Professional Bodies
Professional bodies work to support their members by providing education and training, offering advice, and promoting excellence in architecture and other allied professions. While you do not have to become a member of professional bodies in the UK, many individuals do choose to join these organisations due to the professional guidance they receive as a benefit of membership.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Now you are registered with us, you can apply to be a Chartered Member of the RIBA.
The RIBA is a global professional body driving excellence in architecture. By becoming a Chartered Member, you are demonstrating to your clients, colleagues and peers that you are committed to the highest professional and ethical standards. Membership also provides you with a whole range of benefits to help support and advance your career. To apply online today, click here.
The Royal Society of Architects in Wales
The Royal Society of Architects in Wales/Cymdeithas Frenhinol Penseiri yng Nghymru (RSAW) is the voice of the RIBA in Wales. As part of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the RSAW champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and its members. As well as running awards, continuing professional development (CPD) events and festivals and publishing the Touchstone journal, RSAW welcomes members and non-members to its annual conference in Cardiff and Spring School in Portmeirion.
You can find more information on their website: www.architecture.com/my-local-riba/rsaw
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
The RIAS offers a wide range of services and products for architects, students of architecture, construction-industry professionals and all those with an interest in the built environment and the design process. You can find more information on their website: www.rias.org.uk
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) is the professional body for chartered architects in Northern Ireland. The RSUA is committed to a comprehensive continuing professional development (CPD) strategy and is a vital information network for architects, providing a support service on a wide range of issues including contract and legal matters, professional indemnity, changes in planning law, building regulations and government legislation. You can find more information on their website: www.rsua.org.uk
The Construction Industry Council
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the representative forum for professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in the construction industry. Their aim is to improve the UK construction industry by representing and supporting built-environment professions. CIC is currently working closely with the Government and the Mayor of London on the BEPE Project, building on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the ‘most accessible Games ever’.
The aim of the project is to make inclusive design a key part of built-environment training and education to make sure that in the future all built- environment professionals have the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver inclusive projects. You can find information about this and CIC’s other inclusive environment projects a https://cic.org.uk/projects
There is more information about CIC on their website: www.cic.org.uk
Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC)
Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) is an independent accreditation body established in 1999 with guidance and assistance from English Heritage (now Historic England). The main purpose of the AABC Register is to protect the historic built environment from damage caused by people not skilled in working on existing buildings. It does so by publishing a register of architects whose work and skills in building conservation have been assessed and established by peer review and moderated by a lay assessor representing the client.
The AABC is the main building conservation accreditation body for architects in England, Wales and Ireland, and is recognised by all grant funding bodies, DACs (The Diocesan Advisory Commitees) and other organisations that need or recommend architectural conservation accreditation. You can find more information on their website: www.aabc-register.co.uk
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
The CIOB holds the Royal Charter to promote the science and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society. There is more information about CIOB on their website: www.ciob.org.
The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT)
CIAT is the lead qualifying body for architectural technology and represents those practising and studying within the discipline. CIAT qualifies chartered architectural technologists, MCIAT, and professionally qualified architectural technicians, TCIAT.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET)
The IET is one of the world’s largest engineering institutions, with over 168,000 members in 150 countries. It is also the most multidisciplinary, to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. You can find more information on their website: www.theiet.org
Other organisations that may be of help to you
Architects Benevolent Society (ABS)
The Architects Benevolent Society is dedicated to helping the wider architectural profession and their families in times of need. ABS can offer financial help as well as free, impartial and confidential advice and support to help with many things, including debt management, housing, health and disability, employment and mental health. To find out more, please visit www.absnet.org.uk or call 020 7580 2823.
Mental health and wellbeing
The Architects Benevolent Society can offer, through their partnership with Anxiety UK, quick access to practical support for people in the architectural professions experiencing anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression. Support includes wellbeing assessments, one-to-one therapy, and email and phone support. To find out more, please visit www.absnet.org.uk/mentalhealth or call our friendly and sensitive welfare team on 020 7580 2823.
The Stephen Lawrence Trust
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust is a national educational charity committed to promoting social justice. It provides educational and employment workshops and mentoring schemes. It also awards architectural and landscape bursaries. In 2008 the Trust, with architects RMJM, created the initiative Architecture for Everyone to help promote architecture and the creative industries to young people from ethnic minorities. The Trust is launching an exciting new development that will see its David Adjaye Centre in Deptford transformed into a thriving and creative co-working ‘hub’ for start-ups (new businesses) in the built environment.
The hub will not only provide affordable spaces for start-ups, it will also aim to encourage young professionals in residence to network and share ideas. You can find more information about the work of the trust on their website: www.stephenlawrence.org.uk
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for encouraging, regulating and enforcing workplace health, safety and welfare and research into occupational risks in the UK. For more information about the HSE, visit their website: www.hse.gov.uk
The Association for Project Safety (APS)
The Association for Project Safety is a national professional body dedicated to reducing injury and ill health associated with construction. APS aims to improve and promote professional practice in design and construction health and safety risk-management by helping members, including architects and technologists, manage risk and put building regulations into practice effectively and proportionately. The association provides training, education and support – as well as networking opportunities – throughout the UK. It works with other organisations and partners to improve – through good design and throughout the whole life cycle of projects and buildings – health and safety for everyone involved in construction and use.
Schools and Institutions of Architecture running Part 3 courses
Part 3 – sometimes referred to as the Professional Practice Examination
The Part 3 is the final stage of study for UK graduates before registration. The qualification provides access to the knowledge and skills that relate directly to architectural practice, professionalism and managing architects’ relationship with clients and within the UK construction industry. If you have a Part 3 qualification you have demonstrated an overall competence and ability to behave with integrity, in the ethical and professional manner appropriate to the role of an architect. It also encourages and develops the visual, written and oral communication skills vital to successful practice.
Everyone who joins the Register with qualifications from EU member states is eligible to sit the Part 3 qualification and must keep to our Practical Training guidelines.
Although it is not compulsory to hold the Part 3 qualification if you have qualified for automatic recognition under the Professional Qualifications Directive, many EU qualified architects do gain the qualification as it gives them a good understanding of practice and management skills necessary in the UK.
Many employers encourage their employees to gain the Part 3 qualification as it provides the range of professional skills needed to practise as an architect in the UK. The qualification will also allow you to further your career.
Support from employers varies and the RIBA has published guidance for both employers and students.
You can see a list of all the Part 3 courses we recognise here. (Select Part 3 from the drop-down list and click return to see the full list.)
