Becoming a Registered Architect
The typical route to qualifying as an architect in the United Kingdom is a combination of academic studies at a university and practical experience. It involves training for four or five years at university and completing a minimum of two years practical experience before final qualification.
RIBA
We were the first University in the UK to award an RIBA validated degree and have had continuous validation since. Our first degree, the BA Hons in Architecture is a three year degree giving RIBA Part 1 validation on completion. Our second degree is the Master of Architecture (MArch Hons) giving RIBA Part 2 validation. We recommend that our MArch graduates take the Part 3 Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture qualification through the route offered by the RIBA (Chester), with which we have close links.
The RIBA website provides a number of useful resources:
ARB
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the independent statutory regulator of architects in the UK, and is also the UK's Competent Authority for Architects. In order to call yourself an architect in the UK you must be registered with the ARB.
ARB ensures that all registered architects meet the required standards and have the necessary qualifications to practise, as well as upholding relevant legislation and investigating any complaints made against a member.
In order to register in the UK, students who begin the BA Architecture course from September 2025 onwards will typically need to hold an ARB accredited UK qualification at masters-level, and a Part 3 or a practice qualification.
Completing the BA Architecture course is therefore an important step towards gaining entry to a masters-level qualification. The Liverpool School of Architecture is currently initiating approval for an ARB accredited masters-level qualification, to replace our outgoing ARB accredited Part 2 qualification.
If you already hold a first degree which covers the same subjects as a UK Part 1 qualification but which is not prescribed by the ARB, you may be eligible for ARB’s Prescribed Examination, through which you can gain equivalence to the UK Part 1. If you successfully pass the Prescribed Examination at Part 1 level, you can use this for the purposes of UK Registration.
You can check whether any qualifications you may already hold are recognised by ARB and at which level, and you can find more information about the ARB’s Prescribed Examinations and its requirements for registration via the ARB’s website. The ARB will also be happy to provide guidance on how you can satisfy ARB’s requirements. Note that ARB is changing the way it accredits architectural education, therefore you must check with ARB whether you are applying to join the register under the old Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 system, or whether it is under the new Master’s-level qualification + Part 3 (or a practice qualification).