Consultations

This consultation has now closed.  See here for responses.

Amendments to the Architects Registration Board Prescribed Examination Procedures

Section 4(2) of the Architects Act 1997 – Consultation

You are invited to comment on the Architects Registration Board’s (ARB’s) proposals for amending the procedures governing the conduct of the ARB’s prescribed examinations (Parts 1 and 2) under section 4(2) of the Architects Act 1997 (the Act).

ARB has a duty under the Act to prescribe the qualifications that are recognised for registration as an architect in the UK. Candidates who do not hold such prescribed qualifications are required to demonstrate that they have reached an equivalent standard of achievement to those persons who hold prescribed qualifications. The means by which that evaluation is made is the Prescribed Examination. 

As these amendments, if approved, will affect the Examination Procedures, ARB is required to publish a draft of the rules and allow those to whom the rules would be applicable the opportunity of making representations.

Background to the Proposals

As part of an ongoing review of its Prescribed Examination process which began in 2006, The Architects Registration Board decided that it wished to explore the possibility of outsourcing the process of its Prescribed Examination to one or more of the schools of architecture offering prescribed qualifications in the United Kingdom. In order to enable outsourced arrangements, the ARB’s Examination Procedures will require certain amendments. It is only these consequential changes on which we are consulting: the substance of the Examination Procedures will remain as before.

The ARB is currently running a competitive tender exercise in line with current procurement legislation. Should the tender exercise prove successful, it is important that we have as wide a range of views as possible to assist the Board in its final consideration and implementation of the amendments.

To assist your consideration of the proposed amendments, current custom and practice is summarised below, along with the proposed changes together with reasons.  

Current Examination Practice

Currently the ARB runs the Prescribed Examination system directly, using its own staff to administer the system including –

• Recruitment, retention and day-to-day organisation of examiners.
• Determining the composition of examining teams; hosting examinations; and keeping accurate records of examining teams’ findings.

• Administering candidates’ applications from receipt through to notification of results
• Responsibility for quality assurance, through Independent Examiners tasked with overseeing the process, as well as provision of training and development for all those involved. 

Proposed Examination Practice

The ARB proposes to outsource the entire examination system to two, or possibly three, service providers in the academic sector, receiving periodic reports about candidates’ applications, quality assurance reports and feedback from those making use of the system. 

ARB will continue to monitor and record results, and to cover costs a prescribed fee per applicant will be charged by the Provider on ARB’s behalf.

Responding to the proposals

The consultation extends to every part of the proposals and comments are welcome on any aspect. ARB’s criteria, against which candidates must demonstrate compliance together with the current Procedures for Examination, and a copy of the Architects Act 1997, may be seen at:

ARB Criteria Document
ARB Examination Procedures Document
Architects Act 1997 (click here)

Please see below for the consultation document and a template form you may use to record your response should you wish and a list of those organisations that have also been consulted.

If you are of the view that any organisation not included in this list should also be consulted please let ARB know as soon as possible.

ARB would normally allow a twelve week period for consultations in line with Better Regulation Executive recommendations, however as this consultation is about an enabling set of changes, which will permit a like-for-like outsourcing, we would ask that you submit any responses that you might choose to make within six weeks. If you would like to respond and cannot make a submission before the deadline, please let me know and I will do my best to ensure that your views are taken account of.

Please return your comments to ARB as soon as possible and in any event not later than 5pm on Friday 27 June 2008.
Yours sincerely,
 

Rob Wilson
Registration Department

Consultation paper 2008/01 (Proposed Amendments to the Architects Registration Board Procedures for Prescribed Examination)
Consultation paper 2008/01 (Response form)