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.

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.

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.