Scheme for

Continuing
Professional
Development
Contents

Executive Summary 04
Introduction 06
The role of the Architects Registration Board 06
What is CPD? 06
Why is CPD important? 06
Why is an ARB CPD scheme needed? 07
The four principles 08
The Scheme 09
Requirements 10
What is a CPD activity? 11
Mandatory topics 11
Reflective practice 12
Where do architects record their CPD? 12
When to record? 12
What to record? 12
Auditing of CPD records 13
Non-compliance 13
Deferment 14
Readmittance and reinstatement 14
Glossary 15
Useful links 15

02
03
Executive
Summary
1.1 The Building Safety Act 2022 has broadened 1.5 All architects are expected to carry out and
the Architects Registration Board’s authority to record their CPD activities – it is a requirement
monitor and assess the competence of architects of continued registration and forms part of the
throughout their careers by allowing the creation of retention fee process. There is not a minimum
a new continuing professional development (CPD) number of activities that must be carried out, as
scheme for registered architects. the focus of the CPD scheme is on the quality of
architects’ development rather than carrying out
1.2 ARB has developed four principles upon which an arbitrary number of activities. ARB has provided
a CPD scheme will be based. They are that the extensive guidance and tools to help architects
scheme should: comply with the scheme.

i. Improve overall competence of the profession 1.6 Architects may record their CPD records on our
ii. Be tailored by architects to their own practice ARB platform or on RIBA’s platform.
and needs
iii. Be proportionate and deliverable 1.7 A percentage of architects’ CPD records will
iv. Avoid duplication where possible be audited for quality assurance and compliance
purposes each year. Temporary exemptions
1.3 The CPD scheme is focused on the outcomes may be approved for those architects who are
of CPD carried out, rather than the fact that training unable to carry out the required CPD. There will
has been undertaken. Architects are required to be opportunities for those architects who haven’t
carry out and record their CPD activities, and to met the required standards to take the necessary
reflect on the impact that their development has steps before they are removed from the Register of
had on their competence and practice. Architects.

1.4 Each year, ARB will review and assess whether

there are any areas of architectural practice that
must be covered by architects through their CPD.
If mandatory CPD topics are set, architects may
address these topics in a way that is relevant to
their practice. ARB will not dictate the type of CPD
that is carried out, nor provide the training.

04
 ber Ja
nu
cem ar
e Complete y
D Personal
Development Plan
(optional)

CPD record
reviewed
Carry out CPD
if selected
activities
(including
mandatory topics)

Confirm CPD
at point of Record: date.
re-registration activity, outcome
and reflection

Throu r
ghout the yea
05
Introduction
The role of the Architects What is CPD?
Registration Board
3.1 Continuing professional development (CPD) is a
2.1 The Architects Registration Board is an combination of approaches, ideas and techniques
independent professional regulator, established that will help a professional maintain and improve
by Parliament as a statutory body, through the the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need
Architects Act, in 1997. We are accountable to carry out their work. The skills, knowledge and
to government. experience can be gained through both formal and
informal events.
2.2 The law gives us a number of core functions:
3.2 CPD activities are wide ranging and combine
• To ensure only those who are suitably numerous approaches to learning. Different
competent are allowed to practise as procedures such as training workshops, e-learning
architects. We do this by approving the programmes, best practice, idea sharing,
architecture qualifications required to join the conferences, events and seminars can help
Register of Architects and with oversight of individuals to develop and progress professionally.
their CPD. Work based feedback and lessons learnt sessions
or feedback sessions with clients can also be
• We maintain a publicly available Register of
classified as CPD.
Architects so anyone using the services of an
architect can be confident that they are suitably
3.3 In the United Kingdom most regulated and/
qualified and are fit to practise.
or chartered professions are required to carry
• We set the standards of conduct and practice out CPD and keep a record of their professional
the profession must meet and take action when development to retain or renew their licence
any architect falls below the required standards to practise.
of conduct or competence.
• We protect the legally restricted title ‘architect’. Why is CPD important?
2.3 We want a world in which the built environment 4.1 Architects play a vital role in creating a built
inspires those who live and work in it, reflects environment that is safe, sustainable and where
the needs of society so that people are safe and everyone in society can live well. The public and
can live well, and helps to tackle the fundamental users of architects’ services have a right to expect
challenges our planet faces. that architects will not only be competent on their
first day of registration, but that they will continue
2.4 The contribution that regulation can make to to maintain and develop their skills, knowledge,
this overarching purpose may be small, but we experience and behaviours in whichever field of
recognise that architects can only achieve their architecture they choose to practise.
own goals, potential and outcomes if supported
by effective regulation. 4.2 CPD helps to maintain and develop a person’s
professional competence. Professionals across
all sectors carry out ongoing professional
development so they can improve their own
practice and contribute to the collective high

06 standards of the profession.

