The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) member licensing boards have ratified two new Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with NCARB’s counterparts in Canada and South Africa. The agreements expand access to international reciprocity, allowing qualified architects from each country to pursue licensure through a streamlined process.
“NCARB is thrilled to continue applying its Certificate toward facilitating licensure for U.S. licensees beyond domestic reciprocity into reciprocity across international borders,” said FY25 NCARB President Kenneth R. Van Tine, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP. “By ensuring that all NCARB-certified architects can take advantage of these agreements, we’re expanding the value of our Certificate with international access to a wider range of qualified architects.
The MRA with NCARB’s Canadian counterpart, the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), replaces an existing agreement between NCARB and ROAC, removing several impediments preventing architects from participating in the agreement. Meanwhile, the MRA with NCARB’s South African counterpart, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), establishes reciprocal licensure for professional architects with South Africa for the first time.
Both agreements are based on shared competencies obtained at the point of licensure and accept architects from a variety of backgrounds—including those who hold the NCARB Certificate through the Education Alternative or Foreign Architect pathways.
The agreements were approved by NCARB’s member licensing boards during the organization’s 2025 Annual Business Meeting. Once signed, the agreements will go into effect in late 2025 or early 2026. NCARB will work with its member jurisdictions to confirm acceptance of these pathways to licensure.
In addition, NCARB’s members adopted resolutions to update the organization’s terminology related to international practice (effective July 1, 2025), and to remove an impediment to eligibility for NCARB’s Education Alternative pathway (effective January 15, 2026). Together, these updates align with NCARB’s ongoing efforts to expand pathways to practice for individuals of all backgrounds.
New Agreement Between ROAC and NCARB
The new agreement between NCARB and its counterpart in Canada includes several changes from the existing agreement that are intended to remove barriers to reciprocity, including eliminating the 2,000 required hours of post-licensure experience, removing requirements related to citizenship and residency, and accepting architects licensed or certified through alternative pathways.
To be eligible for reciprocity under the new agreement, architects must:
- Be licensed and in good standing in a participating jurisdiction in their home country,
- For U.S. architects, hold an active NCARB Certificate
New Agreement Between SACAP and NCARB
The new agreement between NCARB and its counterpart in South Africa establishes international reciprocity that aligns with NCARB’s existing MRAs. To be eligible for reciprocity under the new agreement, architects must:
- Be licensed and in good standing in a participating jurisdiction in their home country
- For U.S. architects, hold an active NCARB Certificate
- For South African architects, be licensed at the level of “professional architect”
Architects initially licensed in their home country—whether the U.S., Canada, or South African—by means of a separate MRA with another country are not eligible for reciprocity under either agreement.
To learn more about international opportunities for U.S. architects, visit www.ncarb.org/international.
