practice Examination

Registration Boards

Once you have successfully completed the APE or EPA, you must register with the architecture board of the State or Territory in which you will be working. Once you are registered to work in one State or Territory, you are eligible to work in other States or Territories (excluding Queensland) under the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) Occupational Registrations (also referred to as JobPass).

The eight Boards are:

NSW Architects Registration Board

Architects Registration Board of Victoria

Board of Architects of Queensland

The Architectural Practice Board of South Australia

Architects Board of Western Australia

Australian Capital Territory Architects Board

Board of Architects of Tasmania

Northern Territory Architects Board

If you wish to work outside of the State or Territory in which you are registered, you will still need to contact the relevant Board of the State or Territory with the intention to practice.