Regulation of Title

Section 20 – Use of the title “Architect”

Recognition as a qualified architect in the UK requires a long and demanding period of academic study and practical work experience, in all, rarely less than seven years. Only at the end of such training can an individual be registered with ARB as an architect. To those who have worked so hard for the qualifications, the title “architect” has a special and important meaning.

That meaning is recognised in the Architects Act 1997, where Section 20(1) provides that “a person shall not practise or carry on a business under any name, style or title containing the word “architect” unless he is a person registered under this Act.”

Guidance on ARB’s approach

The purpose of Section 20 is to protect the consumer, and to restrict use of the title “architect” to those who are qualified to practise as such. ARB will prosecute in cases where unregistered persons appear to be using a name, style or title containing the word “architect” which may confuse the public as part of the name, style or title under which they were running their practice or business.

Since Section 20 applies to a person who practises or carries on business under any name, style or title containing the word “architect”, it follows that ARB will consider, before starting any prosecution, whether any person using initials such as RIBA, ARIBA, FRIBA or Hon FRIBA was doing so as a person practising or carrying on business under such a name or style.

It is unlikely that ARB would prosecute an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects for using the affix Hon FRIBA as part of the name, style or title under which they carry on their practice or business. Nevertheless, such prosecution cannot be ruled out altogether, as it might be appropriate in an extreme case.

An unregistered person who is writing or lecturing on architectural subjects may use the designation RIBA, ARIBA, or FRIBA.

Proceedings could not be initiated against unregistered persons who are completely retired from all types of practice or business, because the Act only applies to persons in practice or business.

Examples of activities which will be treated by ARB as “practice or business related to architecture” include:

Arbitration	Building Contracting
Building Services engineering	Conservation
Expert Witness	Interior Design
Project Management	Space Planning
Structural Engineering	Surveying

It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive, but is for example only.

Each case will be considered on its own merits, but if individuals are in any doubt about whether they may fall under Section 20 of the Architects Act, ARB advises them either to register as soon as possible, or to refrain from using the RIBA affixes as part of their name, style or title.

Common sense dictates that there are circumstances where use of the word “architect” in a general descriptive and non-building design context will not be in any conflict with ARB’s policy for regulating use of the title “architect”.

In particular, the Board is aware of widespread use within the computer and IT industry of the word “architect” being incorporated into certain job descriptions, eg. “Systems Architect” or “Software Architect”. While such use may be a technical breach of the Act, the reason for and intention of continued regulation of title is principally to ensure that consumers of architects’ services are guaranteed a certain standard and quality of work.

It was never the intention of the Act to regulate the title for its own sake. The Board therefore takes a pragmatic view, and accepts that the use of the word “architect” causes no concern when used in a context which is clearly not related to the design and construction of buildings.

For more information, please contact ARB’s Regulation Department on 020 7580 5861, or email RegulationDepartment@arb.org.uk