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The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB), allowing architects from each country to earn reciprocal licenses abroad.
Effective January 1, this agreement is the product of two years of negotiation by an NCARB evaluation team. Its creation is due in part to the similarities between licensure requirements in each of the three countries—namely, accredited education, structured experience, and comprehensive examination.
“The MRA is an exciting opportunity for architects seeking to expand their careers internationally,” says NCARB’s president, Kristine Harding, AIA. “NCARB certificate-holders have been able to pursue licensure in Canada and Mexico for some time, and this arrangement represents a significant step in providing additional benefits to these architects.”
To earn a license in Australia or New Zealand, an architect must have:
- citizenship or lawful permanent residence in his or her home country;
- an active NCARB certificate;
- an architecture license in good standing from a U.S. jurisdiction that has signed the MRA;
- 6000 hours or three years of post-licensure experience in his or her home country;
- a license not gained through foreign reciprocity.
Of the 54 U.S. architectural licensing boards, 29 have accepted the MRA. Details on obtaining an NCARB certificate can be found here.
