Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend using a mailing service that provides a tracking number to ensure the safe delivery of your documents. Alternatively, you may use regular mail, but please be aware that tracking will not be available in this case.

Please send your documents to the following address:
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 710
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7

No. A portfolio is not required as part of your submission. However, depending on your mode of certification and subcategory, you may be required to submit a list of academic design projects completed throughout your architecture program. This list should include a brief written description of each project, must not exceed four pages, and does not require any images. Please note that this document is different from a portfolio and serves a different purpose.

A transcript is a detailed record of the courses a student has completed, including the grades and credits awarded. An official transcript is an authenticated document issued directly by the Office of the Registrar. Please note that student copies or electronic transcripts are not accepted by the CACB.

A certified true copy is an exact replica of an original document that has been verified and stamped by an authorized official—such as a notary public, commissioner of oaths, lawyer, registrar, or other government official—to confirm its authenticity.

A certified translator is a professional translator who has been officially recognized or accredited by a competent authority or professional organization. They are authorized to provide accurate and certified translations of documents, often accompanied by a signed statement attesting to the translation’s accuracy and completeness.

This service may be obtained either in Canada or in the country of origin.

If English or French courses were not included in the General Education requirements of your Architecture degree, you may, in exceptional cases, submit official results from a recognized language proficiency exam as an alternative to fulfill this requirement.

Professional work experience cannot be considered as equivalent to academic education or credit hours. Our Academic Certification process focuses solely on evaluating your academic credentials to ensure they meet the Canadian Education Standard (CES) regarding course content, duration, total number of credits, and areas of study. Experience gained after graduation does not substitute for these academic requirements, so references or professional portfolios are not accepted as part of the certification evaluation.

We recommend that you review the eligibility criteria for our BEFA program, which does consider professional experience as part of its assessment.

The CACB will retain incomplete applications for up to 90 days. If the submission is not completed within this period, the application and payment will be returned to the applicant, minus a 15% administration fee.

You must use your current legal name when applying. Along with your application, you are required to provide a certified true copy of legal proof of your name change, such as a legal name change certificate, marriage certificate, or divorce certificate. These documents must be in English or French, or accompanied by an official certified translation.

If you do not provide legal proof of the name change, the certificate will be issued using the name that appears on the transcript submitted with your application.

Certification decisions are made on behalf of the CACB by the CACB Assessment Committee. Applicants have the right to request a reassessment of their application or appeal the decision.

There are three possible outcomes:

1. Full Certification: The applicant fully meets the Canadian Education Standard (CES) requirements. A certificate with a Certification Number is issued, allowing registration in the Internship in Architecture Program.

2. Provisional Certification: The applicant partially meets the CES requirements but has deficiencies in specific subject areas. The applicant must complete additional courses, approved by the CACB, to address these gaps.
   A provisional Certification Number is issued, enabling registration in the Internship in Architecture Program while completing the required courses within a maximum period of 18 months.

3. Certification Denied: The applicant’s academic qualifications do not meet the minimum requirements set by the assessment committee and are insufficient for registration or licensure in Canada.

You will receive your assessment results by regular Canada Post mail (please note that regular mail does not include tracking). Please ensure that your mailing and email addresses on file are accurate. The CACB is not responsible for any documents lost or damaged during mailing.

If you prefer to have your assessment results sent via an alternative shipping method, the CACB is happy to accommodate your request. Please note that additional fees may apply.

If your certification is provisional due to gaps in certain subject areas of the Canadian Education Standard (CES), you may be required to complete additional courses to address these deficiencies.

You can register for these courses at any CACB-accredited architecture program in Canada. Before registering, you must request and obtain approval from the CACB for the specific courses you intend to take.

To obtain approval, review the areas of deficiency outlined in the letter you received from us, then submit your proposed course selections for approval by emailing the Certification Coordinator at academiccertification@cacb.ca. Your submission should include:

• The deficiency you wish to address;

• The name of the educational institution where you plan to take the course(s);

• The course code(s) and name(s);

• The course description, including workload and number of credits.

Please note that the CACB does not recommend specific courses. Approval must be granted before you register to ensure the courses meet CACB requirements and satisfy the conditions of your provisional certification.

Yes. A reassessment may be initiated upon the candidate’s written request. There is no fee for a second review by the Assessment Committee. The candidate must submit new evidence or documentation within thirty days to address or clarify the deficiencies identified in the initial assessment. Once the new materials are received, the file will be reviewed at the next scheduled Assessment Committee meeting. Candidates may request a maximum of two reassessments.

Yes. Applicants may appeal the Committee’s decision within sixty days of receiving their assessment notice from CACB.

Appeal of the Assessment Committee decision must be notified within sixty days of receiving the decision notice. The candidate must submit, along with the appeal fee, a formal letter to the President of the CACB Board outlining the reason for the appeal, with supporting documentation where appropriate. Upon receipt of the official request for appeal, the file is brought for review to the next Board meeting (these are held twice a year).

The Board will review the appeal request and may:

1. Refuse the request for review;
2. Refer the case to the Appeal Committee; or
3. Defer judgment pending the receipt of additional information from the candidate.

If you have lost your certificate, you may request either a Letter of Confirmation of Certification or a Replacement Certificate. Please select and complete the appropriate form below. A service fee applies to each request:

⦁ Request for a Letter of Confirmation

⦁ Request for a Replacement Certificate

NAAB Accreditation refers to the official recognition of professional architecture programs within the United States that meet the standards set by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Graduates of these programs are considered to have completed an accredited degree and are eligible to apply to the CACB under the “NAAB Accredited Program” mode of certification.

NAAB Certification (ICert), also known as International Certification, is not the same as accreditation. It is a peer-review process used to recognize international architecture programs (outside the U.S.) that meet the NAAB’s criteria for certification. ICert is not accreditation and does not qualify graduates for the “NAAB Accredited Graduate” stream. If your degree is from a NAAB-certified (ICert) program or from a program that is not accredited by the CACB, you must apply under the “Graduate from a Degree/Diploma not Accredited by CACB” mode of certification.