Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC)

What Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) does

ROAC (Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada) is a not-for-profit coordinating body comprising the 11 provincial and territorial architectural regulators of Canada. Its mandate is to harmonize national standards for architectural licensure and to facilitate professional mobility for architects across Canadian jurisdictions and internationally. ROAC does not license architects directly; instead, it administers shared components of the certification pipeline — including the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC), the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), and the Canadian Education Standard (CES) — and issues the ROAC Certificate used for international registration applications.

The organization operates a public information website (roac.ca) and a continuing-education training portal (roac.miiro.ca), and has run the Rise for Architecture initiative (2016–2022) to develop evidence-based recommendations for a national Architecture Policy for Canada, including national polling conducted with the Angus Reid Institute. Its international mobility program includes active Mutual Recognition Agreements with the UK's Architects Registration Board (ARB), the US National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), APEC (Australia/New Zealand and other Asia-Pacific economies), and the European Union, as well as Canadian Reciprocity for inter-provincial practice.

ROAC's revenue model is fee-based and narrow, derived from application fees for ROAC Certificates under the bilateral MRA framework — for example, $500 CAD (plus GST) for Canadian architects applying to the UK and $3,000 CAD (plus GST) for UK architects applying to Canada, with additional ARB adaptation fees. The UK MRA secretariat function is hosted by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC). No consolidated revenue, headcount, or budget figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC)

Legal name

Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC)

Website

https://roac.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) is a not-for-profit coordinating body for Canada's 11 provincial and territorial architectural regulators, harmonizing licensure standards (ExAC, IAP, CES) and administering international mobility agreements (UK, US, APEC, EU) for licensed and foreign-trained architects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Professional Regulation

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)

Keywords

• Architectural regulation
• Professional certification
• Mutual recognition
• Architect licensure
• Professional mobility

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification and Application Fees: ROAC generates revenue through application fees for ROAC Certificates under mutual recognition agreements, including Canada-UK MRA processing fees. Fee structure: $500 CAD (plus 5% GST) for Canadian architects applying to UK; $3,000 CAD (plus 5% GST) for UK architects applying to Canada. Additional fees apply for ARB's UK Adaptation Assessment (£2,950). These fees support the administrative costs of processing applications, verifying credentials, and administering the certification process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ROAC is the coordinating body for the 11 provincial and territorial architectural regulators in Canada. It develops and administers nationally recognized professional standards, the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC), the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), and issues ROAC Certificates that enable Canadian architects to obtain registration in international jurisdictions under mutual recognition agreements with the UK (ARB), US (NCARB), Australia/New Zealand (APEC), and the EU.

Product overview

ROAC (Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada) is a coordinating body for the eleven provincial and territorial architectural regulators in Canada. Rather than a unified software product, ROAC operates a web portal providing information services, operates a training portal for professional development, administers professional mobility programs including mutual recognition agreements with international bodies (UK ARB, Australia/New Zealand APEC, EU, US NCARB), and coordinates the Rise for Architecture initiative for policy research. The organization also oversees certification components including the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) and the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), and issues ROAC Certificates for architects seeking international registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise for Architecture: A national initiative of ROAC focused on developing recommendations for an Architecture Policy for Canada, conducting public consultations from 2016-2022.

