Recognition of Diplomas - Architects

I. Information on Community law

1. The profession of architect and the field of architecture are covered by Council Directive 85/384/EEC of 10 June 1985. In order to be recognized under the Directive, qualifications must be listed in Article 11 or in a communication made under Article 7. (See list below)
   
   The Directive does not, however, provide for complete harmonization of all architectural training. There are perfectly lawful types of architectural training that do not comply with the Directive. These (and the qualifications concerned) may be recognized under Article 52 of the EC Treaty, as interpreted by the Court of Justice in the Vlassopoulou judgment (Case C-340/89). The Court stated in that judgment that the host Member State must, when it receives a request to take up or pursue a regulated profession from a migrant authorized to carry on that profession in his Member State of origin or in the Member State from which he comes, take into consideration the migrant's diplomas, certificates and other evidence of qualifications and the professional experience he has gained. If his qualifications are equivalent to those required under national legislation for working in the field of architecture, the migrant must be authorized to do so. Otherwise, he must be allowed to make good any deficiencies in his training. Moreover, administrative decisions must be reasoned decisions and may be the subject of court proceedings to determine whether they comply with Community law.
   
   
2. Recognition under the Directive (along with recognition based directly on Article 52 of the Treaty) applies only to qualifications acquired by Community nationals in a Member State of the European Union. Recognition of qualifications acquired in non-member countries is optional and is a matter for each Member State to decide. The fact that a Member State recognizes a qualification acquired in a non-member country does not oblige other Member States to recognize it.
   
   
3. It is for the national legislation of the host Member State to define what is covered by the field of architecture and to lay down the rules governing the profession (rights, obligations, scope of activities, etc.). The legal status of the migrant will therefore be the same as that of professionals who qualified in the host Member State. As a consequence, the migrant may lose in the host Member State some rights which he enjoyed in his Member State of origin or in the Member State from which he comes.

Main Community instruments concerned

• Council Directive 85/384/EEC of 10 June 1985 (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 223 of 21 August 1985), as amended by Council Directives 85/614/EEC, 86/17/EEC and 90/658/EEC and by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (OJ No L 1 of 1 January 1995)
• Communication 89/C 205/06 (OJ No C 205 of 10 August 1989), updated by communications 94/C 350/06 and 95/C 65/03.

II. Formalities in France

1. National procedures in force

You must apply to the relevant regional board (Conseil régional) of the architects' professional body (Ordre des architectes). If you are providing services, you need simply to make a statement to that effect to the regional board.

2. Information and/or documents to be submitted to the competent authorities

For individuals, the registration application must comprise the following documents:

• originals or certified copies of diplomas, certificates or other qualifications enabling the holder to take up the profession of architect in France;
• extract from police records drawn up not more than three months previously or equivalent document;
• three passport photographs;
• identity card or passport (certified true copy);
• evidence of a professional address in France (rent receipt or electricity bill).

For firms of architects, the application must also comprise the following:

• a copy of the articles of association: the originals in the case of a private document; a copy in the case of an officially recorded document;
• the individual certificate of registration on the roll of partner architects, since registration by a firm of architects does not dispense the partners from prior individual registration on a regional roll;
• an application from each partner.

Provision of services

Although not registered with the architects' professional body, architects providing services must make a statement to the board for the region in which they provide the services, in accordance with Article 7 of the amended Decree of 16 January 1978. The regional board enters their names on a special roll.

In order to be registered, this statement must be accompanied by a file comprising all the following documents:

• originals or certified copies of diplomas, certificates or other qualifications enabling the holder to take up the profession of architect in France;
• identity card or passport (certified true copy);
• project notification comprising the following information: 
• location;
• name and address of the owner;
• estimated completion time;
• cost;
• declaration from the competent body in the country of origin attesting to the applicant's good character and good repute;
• attestation to the effect that the applicant has taken out insurance to cover his professional civil liability under French law.

3. Fees

A certified translation may in some cases be required, with the cost being borne by you, along with any registration costs.

4. Contact point

• Ministère de la Culture Direction de l'Architecture 
  3, rue de Valois 75001 Paris

5. National rules

• Law No 77/2 of 3 January 1977 on architecture. 
• Amended Decree No 77- 1481 of 28 December 1977 on the organization of the architectural profession.

