Architects Registration Board
The Architects Registration Board is the UK statutory regulator of architects, established by Parliament in 1997 under the Architects Act. It maintains the public Register of Architects, enforces title protection, accredits schools, and disciplines practitioners through its Professional Conduct Committee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Architects Registration Board does
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the sole statutory regulator of the architects' profession in the United Kingdom, established by Parliament in 1997 under the Architects Act 1997. ARB maintains the public Register of Architects, enforces legal title protection for the word "architect," investigates complaints, and disciplines practitioners through its Professional Conduct Committee (PCC), which has the power to reprimand, fine, suspend, or erase architects from the Register. It also sets standards for architectural education by accrediting UK schools of architecture and publishes the Architects Code: Standards of Conduct and Practice, with an updated version published in 2025.
ARB's core technology infrastructure consists of the MyARB online portal — a self-service platform where registered architects manage their registration, pay annual retention fees, and record Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities — and the publicly accessible Architects Register at architects-register.org.uk, which allows consumers and employers to verify an architect's registration status. Additional offerings include the Prescribed Examinations for overseas-qualified candidates, the UK Adaptation Assessment (UKAA) for international architects, a CPD scheme, Title Protection Toolkit resources, and learning modules covering fire and life safety design and sustainability competence. Route P, a new registration route designed to replace the Prescribed Examination, is scheduled to launch in spring 2027.
ARB operates as a non-departmental public body accountable to Parliament rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue is generated through annual retention fees from registered architects, initial registration fees, examination fees for candidates with non-recognised qualifications, and accreditation fees from schools of architecture. The organization maintains mutual recognition agreements with international architectural bodies including AACA (Australia), NZRAB (New Zealand), NCARB (USA), ROAC, and HKIA, and recognition arrangements for EEA, EFTA, and Swiss qualifications. Its 2026–2030 Corporate Strategy focuses on strengthening safety, competence, and culture across the regulated profession.
Architects Registration Board firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Architects Registration Board
- Legal name
- Architects Registration Board
- Website
- https://arb.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Architects Registration Board is the UK statutory regulator of architects, established by Parliament in 1997 under the Architects Act. It maintains the public Register of Architects, enforces title protection, accredits schools, and disciplines practitioners through its Professional Conduct Committee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Architects Registration Board industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Regulation
- NAICS
- Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Public Administration (92)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies (EDADACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA), Assessment & Examination Integrity Audits (EDADAGAE), Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)
Keywords
Where Architects Registration Board is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London, England
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Architects Registration Board business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Registration and Retention Fees: Architects pay fees for initial registration and annual retention to maintain their place on the Register. Fee information is published on the ARB website.
- Accreditation Fees: Schools of architecture pay fees for accreditation of their qualifications programs
- Examination Fees: Candidates pursuing the Prescribed Examination (for those with overseas or non-recognised UK qualifications) pay examination fees
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Retention Fee for registered architects |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Examination application fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Architects Registration Board product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ARB is the UK statutory regulator of the architecture profession. It maintains the public Register of Architects, processes initial registration and annual retention, runs the CPD competence scheme, sets professional standards via the Architects Code, accredits UK schools of architecture, conducts Prescribed Examinations and the UK Adaptation Assessment for overseas-qualified candidates, and disciplines architects through the Professional Conduct Committee. It also investigates complaints and prosecutes misuse of the title "architect."
Product overview
Architects Registration Board operates as a statutory regulatory body established by Parliament in 1997. The organization maintains a unified platform consisting of the MyARB portal for registration management, the Architects Register (public database of qualified architects), the CPD Scheme for continuing professional development, and Route P (new registration route from spring 2027). Additional offerings include Prescribed Examinations for overseas-qualified architects, the UK Adaptation Assessment for international qualification recognition, the Title Protection Toolkit, and Learning Resources covering fire safety and sustainability competence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MyARB Portal
- Architects Register
- CPD Scheme
- Prescribed Examinations
- Route P
- UK Adaptation Assessment (UKAA)
- Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) Disciplinary Tribunal
- Schools of Architecture Accreditation
Companies that use Architects Registration Board
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Architects Registration Board technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Architects Registration Board partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AACA (Architects Accreditation Council of Australia)coreMutual Recognition Agreement enabling architects registered in Australia to seek registration in the UK through a streamlined pathway.
