Reciprocal Registration

Several agreements allow for practising architects from specific jurisdictions to obtain registration/licensing across provincial and national borders. These agreements apply to architects registered with the AAA as well as architects from outside of Alberta.

Please select the jurisdiction below to learn more about the practise agreements currently in place:

Canadian Reciprocity

Canadian architects currently registered/licensed and in good standing with another provincial architecture association in Canada may seek AAA membership as a Registered Architect (RA) via the Canadian Reciprocity Application for Registration.

Please review the Canadian Reciprocity Application and ensure you provide the following required documentation:

• Copy of a Government issued photo identification;
• Confirmation of Registration from home jurisdiction/principal place of practise in Canada has been requested from home jurisdiction to be sent to the AAA;
• Copy of current resume/CV;
• Identification photograph and Consent Declaration attached and signed.
• Mandatory Courses must be completed once registered.  
• For applicable fees and dues, visit our Fees and Dues schedule.

A Confirmation of Registration is required from applicants seeking reciprocal registration from any Canadian jurisdiction. The applicant must contact their primary jurisdiction in Canada to request a Confirmation of Registration to be prepared and emailed directly to the AAA.

AAA Members Practising Across Canada

AAA RAs that wish to obtain registration/licensure in another province must apply to the provincial architecture association of their desired destination of practice. Please contact the desired provincial association directly for information on their registration requirements.

To obtain a Confirmation of Registration from the AAA, please submit a Confirmation of Licence/Registration Form (you will be prompted to log into your AAA account). The AAA will complete and forward a Confirmation of Registration to the requested provincial architecture association and advise the member.

United States Reciprocity

The updated Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) took effect on January 1, 2014. This allows architects in jurisdictions participating in the new agreement to seek registration via the AAA’s U.S.and Canada Reciprocity Registration Application.

Architects in jurisdictions participating in the new agreement must be citizens or permanent residents of their home country (Canada or United States). They must also have a valid licence to practise architecture in their home jurisdiction, plus 2,000 hours (approximately one year) of post-licensure experience.

The ROAC/NCARB MRA has been updated, with the new Agreement going into effect on January 15, 2026. More information can be found on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Architect Project

Canada is a participant in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Architect Project, an initiative intended to allow participating economies to enter into bilateral or multi-lateral arrangements which give senior architects in their economies access to fast-track cross-border registration procedures.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand have signed a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) that allows for fast-track cross-border registrations of senior architects between the three economies.

To become a Canadian APEC Architect, applicants must have at least seven years of professional experience as a registered/licensed architect in the following categories: preliminary studies and preparation of briefs, design, contract documentation and administration.

APEC applications are vetted by the Canadian APEC Architect Monitoring Committee at the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC).

Visit the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) APEC page for more information, application forms and an up-to-date register of Canadian APEC Architects.

United Kingdom Reciprocity

On April 23, 2025, the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) and the UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). This agreement streamlines the registration process for eligible architects in both countries.

The basic eligibility requirements include meeting education, experience and examination requirements. Applicants must also be currently registered and in good standing in their home jurisdictions.

MRA applications from the UK to Canada for all Canadian provincial jurisdictions, including Alberta, should be submitted to ROAC and will be processed by Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC).

Similarly, applications from Canada to the UK also flow through ROAC and processed by AIBC. Canada to the UK applicants, please visit the Canada-UK MRA page for more information, application forms, FAQs and up-to-date information.

UK to Canada applicants, please visit the Canada-UK MRA page for more information, application forms, FAQs and up-to-date information.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].