Why is an ARB CPD
scheme needed?

5.1 As the regulator of the architects’ profession, 5.5 Most architects already demonstrate a
ARB sets the education and training requirements commitment to continued learning throughout their
for UK architects and sets and enforces the professional lives. Architects told us that they carry
professional standards expected of them. The out both formal and informal CPD annually. Our
Building Safety Act 2022 gives ARB the power to research found that 70% of respondents carried
monitor and assess the continuing professional out more than 15 hours of formal CPD annually,
development of architects throughout their careers. around half of whom said that they complete more
The changes in the law necessitated ARB to than 35 hours. This included both self-directed
establish a new framework for monitoring the way learning and acquiring of new experience in the
architects manage their CPD. workplace, alongside formal training delivered by
an external provider.
5.2 In 2020, ARB carried out a significant piece
of research into the future competence of 5.6 There was a high degree of acknowledgement
architects.1 The research included an analysis of from our research participants that a more
how architects might best maintain and develop formal system to record that work would be an
their skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours appropriate step in upholding public confidence in
throughout their careers. the profession and raising competence.

5.3 The research found that statutory regulation 5.7 We have used the powers conferred by the
of architects is out of step with other professions Building Safety Act 2022 to propose a scheme
in that, at present, registration can be continued that reflects that commitment and will help to
without any confirmation that an individual has uphold public confidence in the competence of
taken steps to maintain their competence. the profession. The scheme makes an architect’s
responsibility to maintain their competence a
5.4 All UK professions analysed have a minimum requirement of their continued registration.
requirement for CPD (excluding solicitors who
reflect on their work and determine how much
learning and development is needed individually
to ensure their competence2). All of those schemes
are based on a blend of formal and informal
training, which are tailored towards the individual
needs and risks of their specific profession.

1
The SQW survey is available here: Review of architects’ competence research project ([Link])
2
SRA continuing competence scheme: SRA | FAQs about continuing competence | Solicitors Regulation Authority

07
The four principles
6.1 The scheme is underpinned by four principles.

1 2 3 4
Improve Tailored by Proportionate Avoid
overall architects to and deliverable duplication
competence their own where possible
of practice
the profession and needs

The scheme should An effective CPD The scheme should, A key theme that
create an overall scheme must allow where possible, avoid emerged from
positive shift in the for individuals to any additional costs the Government’s
collective competence maintain and develop for architects, and they consultation on the
of the profession by their competence in should be able to view proposed changes
promoting a culture of a way that is relevant the time they spend on to the Architects Act
continuing professional to their practice. Is it as an investment in was a commitment
development, focused not a ‘one-size-fits- their development. This to avoid unnecessary
on outcomes instead all’ scheme. Instead would likely rule out a duplication with the
of inputs. we have developed a model which requires CPD requirements of
scheme that encourages a detailed analysis architects’ professional
architects to reflect, of every architect’s bodies. Our scheme
plan, act and evaluate ongoing competence should minimise
their learning activities on an annual basis. unnecessary bureaucracy
in a way that is relevant and allow architects the
to their own practice maximum opportunity to
and development needs. use their time valuably.
While we had to create a
model that is suitable for
all registered architects,
we paid due regard to
how best it can work
alongside these existing
schemes – both in terms
of subject matter and
logistical compatibility
(such as being able to
write up CPD once
but log it in more than
one system).

08
The Scheme
7.1 Our scheme is outcomes focused. This means 7.4 Any architect who wishes to be readmitted
that rather than focusing on how many hours or to the Register following a voluntary withdrawal,
credit points have been counted, our objective is to or wants to be reinstated following a forced
support architects to develop professionally from suspension or erasure, must demonstrate how they
their CPD activities. have maintained their competence and what they
plan to do for the first CPD cycle when back on
7.2 Our scheme enables architects to concentrate the Register.
on the areas they want to develop. In addition, the
scheme aims to: 7.5 All registered architects are required to comply
with this scheme, including any newly registered
or those returning to the register after 1 January. If
• Raise competence levels across the profession
you join the Register for the first time, you should
• Increase public confidence in the profession carry out CPD appropriate to your needs, but you
• Improve architects’ eligibility to practice in an are not required to log your CPD activities until the
increasingly regulated area of building safety new calendar year. For example, if you join for the
first time at any point in 2024, you are not required
to log your CPD until January 2025.
7.3 Complying with the CPD scheme is a
requirement of registration. An architect must
participate in CPD activities and be able to
demonstrate what competencies they have
developed and how these improve their practice
to retain registration. While there is no minimum
requirement for the number of activities, we
suggest that architects should aim to complete at
least eight activities per year.