Products and services

• ROAC Certificate A certificate issued by ROAC confirming successful completion of Canadian education (CACB-accredited degree or CES standard), experience (IAP), and examination (ExAC) requirements. Used by architects seeking international registration under MRAs. Fee: $500 CAD (plus 5% GST) for Canadian architects applying to UK; $3,000 CAD (plus 5% GST) for UK architects applying to Canada.
• Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) The standardized national examination for architect certification in Canada, required as one of the conditions for ROAC certification and professional registration across Canadian jurisdictions.
• Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) The national practical experience program that aspiring architects must complete as a mandatory component of the Canadian architect certification process, coordinated by ROAC across provincial regulators.
• Professional Mobility Programs (Mutual Recognition Agreements) A suite of programs that facilitate architect mobility between Canada and other jurisdictions, including reciprocal registration agreements with the United Kingdom (ARB), United States (NCARB), Australia/New Zealand (APEC Architects), the European Union, and the US-Mexico-Canada tri-national arrangement.
• Online Training Portal An online portal for continuing professional development and education for licensed Canadian architects, including modules tailored for international applicants seeking Canadian registration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% of Canadians support better policies to guide planning and design of communities
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Architects Registration Board (ARB) - United KingdomflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2025ROAC and UK's Architects Registration Board (ARB) signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) effective May 14, 2025. The agreement enables eligible architects in Canada and the UK to obtain registration more quickly and easily in the other country. Canadian architects require ROAC Certificate confirming education (CACB-accredited degree or CES standard), completion of IAP, ExAC examination, and good standing. UK architects complete Canadian practice modules and receive ROAC certification for Canadian registration. The ROAC secretariat for this MRA is the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC).
• Canadian Council of University Schools of Architecture (CCUSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCUSA is a supporting partner of the Rise for Architecture initiative, contributing to national consultation findings and recommended actions towards an Architecture Policy for Canada. CCUSA represents Canadian architecture schools and contributes academic perspectives to policy development.
• Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAIC is a supporting partner of the Rise for Architecture initiative. RAIC is the leading voice for the profession of architecture in Canada, supporting architects and contributing to policy advocacy for the built environment.
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCAF) - United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional mobility agreement between Canada and the United States for architect registration through the NCAF/ROAC reciprocity pathway. Enables architects to obtain registration in the other country through verified credentials and completion of jurisdiction-specific requirements.
• APEC Architects - Australia and New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEC Architect agreement enables professional mobility for architects between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other APEC economies. ROAC coordinates the Canadian side of this tri-national mobility arrangement.
• Architects Registration Board (ARB) - United Kingdom (Tri-national with EU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada-EU Architecture Agreement facilitates professional mobility between Canadian architects and European Union member states. UK-ROAC MRA operates independently post-Brexit. These agreements support Canadian architects seeking to practice internationally and foreign architects seeking Canadian registration.
• Angus Reid Institute (ARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRise for Architecture partnered with the Angus Reid Institute to conduct a national public opinion poll on Canadian priorities for architecture, community design, and built environment quality. ARI is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established in October 2014 by Dr. Angus Reid.
• Provincial and Territorial Architectural RegulatorsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerROAC is the coordinating body for 11 provincial and territorial architectural regulators. Member organizations include: Architectural Institute of British Columbia, Alberta Association of Architects, Saskatchewan Association of Architects, Manitoba Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Ordre des Architectes du Québec, New Brunswick Association of Architects, Architects Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island Association of Architects, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects, and Northwest Territories and Nunavut. These regulators work collectively to develop and adopt nationally recognized standards and programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Architects Registration Board (ARB): The UK's statutory regulator for architects and ROAC's direct bilateral MRA partner as of May 2025. ARB performs the same core regulatory function in the UK that ROAC coordinates across Canada, including registration, examinations, and international mobility.
• Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA): Australia's national accreditation body for architectural education and a coordinating partner with ROAC through the APEC Architect agreement. AACA performs analogous accreditation, examination, and professional mobility functions within Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): The US counterpart to ROAC, NCARB coordinates architectural licensure across US state boards and operates the primary reciprocity pathway with Canada. Both organizations administer national examinations and cross-border mutual recognition for architects.
• New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB): New Zealand's statutory architect registration authority, partnered with ROAC through the APEC Architect mobility framework. NZRAB performs equivalent registration and competency assessment functions for architects practicing in New Zealand.
• Architects Accreditation Council of Australia Board (AACA's Board): Although grouped with AACA, AACA's National Standard Examination and professional assessment framework closely mirrors ROAC's ExAC and BEFA pathway, making it a direct operational peer in competency evaluation methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC): Canada's national professional association for architects, and a strategic partner of ROAC's Rise for Architecture initiative. While RAIC focuses on advocacy and continuing education rather than regulation, it operates in an adjacent professional services capacity with overlapping membership and policy interests.

Regional players

• Architects Registration Board (Ireland): Ireland's statutory architect registration body, structurally analogous to ROAC and ARB. Performs equivalent registration, competency assessment, and professional mobility functions in the Irish jurisdiction, though outside the APEC and existing bilateral frameworks.
• Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ): Quebec's provincial architectural regulator and a member of ROAC's 11-regulator coalition. OAQ operates at the sub-national level but performs the same registration, examination oversight, and discipline functions that ROAC coordinates nationally.
• Ordre des Architectes (France) / European Council of Architects: European counterparts coordinating with ROAC through the Canada-EU Architecture Agreement. The European Council of Architects coordinates cross-border architectural recognition across EU member states, mirroring ROAC's role in Canada.

Others

• Canadian Council of University Schools of Architecture (CCUSA): Represents Canadian accredited architecture schools and contributes academic perspective to ROAC's policy work, including the Rise for Architecture initiative. Functions as an upstream education-stakeholder in the same architect certification pipeline that ROAC regulates downstream.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC)