About ARB

ARB is an independent professional regulator, established by Parliament as a statutory body, through the Architects Act, in 1997. We are accountable to government.

The law gives us a number of core functions:

• To ensure only those who are suitably competent are allowed to practise as architects. We do this by approving the architecture qualifications required to join the Register of architects.
• We maintain a publicly available Register of architects so anyone using the services of an architect can be confident that they are suitably qualified and are fit to practise.
• We set the standards of conduct and practice the profession must meet and take action when any architect falls below the required standards of conduct or competence.
• We set requirements for and monitor the continuous professional development that architects must undertake, to provide assurance to the public about the continuing competence of the profession.
• We protect the legally restricted title ‘architect’.

We want a world in which the built environment inspires those who live and work in it, reflects the needs of society so that people are safe and can live well, and helps to tackle the fundamental challenges our planet faces.

The contribution that regulation can make to this overarching purpose may be small, but we recognise that architects and other professionals in the built environment can achieve their own goals, potential and outcomes only if we are delivering effective regulation.

In 2022 we launched an ambitious Corporate Strategy, which is currently under review and will go live to the public in January 2026. Over the next five years our regulatory efforts will prioritise continued improvements in safety, competence and culture. To read more about our current Corporate Strategy including our vision and commitment, please use the following link:

Read more about our objectives in our Corporate Strategy 2022-2026.

This is the fourth year of the Corporate Strategy, and major developments include:

Modernising initial education and training of architects – Under the new education framework, all learning providers must now meet ARB’s new Standards for Learning Providers, and trainees will be able to qualify through more flexible pathways. In 2024 we established an independent Commission to identify barriers to high-quality practical experience. They reported early in 2025 and ARB’s response to the commission’s recommendations was published in May this year. A public consultation on any proposed policy changes will launch at the start of 2026. We have also appointed a research agency to review, more broadly, the impact of our education reforms impact on accessibility.

Delivering a new system of continuing professional development (CPD) for architects – ARB continues to promote the importance of our new statutory CPD scheme, as required by the Building Safety Act 2022. We see this as a key plank in promoting professionalism of architects. The scheme is designed to be a proportionate and architect led system, flexible and tailored to each architect’s practice, with an emphasis on improving competence. In October this year ARB launched it’s new AI tool called Axon Review. The tool will help identify compliance and review the records of all architects who record their CPD on MyARB.

Continuous improvement to our regulatory processes – ARB published a new Code of Conduct which came into effect in September this year. New guidance for the Code of Conduct will be consulted on in three tranches, with the first and second consultation complete and the third due to go live at the end of 2025. Alongside this, ARB continues to make progress with overhauling our routes to registration, to improve access to the profession for all those who are suitably competent.

Transforming our systems, processes and information technology – ARB are coming to the end of a major programme of work to transform our systems, processes and technology. The final phase of our CRM development is expected to be completed midway through 2026. As a modern regulator we cannot stand still and we know we need to use technology, including AI, effectively to deliver efficiencies in the work we do.

Investing in our people and building a positive and inclusive culture based on shared values and behaviours – ARB has an ongoing ambition to be a great place to work. We are proud of the progress we have made during the period of the current Corporate Strategy to delivery major improvements in staff engagement and maintain a low staff turnover. As part of its People Strategy, ARB launched its new Learning and Development Strategy this year. In May this year ARB published its new EDI Strategy which will be a key focus in 2026.

Here’s the link to our latest annual report and financial statement.

https://arb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Annual-Report-and-Financial-Statements-2024.pdf

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