09
Requirements

8.1 Prepare: 8.2 Participate:

Architects should identify how they want to Architects take part in CPD activities and
develop, or which topics they want to develop annually record all activities which improve their
their knowledge in. They should create a expertise and ability to practise. Examples can
personal development plan (PDP), a useful include discussing a scenario with a colleague,
tool to help them organise and plan their CPD reading an article, attending a seminar -
over the year. Creating a PDP is optional, anything that helps an architect meet their
but architects should take the time to review development needs. While CPD can be done at
what they want to achieve and plan how to any time, we strongly encourage architects to
meet their development goals. An architect’s carry out CPD throughout the year.
development needs may change over time, so
the PDP should be used as a live document to
reflect changing priorities throughout the year.

8.3 Record and reflect: 8.4 Retention:

Architects must record their CPD activities In order to renew registration, an architect must
on ARB’s platform or RIBA’s. Architects will confirm that they have carried out their CPD.
reflect after each activity on what lesson they
gained from it, how this is being applied to their
practice and any known benefits, how it has
improved their competence and any next steps
to further their development.

10
What is a CPD activity? Mandatory topics
9.1 Architects are free to identify their own CPD 10.1 Our research has indicated that, at least at
activities. Our research and engagement have this early stage, architects want and need direction
found that there is a wide range of different on certain areas of practice that they may need
activities valued by different architects. We want to carry out CPD in relation to. These topics may
our scheme to be inclusive, so we believe that all change over time, according to policies, events,
architects should have the flexibility to identify the or emerging research. For example, in the wake of
best learning style for their needs and practice. the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Dame Judith Hackitt’s
Review ‘Building a Safer Future’ recommended
9.2 If an architect has developed professionally that ARB should address fire safety in design
and can apply what they have learnt to their as part of the competence levels required of
practice, then it can be considered continuing architects, and we published guidance on
professional development. that in 2021.

9.3 Activities can be formal, for instance, training 10.2 ARB may, on occasion, mandate certain
delivered by an external training provider or topics on which all architects must carry out
demonstrations. Alternatively, activities can be professional development within in a particular
informal such as self-directed reading, on-the-job calendar year. The topics we mandate will be
learning, or feedback from colleagues or clients sufficiently broad that any architect on the
involving reflection. Register would be expected to understand and
apply them, whatever their area of specialism
9.4 Errors, mistakes and failures can be an or type of practice. Architects should tailor their
opportunity to develop professionally too. If an CPD on these topics in a way that is relevant to
architect is able to identify the following aspects their practice. Examples of topics that may be
when a mistake occurs, then they can record the mandated are environmental sustainability, fire and
event as a CPD activity. Aspects to identify: life safety design, or ethics.

• What the aim was 10.3 ARB will review annually whether mandatory
topics should be set for the next year. If we do set
• What went wrong
one or more topics, we will give good notice and
• What was needed to mitigate the error publish guidance on the competencies expected
• How the architect can apply what they have of architects in these areas3. Although it is not our
learnt to their future work plan to set mandatory topics every year, we will be
ready to do so when our research indicates this will
be helpful.

10.4 Determining which, if any, topics should be

mandated will be made following engagement
with key stakeholders, including government
departments and professional membership bodies
across the United Kingdom.

3
Guidelines will be made available on ARB’s website: [Link]

11
Reflective practice When to record?
11.1 Architects must self-reflect to identify what 13.1 Architects’ registration runs on a calendar
they have gained from their CPD. This is evaluating year. CPD should therefore be recorded from the
how valuable their CPD activities have been for start of the year through to the point of
their practice. Architects will identify for each re-registration in November or December.
activity what they learned, how this is being
applied to their practice and any known benefits, 13.2 Architects choose when they complete an
how this has improved their competence and what activity and when they record their CPD.
steps do they want to take next.
13.3 However, architects should aim to spread their
11.2 ARB will provide tools to assist architects with activities over the twelve months, to avoid the risk
their reflection on the CPD they have carried out, of non-compliance and an administrative burden at
and to help them plan for future development. the end of the year.

13.4 Architects can identify the same learning

Where do architects record outcome from multiple activities. Similarly, mulitple
their CPD? outcomes can be identified from one activity.

