Architecture in the UK is a regulated profession.  This means that a central body ensures only suitably qualified and registered people are allowed to work in the profession and to call themselves an Architect; the term ‘Architect’ is protected by law.  Regulated professions are generally those where legal or professional standards are vital and include solicitors, doctors and teachers. There were around 56,000 Architects registered and working in the UK in 2020 but the demand for skills means that professionals are regularly recruited from abroad too.

To work as an Architect in the UK, you need to have qualified and be registered with the ARB, the Architects Registration Board.  You could also choose to work as an Architectural Technologist, becoming a professional member of CIAT (the Chartered Institute for Architectural Technologists).  We’ll look at the difference between an Architect and an Architectural Technologist later in this article.

To qualify as an Architect, the traditional route is a combination of university study and practical experience, taking at least six years overall.  A student will start by completing their undergraduate degree in Architecture on a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) approved course.  These are typically three years of full-time study, but they can sometimes be completed on a part-time basis; some courses even include time spent studying abroad.  This first stage is known as RIBA Part 1.

After this, students need to complete at least one year working in practice.  This needs to be under the supervision of a qualified architect or other construction industry professional.  Placements for this year can be highly competitive so it’s worth planning ahead.  The good news is that you will be paid on placement, so some students choose to spend more than one year working in order to gain more experience and save up some money.  Your experiences during your placement need to be recorded and supervised by a Professional Studies Advisor, but they also count towards your application for professional registration later on.

Having completed a minimum of one year in practice, students then return to university to complete their RIBA Part 2, typically for a further two years.  This can either be at the same institution where you studied Part 1 or somewhere new (make sure you apply in good time!).  This course results in the next qualification (and more letters to write after your name), typically BArch, MArch or a Diploma.

After completion of Part 2, there is a requirement for further practical experience; this time, the recommended minimum is two years. Many students take this opportunity to work in a different kind of organisation or architectural practice than they did before, in order to broaden their experience as widely as possible.  There is even the opportunity to work abroad at this stage, although at least one year must be spent working in the UK. Again, you will be paid on this placement and you will likely be given even greater responsibilities, although still under the supervision of a suitably qualified professional.

During this practical experience, you can begin working towards your final professional qualification, known as RIBA Part 3.  This course is often studied part-time whilst continuing to work and covers areas such as management and law. At this stage, you can also apply to become an Associate Member of RIBA and access the support that they offer. 

When you have successfully completed the RIBA Part 3 assessments, you can apply to register as an architect with the ARB.  You are also eligible to become a Chartered Member of the RIBA and, if appropriate, as well as your local professional body in your home nations:  

RSAW: The Royal Society of Architects in Wales

RSUA: The Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in Northern Ireland

RIAS: The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

To continue to work as an Architect, you must remain registered with the ARB; although you do not have to have RIBA Membership to practice, many choose to do so, to retain their Chartered Architect status and for the support available.

In England, and hopefully soon in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, in addition to the largely academic route, there are now two Degree level Apprenticeships that will allow an individual to qualify as an Architectural Assistant or Architect.  The Architectural Assistant is a Level 6 Apprenticeship (degree equivalent) and will allow a successful candidate to achieve their RIBA Part 1 qualification after A Levels, whilst gaining practical experience at work.  The Architect Apprenticeship is a Level 7 qualification, which allows candidates with their Part 1 to work towards RIBA Parts 2 and 3 whilst working.  Both Apprenticeships were launched in 2018, having been developed alongside some award-winning architectural practices and respected construction firms, including Foster & Partners, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and ARUP.

As well as Architects or Architectural Assistants, there can be a number of other professionals who design buildings.  These include Architectural Technologists, Technicians and Architectural Designers.  An Architectural Technologist will have studied for 5 or 6 years at higher and professional levels; if they choose to become a Chartered Member of the CIAT (so have the letters MCIAT after their name), they can offer the full range of architectural services that an Architect can.  Some will choose the Architectural Technologist route instead of the Architect route because it can be a slightly shorter time to qualify and because there are other study options than doing a full-time degree.  Traditionally, an Architectural Technologist would be more concerned with the technical elements of a building compared to the design-focus of an Architect, but this is much less true today and both professions should be judged on their individual merits.

A quick search of qualified architect job vacancies being advertised at the time of writing this article showed starting salaries ranging from £28,000 to £55,000 per year.  A similar search for Architectural Technologist roles suggests current starting salaries range from £24,000 to £45,000. Experienced architects, partners in a practice or those who own their own business could expect to earn significantly more.

Architectural Technicians and Architectural Designers will have qualifications and/or experience in their professional field and are likely to work in practice supporting Architects and Architectural Technologists.  However, they are unlikely to be professionally registered in their own right and therefore would not be able to sign-off on architectural plans and projects.  As such, there is no set route into these roles and salaries vary, but they could be a realistic option if you were only able to complete RIBA Part 1, for example.

RIBA have developed two new programmes to support those looking to build a career in architecture.  The first, launched in 2021, is the RIBA Foundation programme, which aims to support those needing to gain experience or build a portfolio before they start their RIBA Part 1 training.  The other is the RIBA Studio, which allows you to work full time in a practice while working towards your RIBA Part 1 or Part 2 at the same time.  Search ‘RIBA Studio’ to find out more about both options.

There is more information on how to become an architect or an architect assistant, including details of apprenticeships and the RIBA Studio, go the Education, CPD and Careers section of www.architecture.com

What skills do you need to work in architecture?

Are you the sort of person with the rights qualities and attributes to succeed?  Here’s what we think it takes:

A logical mind – architects need to be both ‘big picture’ people and ‘details’ people but, perhaps most importantly of all, they need to be able to work logically through an issue, addressing issues in practical ways.

A sense of design – as well as a mechanical mindset, it helps to have a sense of the artistic, to ensure buildings appeal to the people who will use them.

Excellent communication skills – architects rarely work alone; there are clients, engineers, site managers and so on, who all perform key roles on any project. Therefore, an architect needs to be able to explain ideas and plans to others, as well as to hear and understand what others are explaining to them.

Management skills – even as a Junior Architect working in a practice, there is a need to ‘juggle’ multiple projects and people at a time.  If you aspire to become a partner or have your own business, you’ll need these skills even more.