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Prescribed Examination: Status under Directive 2005/36/EC
On 24 June 2011, the European Commission made adjustments to the UK listing of qualifications in architecture at Annex V (point 5.7.1) of the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC (“the PQD”). These changes will affect some EEA citizens who have been examined by ARB and who wish to have the outcome of their Prescribed Examination recognised by other EEA countries.
Prior to the date noted above, EEA citizens or those with enforceable European rights(Directive-rights nationals or “DRNs”) whose education had taken place mainly within the European Community and had passed the Prescribed Examination, were eligible to have that outcome ‘signed-off’ towards mutual recognition requirements under the PQD. Automatic recognition under the PQD required not only that Part 1 (whether by qualification or examination)had been secured, but also Part 2 (whether by qualification or examination). Going forward, only those persons who have secured prescribed qualifications (and not Prescribed Examination) at both Part 1 and Part 2 and accessed the professions of architect in the UKwill be eligible for automatic recognition of their professional status in other European member states.
As the outcome of the Prescribed Examination is no longer a mutually recognised qualification which ARB can ‘sign-off’as part of automatic recognition, those with Directive-rights will therefore have to rely on alternative arrangements for recognition where they havepassed the Prescribed Examination after June 2011. This means that whilst a DRN who has been examined by ARB has satisfied local requirements in the UK, the recognition is not binding on other EEA countries until registration has been secured in the UK.
After registration has been secured, a person is entitled to ask other EEA states for recognition under the EU General System for recognising education and training. Under the General System, other EEA countries are entitled to consider any valid application against their national qualification levels and ask for compensation measures (such as an additional adaptation period or aptitude test) where differences are found. If you are a DRN and your qualifications are third-country qualifications (that is, non-European) you will also need to satisfy a requirement for three-years’ UK-based practice after registration in order to be eligible to make use of the General System.
Where possible, ARB will provide details about the standards which DRNs have been examined against, so as to assist as far as possible other EEA authorities in understanding ARB’s processes, with a view to limiting duplication of effort/testing as far as possible.
If you have any questions on the changes to the UK notification or about your entitlement to recognition under the PQD, please contact us at info@arb.org.uk.
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