12.1 Architects can record their CPD activities

on an ARB CPD platform on MyARB or on
What to record?
RIBA’s platfrom.
14.1 Architects must record the following:
12.2 You do not need to record on ARB’s platform
• date of the activity – if the activity was longer
if you have recorded on RIBA’s. Any architect who
than a day, you can choose to put the start or
chooses to use RIBA’s platform must provide a
the end date
copy of their CPD record, if requested by ARB.
• topic – choose the topic option most relevant
to the activity
• activity type – choose the activity type closest
to the activity
• learning reflection – what you have learned
from your activity (learning outcomes), how you
are applying these to your practice and any
known benefits, how has this improved your
competence and what steps do you want
to take next

14.2 In order to pay their retention fee to remain on

the Register, an architect will have to confirm that
they have carried out the CPD as required.

12
Auditing of CPD records Non-compliance
15.1 For quality assurance and compliance 16.1 Our CPD scheme is designed to encourage
purposes, ARB will audit a sample of CPD records architects to engage in meaningful professional
each year. development. Wherever possible, we will support
architects to complete their CPD and provide
15.2 Records will be chosen randomly based on a feedback to help architects improve engagement.
risk-based system which includes but is not an
exhaustive list: 16.2 However, where an architect has been
informed that they are not compliant with ARB’s
• Those that have not previously been CPD requirements and have not taken the
selected for audit necessary remedial steps within the required
period, they will be removed from the Register.
• Those that have deferred, for any reason,
the previous year
16.3 If an architect confirms during retention that
• Those that have previously been involved in they have completed their CPD records, and it is
disciplinary proceedings subsequently shown that they had not done so,
• Those that have previously failed to carry out then it would be considered a matter of dishonesty,
their CPD and they would be subject to an investigation of
unacceptable professional conduct.
• Those that have been off the Register for
a significant period

15.3 When a record has been audited, the architect

will be informed of one of the following outcomes:

• Meets requirements
• Action needed
• Doesn’t meet requirements

15.4 Any architect denied continued registration

or removed from the Register because of non-
compliance with the CPD scheme, will be informed
of their rights of appeal.

15.5 We also aim to review recorded CPD at an

aggregated level and consider how best to
provide insights from learning and feedback to
the profession.

13
Deferment Readmittance and reinstatement
17.1 While there is an expectation that every 18.1 To rejoin the Register architects must
architect on the Register will carry out CPD in demonstrate that they have maintained their
support of their ongoing competence, there are competence in a way that is relevant to
entirely legitimate circumstances in which it will their practice.
not be possible for some to carry out activities.
Possible reasons for applying for a deferment are 18.2 An application to rejoin the Register will be
parental leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) reviewed by the Competency Standards Group
or long-term sickness. (CSG)4 who will recommend to the Registrar if the
applicant should be allowed to rejoin the Register.
17.2 Architects, in such situations, can apply to
defer their CPD submission for one year but remain 18.3 An application must include:
on the Register.
• A statement by you detailing your current
17.3 If a deferment is approved the architect must circumstances and reasons for wanting to
submit a Personal Development Plan (PDP) rejoin the Register. Maximum one-side of
which sets out how they will catch up with their A4 in length
CPD requirements.
• A summary description of your current role

17.4 Those deferring may have to complete two • CPD record log of the activity undertaken while
years’ CPD in the next annual cycle. Anyone who off the Register
has deferred will automatically be selected for audit • A personal development plan outlining what
the following year. CPD you aim to complete over the next
twelve months
17.5 Multiple deferments will only be agreed in
exceptional circumstances.
18.4 All architects returning to the Register
following a voluntary withdrawal or a strike-off
for non-compliance with the CPD scheme will be
audited at the end of the CPD cycle they join.

18.5 For more information on the CSG process,

please see our website CSG Guidance. The link
is included in our Useful Links section of
this document.

4
Information is available on ARB’s website at [Link]

14
Glossary
Meaning
Activity An event or incident from which professional development was gained

ARB Architects Registration Board

CPD Continuing professional development

Deferment The process where an architect may ask to postpone submitting their
CPD record for one year
Learning outcome Lessons or development gained from CPD activities
Register The Register of Architects is the definitive record of all UK architects.
PDP Personal Development Plan

Useful Links
Organisation Link
CSG CSG Guidance - Architects Registration Board ([Link])

Sample completed Sample completed CPD records

CPD records

FAQs FAQs ([Link])

Mandatory topic Mandatory topic guidance

guidance

MyARB MyARB ([Link])

RIAS CPD RIAS Services for Architects ([Link])

RIBA/RSAW/RSUA CPD CPD and RIBA Academy ([Link])

Rejoining the
Register guidance

- Within 24 months Rejoining the Register - Architects Registration Boards ([Link])

- After 24 months CSG Guidance - Architects Registration Board ([Link])

15
For more information, please contact the Architects Registration Board

8 Weymouth Street, London W1W 5BU

Web: [Link]
Email: info@[Link]
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7580 5861

Published 13 December 2023