III. How to exercise your rights

Useful addresses:

See II.4. 

Decisions are to be taken within two months of presentation of the complete application. This deadline may be extended to five months in serious, specific circumstances as a result of which the host Member State has to consult the home Member State.

In the event of an application for registration being rejected, the reasons for this rejection must be given. The interested party has thirty days from the date of notification of the regional board's decision in which to appeal to the Minister for Culture.

Other useful addresses, as well as details of other Factsheets, are contained in the Citizens First Guides.

The diplomas listed below are those which are to be recognized by the Member States of the Community in respect of those students who began their studies in Architecture in the academic year of 1988/89.

COUNTRY: BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Title of diploma Architecte

Body awarding diploma Ecoles nationales supérieures d'architecture Instituts supérieurs d'architecture Académies royales des Beaux-Arts Ecoles Saint-Luc

Title of diploma Architect

Body awarding diploma Nationale hogescholen voor architectuur Hogere-architectuur-instituten Koninklijke Academies voor Schone Kunsten Sint-Lucasscholen

Title of diploma Architect

Body awarding diploma Ecole provinciale supérieure d'architecture de Hasselt Provinciaal Hoger Instituut voor Architecure te Hasselt

Title of diploma Ingénieur-civil architecte

Body awarding diploma Facultés des sciences appliquées des universités Faculté polytechnique de Mons

Title of diploma Burgelijke ingenieur-architect

Body awarding diploma Faculteiten Toegepaste Wetenschappen van de Universiteiten "Faculté Polytechnique" van Mons

COUNTRY: DANMARK

Title of diploma arkitekt cand. arch

Body awarding diploma Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole i København, Arkitektskolen i Århus

COUNTRY: DEUTSCHLAND

Title of diploma Diplom-Ingenieur, Diplom-Ingenieur Univ.

Body awarding diploma Universitäten (Architektur/Hochbau) Technischen Hochschulen (Architektur/Hochbau) Technischen Universitäten (Architektur/Hochbau) Universitäten-Gesamthochschulen (Architektur/Hochbau) Hochschulen für bildende Künste Hochschulen für Künste

Title of diploma Diplom-Ingenieur, Diplom-Ingenieur FH

Body awarding diploma Fachhochschulen (Architektur/Hochbau) (Diese Diplome sind je nach Dauer der durch sie abgeschlossenen Ausbildung gemäss Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 1 oder 2 der Richtlinie 85/384/EWG anzuerkennen.) Universitäten-Gesamthochschulen (Architektur/Hochbau) bei entsprechenden Fachhochschulstudiengängen

COUNTRY: GREECE

Title of diploma Diploma of architect-engineer

Body awarding diploma Metsovio National Polytechnic (MNP), department of architects- engineers Aristoteleio University of Salonika (AUS), department of architects- engineers of the polytechnic school

Certificate accompanying diploma Certificate given out by the Technical Board of Greece (TBG) which allows the exercise of activities relating to architecture.

COUNTRY: ESPAÑA

Title of diploma Título oficial de arquitecto

Body awarding diploma Rectores de las universidades enumeradas a continuaciòn: La universidad politécnica de Cataluña, escuelas técnicas superiores de arquitectura de Barcelona o del Vallès; La universidad politécnica de Madrid, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Madrid; La universidad politécnica de Las Palmas, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Las Palmas; La universidad politécnica de Valencia, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Valencia; La universidad de Sevilla, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Sevilla; La universidad de Valladolid, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Valladolid; La universidad de Santiago de Compostela, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de La Coruña; La universidad del País Vasco, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de San Sebastián; La universidad de Navarra, escuela técnica superior de arquitectura de Pamplona.

COUNTRY: FRANCE

Title of diploma Diplôme d'architecte DPLG, y compris dans le cadre de la formation professionnelle continue et de la promotion sociale.

