ARB facts
Our key functions are:
- Prescribing the qualifications needed to become an architect
- Keeping the UK Register of Architects
- Ensuring that architects meet our standards for conduct and practice
- Investigating complaints about an architect’s conduct or competence
- Making sure that only people on our Register offer their services as an architect.
Our work
- The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the statutory regulator of architects in the UK.
- ARB was established by the Architects Act 1997.
- Our powers and duties are given to us by Parliament through the Architects Act.
- We are an independent statutory regulator. Although we have a sponsoring government department (Communities and Local Government) we are not part of that department or the government, nor are we a quango or one of architecture’s professional bodies.
- There are approximately 33,000 architects on our Register.
- We publish a Code which sets out standards of conduct and competence that architects are expected to follow.
- Only people on our Register can use the title “architect”. It is a criminal offence in the UK for anyone to offer their services as an architect if they are not on our Register.
- Bodies corporate and firms must obtain the Board’s permission before they can use the title “architect” in their company’s name.
Funding
- We are funded entirely by the registration fees that architects pay to register/remain on the register.
- Moneys raised by fines ordered by the Professional Conduct Committee (in conduct cases) or by magistrates (in misuse of title cases) are paid to HM Treasury, not to ARB.
People