Metropolis 16th National Conference
March 12-15, 2014
Gatineau, Quebec
Workshop:
A race against time: successes and
challenges of alternative routes to licensing
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The Canadian Architectural
Certification Board
(CACB)
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The CACB
The CACB is a national independent non-profit entity constituted by agreement
of the Canadian architectural licensing authorities (CALA) and the Canadian
Council of University Schools of Architecture (CCUSA).
Canadian
Architectural
Certification
Board
Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities
CALA
Canadian Council of University Schools of
Architecture. CCUSA
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Mission and Mandate
Mission
Bridging design education and the practice of architecture through the pursuit of
excellence in certification and accreditation.
Mandate
1. Certification of educational qualifications of graduates in Architecture.
2. Accreditation of professional programs in Architecture in Canada.
3. Certification of professional qualifications of Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects.
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Governance
The Canadian Architectural Certification Board is governed by a
Board of Directors who are appointed for a term of three years.
The CACB’s office is located in Ottawa, Ontario at 1 Nicholas,
Suite 710. K1N 7B7
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OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
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CACB OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
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Academic
Certification
Architectural
Accreditation
BEFA Certification
Application
Accreditation Visit
Application
Satisfaction of the
Satisfaction of the
Satisfaction of the
Canadian Education
Standard (CES)
Conditions and
Procedures for Accreditation
Pan-Canadian standards of
competency for practice in
Canada
CERTIFICATION
ACCREDITATION
CERTIFICATION
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1
ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION
The CACB is the sole organization recognized by the architectural profession in
Canada to assess the educational qualifications (credentials) of architecture
graduates.
Academic certification is a mandatory first step towards licensure and
registration.
Academic certification demonstrates that an individual’s academic qualifications
comply with the Canadian Education Standard (CES) established by the
regulators for a professional degree/diploma in architecture.
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1 ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION
APPLICATION PROCESS
Eligibility Assessment
CACB Website
www.cacb-ccca.ca
APPLICATION
Completeness Check and
Preliminary Review
Assessment
Academic
Certification
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2 ARCHITECTURAL ACCREDITATION
The CACB is the sole organization recognized by the architectural profession in Canada to
accredit professional degree programs in architecture.
Professional accreditation means that a program has been evaluated and meets CACB
Conditions and the Procedures for Accreditation.
Accredited Programs in Canada: Master of Architecture (M. Arch) of:
University of British Columbia
Dalhousie University
Université de Montréal
University of Calgary Carleton University
Université Laval
University of Manitoba
Ryerson University University of Toronto
McGill University
University of Waterloo
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2 ARCHITECTURAL ACCREDITATION
ACCREDITATION PROCESS
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PUBLIC
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Program
1
Accreditation Visit
SelfAssessment
Architecture
Program
Report
Conditions and Procedures for Accreditation
CACB
Accreditation Decision
Visiting Team
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Visiting
Team
Report
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Board
Conditions and Procedures for Accreditation
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Broadly Experienced Foreign
Architects (BEFA) Certification
The Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects (BEFA) Program is an alternative path to
licensure.
The BEFA Program assesses broadly based experience of foreign architects against PanCanadian standards of competency for practice in Canada.
Successful candidates are granted a BEFA certificate
With the BEFA Certificate, successful candidates can apply for licensure to the
provincial/territorial association they have chosen to register with.
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3
BEFA Certification
APPLICATION PROCESS
CACB Website
www.cacb-ccca.ca/befa
Eligibility
SelfAssessment
BEFA ON-LINE
APPLICATION
Interview
BEFA
Certification
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The Broadly Experienced Foreign
Architects (BEFA) Program is an
alternative pathway to licensure
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Main Pathway: 3Es
Education
Experience
CACB Academic
Certification
Internship
Program
Examination
2Y
Registration
Licensure
Alternative Pathway: BEFA Program
Licensed Architect in
foreign jurisdiction
Eligibility confirmed to
the Program
Competency based assessment
SelfAssessment
Interview
1Y
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Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have:
an Architectural degree.
practiced as a licensed/registered architect in a foreign jurisdiction.
at least seven (7) years of post-registration/licensure experience in architecture within the
last 10 years.
obtained at least six (6) months of relevant Canadian architectural work experience by the
time of the assessment interview. This work experience cannot be gained more than three
(3) years before the date scheduled for the assessment interview.
this experience must be gained under the personal supervision and direction of a
registered/licensed architect within the Canadian province or territory in which the candidate
intends to be licensed/registered
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BEFA Application Process-Detailed
Pre-interview
Remedial
Actions
Eligibility
Yes
No
Self-Assessment
Completeness Check
by BEFA Coordinator
Yes
Chair’s
Preliminary
Review
Yes
No
Assessors Panel Assignment by
BEFA Coordinator:
- Chair;
- National; and
- Regional.
Post-interview
Remedial
Actions
Request for more
information and/or
documents
All Panel
members
Review for
eligibility to
the interview
Unsuccessful
Yes
Interview
Successful
BEFA
Certification
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