Body awarding diploma Le ministre chargé de l'architecture

Title of diploma Diplôme d'architecte ESA

Body awarding diploma Ecole spéciale d'architecture de Paris

Title of diploma Diplôme d'architecte ENSAIS

Body awarding diploma Ecole nationale supérieure des arts et industries de Strasbourg, section architecture

COUNTRY: IRELAND

Title of diploma Degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.NUI)

Body awarding diploma National University of Ireland to architecture graduates of University College Dublin

Title of diploma Degree standard diploma in architecture (Dip. Arch)

Body awarding diploma College of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin

Title of diploma Certificate of associateship (ARIAI)

Body awarding diploma Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland

Title of diploma Certificate of membership (MRIAI)

Body awarding diploma Royal Institue of Architects of Ireland

COUNTRY: ITALIA

Title of diploma laurea in architettura

Body awarding diploma Università di Chieti Università di Firenze Università di Genova Università di Napoli Università di Palermo Università di Reggio Calabria Università di Roma "La Sapienza" Politecnico di Milano Politecnico di Torino Istituto universitario di architettura di Venezia

Certificate accompanying diploma Diploma di abilitazione all'esercizo indipendente della professione che viene rilasciato dal ministero della pubblica istruzione dopo che il candidato ha sostenuto con esito positivo l'esame di Stato davanti ad una commissione competente.

COUNTRY: NEDERLAND

Title of diploma 1.Het getuigschrift van het met goed gevolg afgelegde doctoraal examen van de studierichting bouwkunde, afstudeerrichting architectuur

2.Het getuigschrift van het met goed gevolg afgelegde doctoraal examen van de studierichting bouwkunde, differentiatie architectuur en urbanistiek

3.Het getuigschrift hoger beroepsonderwijs, op grond van het met goed gevolg afgelegde examen verbonden aan de opleiding van de tweede fase voor beroepen op het terrein van de architectuur, afgegeven door de betrokken examencommissies van respectievelijk:

-de Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten te Amsterdam - de Hogeschool Rotterdam en omstreken te Rotterdam - de Hogeschool Katholieke Leergangen te Tilburg - de Hogeschool voor de Kunsten te Arnhem - de Rijkshogeschool Groningen te Groningen - de Hogeschool Maastricht te Maastricht

Body awarding diploma 1.Technische Universiteit te Delft 2.Technische Universiteit te Eindhoven

Certificate accompanying diploma Verklaring van de Stichting Bureau Architectenregister die bevestigt dat de opleiding voldoet aan de normen van de artikelen 3 en 4 van Richtlijn 85/384/EEG.

COUNTRY: PORTUGAL

Title of diploma carta de curso de Licenciatura em Arquitectura

Body awarding diploma Faculdade de arquitectura de Universidade técnica de Lisboa Faculdade de arquitectura de Universidade do Porto Escola Superior Artística do Porto

COUNTRY: UNITED KINGDOM

Title of diploma Diplomas in architecture *Degrees in architecture

Body awarding diploma Universities of; Aberdeen Brighton Cambridge Central England in Birmingham De Montfort East London Edinburgh Glasgow Greenwich Heriot-Watt Huddersfield Humberside Kingston Leeds Metropolitan Liverpool John Moores London Manchester Metropolitan North London Oxford Brookes Plymouth Portsmouth Scott Sutherland, The Robert Gordon Sheffield The South Bank Westminster The Canterbury College of Art The Glasgow school of Art *Universities of; Bath Belfast Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Wales Dundee Strathclyde Glasgow

Certificate accompanying diploma Preceded in each case by either a first degree in architecture awarded after training lasting at least three years full-time or four years part-time (1) by one of the named universities or colleges; or by the Intermediate Examination of the Architectural Association or the Examination Part 1 of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

(1)Where the first degree is awarded after training lasting four years part-time, the subsequent training leading to an architectural qualification must last at least three years, part-time or full-time.

Title of diploma Final examination

Body awarding diploma Architectural association

Title of diploma Examination in architecture

Body awarding diploma Examination Part 2

Title of diploma Royal College of Art

Body awarding diploma Royal Institute of British Architects.

For those who began their studies in Architecture before the academic year of 1988/89, the diplomas to be recognized are those listed :

• for Member States other than Spain and Portugal, at Article 11 of Directive 85/384/EEC of 10 June 1985,
• at Article 1 of Directive 85/614/EEC of 20 December 1985 for Spain and Portugal,
• and at Article 1 of Directive 86/17/EEC of 27 January 1986, amended by publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities, No L 87 of 2 April 1986, for Portugal alone.
• For Austria, Finland and Sweden the diplomas mentioned at Article 11 of Directive 85/384/CEE, as amended by the Act of Accession with the courses beginning also after the academic year 1988/1989, and before academic year 1998/1999.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.