Recognition Requirements for APEC Architects from other economies
If you have obtained APEC Architect status from an economy other than Australia and you wish to practice as an architect in Australia, what should you do?
Generally to be eligible for registration as an architect in Australia, architects from other countries are required to have their academic qualifications assessed, to complete a period of professional experience as residents of Australia, and to pass the written and oral professional examination.
However the State and Territory Architects Registration Boards will grant exemption from these professional recognition requirements to APEC Architects from those economies that have agreed to extend reciprocal exemptions to APEC Architects from Australia. The possible range of exemptions is specified below.
List of exemptions
Exempt from most requirements, but will be required to successfully undertake
- A domain specific professional examination, OR
- A comprehensive professional examination (the written and oral professional examination), OR
- A period of experience in Australia followed by the professional examination.
The following economies have agreed to develop co-operative arrangements based on the principles of a Domain Specific Professional Examination – Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, United States of America.
Australia has finalised co-operative bi-lateral agreements under the APEC Architect framework with Japan and Chinese Taipei, and a tri-lateral agreement with Singapore and New Zealand. Negotiations are also proceeding with other economies.
Accordingly APEC Architects from Japan, Chinese Taipei and Singapore who wish to become registered as architects in Australia, may seek to undertake the Australian Domain Specific Professional Examination route to registration in Australia. In Australia the Domain Specific Professional Examination is know as the APEC Architect Supplementary Assessment Process.
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