Modes of Certification

There are three academic pathways to satisfy the Canadian Education Standard for Architects and obtain your academic certification, described as follows:

Depending on your chosen academic pathway and its specific subcategory, the application fee, required documents, and timelines will vary.


Accredited Professional Degree


Professional Degree or Diploma Not Accredited by the CACB

  • Graduates from programs at Canadian schools of architecture whose degrees were granted before the implementation of the Accreditation System in 1991, which consisted of: University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, Carleton University, Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS)-Currently, Dalhousie University, Université Laval, University of Manitoba, McGill University, Université de Montréal, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo.
  • International Graduates in architecture holding a professional degree or diploma that is accepted as a requirement for registration or licensure in their country of origin.
  • International graduates in architecture holding a professional degree or diploma obtained on or after January 1, 2010, accepted as a requirement for registration or licensure in their country of origin and accredited/ validated by the accreditation/validation body of that country, provided that the accreditation or validation body is a signatory to is a signatory to the Canberra Accord on Architectural Education, as listed below:

Diploma from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Syllabus Program

  • Graduates who have received a Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the RAIC Syllabus of Studies.