Your Path to Becoming an Architect:
Education Requirements
Step 1
The first step to becoming licensed as an architect in Ontario is to receive certification of your education from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). Your education must meet the Canadian Education Standard. You can contact the CACB for assessment of your academic credentials before you immigrate to Canada.
In Canada, each province and territory has its own provincial or territorial architectural association responsible for licensing and regulating architects. However, all of the provincial and territorial architectural associations, including Ontario's OAA, rely on the CACB to certify the education of internationally educated individuals.
The CACB is a national body responsible for assessing and certifying the academic credentials of individuals who have a professional degree or diploma in architecture. All individuals in Canada must have their academic qualifications certified by the CACB before they can apply for licensure with any of the provincial or territorial associations of architects.
To begin your certification with the CACB, download the application form through the CACB website. To receive an application package by mail, email the CACB at info@cacb.ca or contact it at the mailing address found on the Regulatory Bodies page.
You must submit the following documents for the CACB academic credentials assessment:
- a completed application form. To link to the CACB application form for graduates of foreign schools of architecture, click here
- certified copies of all your degrees. Submit copies of original documents in their original language of instruction. If these documents are in a language other than French or English, you must also provide an official translation certified by your educational institution, a lawyer, a notary, or a commissioner of oaths
- an official transcript of record showing grade or standing received in each subject, for each year of the courses of architecture that you have completed. Copies certified by your educational institution, a lawyer, a notary, or a commissioner of oaths are also acceptable. If these documents are in a language other than French or English, you must provide an official translation certified by the emitting institution, a lawyer, a notary, or a commissioner of oaths
- a university calendar describing all programs offered by your educational institution, including the architecture program you completed, or equivalent documentation. If these documents are in a language other than French or English you must provide an official translation certified by the emitting institution, a lawyer, a notary, or a commissioner of oaths
- the application fee - CAN $1,575 ($1,500 + 13% Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST.) The CACB Assessment Committee will review your documents and determine whether your education is equivalent to the Canadian Education Standard
It takes a minimum of two months from the time that CACB receives your completed application, accompanying documents, and the applicable fee, to the time that you receive the results of the assessment. If your application package is incomplete, it will take longer. Please be sure that you include all the necessary documents. You will receive the results of the assessment by mail.
| There are three possible outcomes of the CACB assessment: | Next Step |
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1) A CACB certificate may be issued if your academic qualifications meet the Canadian Education Standard
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2) You may be required to eliminate deficiencies in particular subject areas by successfully completing courses recommended by the CACB. You will need to complete these courses before you can move to Step 2 in the process |
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3) Your academic qualifications may be rejected |
You can appeal the decision or explore related occupations |
Upgrading Your Academic Qualifications
The CACB may decide that your academic credentials do not meet the Canadian Education Standard and will ask you to take courses to upgrade your qualifications. You can take web-based courses through the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) or classroom-based courses at one of the accredited programs at a Canadian university school of architecture.
Visit the CACB website for more information about applying for certification.
Related Fees
These fees are in Canadian dollars and are for 2010. These fees will be subject to the 13% Harmonized Sales Tax.
CACB application |
$1,500.00 + tax |