- NZRAB (New Zealand Registered Architects Board)coreMutual Recognition Agreement facilitating cross-border registration for architects between New Zealand and the UK.
- NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, USA)coreMutual Recognition Agreement enabling US-registered architects to obtain UK registration through recognised credentials.
- ROAC (Reconciliation Architect Council)coreMutual Recognition Agreement between ARB and ROAC for architectural registration pathways.
- HKIA (Hong Kong Institute of Architects)coreMemorandum of Understanding establishing cooperation framework for architectural registration and professional standards.
- EEA, EFTA and Swiss qualification authoritiescoreRecognition arrangements for architects with EEA, EFTA, and Swiss qualifications to register in the UK under specified routes.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Architects Registration Board competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): US-based umbrella council for architectural licensing boards, with which ARB holds a Mutual Recognition Agreement. Directly comparable mission: sets standards, administers examinations (ARE), and supports cross-jurisdictional licensure.
- Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA): Statutory accreditation body for Australian architects with whom ARB holds a Mutual Recognition Agreement. Directly comparable in function: accredits architecture schools, assesses overseas qualifications, and maintains the national register.
- Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA): Statutory professional body for architects in Hong Kong with which ARB has a Memorandum of Understanding. Comparable scope: maintains the register, sets professional standards, and adjudicates disciplinary matters.
- New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB): New Zealand's statutory registration board for architects and ARB's Mutual Recognition Agreement partner. Operates an essentially identical regulatory model: registration, competence standards, complaints, and disciplinary powers.
Broad incumbents
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): UK statutory regulator for nurses and midwives. Closely analogous regulatory model to ARB: maintains the register, sets standards of proficiency, runs examinations for international applicants, and operates a fitness-to-practise tribunal.
- Engineering Council (UK): UK regulatory body for the engineering profession. Comparable in scope to ARB: registers Chartered Engineers, accredits degree programmes, and sets professional standards, though engineering registration is not statutorily title-protected in the same way as architecture.
- General Medical Council (GMC): UK statutory regulator for doctors. Comparable to ARB in regulatory architecture: maintains a public register, sets educational standards, runs assessments (PLAB), and operates a fitness-to-practise tribunal with statutory powers.
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA): UK statutory regulator of solicitors and law firms. Closely comparable regulatory model to ARB: maintains the roll, sets standards of conduct, operates a disciplinary tribunal, and is accountable to Parliament through a legislative framework.
Emerging players
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): UK chartered membership body for architects. Operates alongside ARB in the UK architecture ecosystem with overlapping influence on education validation and professional development, but RIBA is a membership organisation rather than the statutory regulator.
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): UK-headquartered global professional body for surveyors and real estate professionals. Operates in the same construction and property ecosystem as ARB with overlapping membership and disciplinary functions, though RICS is a chartered body rather than a statutory regulator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Architects Registration Board social profiles
Digital presenceArchitects Registration Board financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Architects Registration Board leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Architects Registration Board funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Architects Registration Board M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Architects Registration Board
What does Architects Registration Board do?
ARB is the UK statutory regulator of the architecture profession. It maintains the public Register of Architects, processes initial registration and annual retention, runs the CPD competence scheme, sets professional standards via the Architects Code, accredits UK schools of architecture, conducts Prescribed Examinations and the UK Adaptation Assessment for overseas-qualified candidates, and disciplines architects through the Professional Conduct Committee. It also investigates complaints and prosecutes misuse of the title "architect."
Is Architects Registration Board a public or private company?
Architects Registration Board is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Architects Registration Board founded?
Architects Registration Board was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Architects Registration Board based?
Architects Registration Board is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Architects Registration Board make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Registration and Retention Fees are the primary driver. The others are accreditation Fees and examination Fees.
Who are Architects Registration Board's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) and New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB). Broad incumbents are Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Engineering Council (UK), General Medical Council (GMC) and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Emerging players are Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Does Architects Registration Board have an API?
No public API is recorded for Architects Registration Board.
What industry is Architects Registration Board in?
Architects Registration Board's product category is Professional Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADACAL, Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies, with a secondary code of EDADAFAA, National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies. Its NAICS code is 926150.