Canada/United States Mutual Recognition Agreement
The current NCARB/CALA Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) came into effect on January 1, 2014. All eleven Canadian architectural regulators are signatories to the MRA. As of January 1, 2015, forty of the U.S. Member Boards of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have become signatories to the MRA through completion of their individual Letters of Undertaking. The remaining U.S. jurisdictions continue to consider implementation.
The MRA is based on licence/registration in ‘good standing’ in an individual’s home jurisdiction and one year post-licensure experience. In addition, the individual’s principal place of practice must be in one of the jurisdictions that have signed on to the agreement.
A listing of the forty-one U.S. jurisdictions that are party to the agreement can be found below.
January 2015 Bulletin – NCARB / CALA Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).
US Signatory States and Territories
The following items are required:
- a letter of good standing from the regulatory authority in the individual’s principal place of practice;
- a letter of declaration from the applicant attesting to one year of post-licensure experience;
- proof of citizenship/permanent residency in the home country (Canada or U.S.); and
- a Certificate issued by NCARB.
Reciprocal registrations/licences granted under the former Inter-Recognition Agreement are not affected by the new MRA and remain valid as long as the architect maintains an active registrant and meets all renewal requirements.
Membership Application Forms
An architect wishing to become an SAA Registered Member who is currently a registered/licensed member in good standing with another CALA jurisdiction must complete the
Registered Architect Application – Canadian Reciprocity Agreement
A U.S. architect, whose principal place of practice is in not a U.S. signatory jurisdiction and is not currently registered/licenced in Canada, must complete the Registered Architect Application – First Membership.