Qualifications for registration
15.—(1) Subject to this section, the following persons are, on payment of the prescribed fee, entitled to registration under this Act:(a)
any person holding —(i)
the Degree of Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore or the University of Singapore; or
(ii)
the Degree of Masters of Architecture from the National University of Singapore or the Singapore University of Technology and Design;
(b)
any person holding any other degree, diploma or qualification which the Minister may, after consultation with the Board and by notification in the Gazette, approve for the purpose of entitling the holder thereof to be registered under this Act; or
(c)
any person who satisfies the Board that the person is otherwise qualified by having proper and recognised training in architecture and who passes such oral or written examinations as may be prescribed.[28/2005; 20/2017]
(2) A person is not entitled to registration under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) unless the person satisfies the Board as to any of the following:(a)
that the person has, after obtaining his or her qualifications —(i)
acquired at least 2 years of such practical experience in architectural work as may be prescribed or approved by the Board (including practical experience in architectural work in Singapore for a continuous period of at least 12 months); and
(ii)
passed such professional practice examination as may be prescribed or approved by the Board;
(b)
that the person has, after obtaining his or her qualifications —(i)
acquired at least 5 years of such practical experience in architectural work as may be recognised by the Board (including not less than 2 years of the prescribed practical experience in architectural work in Singapore with a continuous period of at least 12 months of such prescribed practical experience being acquired within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the person’s application for registration under this Act); and
(ii)
passed such oral or written examination as may be prescribed by the Board;
(c)
that the person has, after obtaining his or her qualifications —(i)
acquired at least 10 years of such practical experience in architectural work as may be recognised by the Board;
(ii)
received any commendation or award at any international architectural event, or from any professional body whose architectural degree or qualification is recognised by the Board; and
(iii)
passed such oral or written examination as may be prescribed by the Board.[28/2005; 20/2017]
(2AA) Despite subsection (2), the Board may, subject to subsection (2AB) and any conditions that the Board may impose, take into account any pre-qualification practical experience of such nature and duration as may be recognised by the Board which is acquired by a person who qualifies for registration under subsection (1)(a) or (b), for the purpose of satisfying the requisite number of years of practical experience mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(i), (b)(i) or (c)(i).[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/05/2026]
(2AB) For the purpose of subsection (2AA), the Board may only take into account a person’s pre-qualification practical experience that —(a)
commences on or after 1 May 2026; and
(b)
is acquired in Singapore.
[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/05/2026]
(2AC) Despite subsection (2), the Board may, subject to any conditions that the Board may impose, take into account any pre-qualification practical experience of such nature and duration as may be recognised by the Board which is acquired by a person who qualifies for registration under subsection (1)(c), for the purpose of satisfying the requisite number of years of practical experience mentioned in subsection (2)(b)(i) or (c)(i).[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/05/2026]
(2AD) For the purpose of subsection (2AC), the Board may take into account a person’s pre-qualification practical experience —(a)
whether it commences before, on or after 1 May 2026; and
(b)
whether it is acquired in Singapore or elsewhere.
[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/05/2026]
(2A) Despite subsections (1) and (2), any foreign architect who is first authorised to practise architecture in a country or territory outside Singapore which is a participating jurisdiction and who intends to engage in the practice of architecture in Singapore, is entitled to registration under this Act —(a)
upon payment of the prescribed fee; and
(b)
if the foreign architect has such qualifications, requisite practical experience in architectural work, and has passed such oral or written examinations, as may be approved by the Board.[20/2017]
(2B) A registration of a foreign architect under subsection (1) or (2A) may be subject to such prohibitions, restrictions or conditions as to the practice of architecture in Singapore as the Board may impose.[20/2017]
(3) The Minister may, after consultation with the Board, by order in the Gazette, exempt, subject to any conditions that the Minister thinks fit, any person from the requirements of subsection (2).
(4) The Board may refuse to register any applicant who in the opinion of the Board —(a)
is not of good character and reputation; or
(b)
is unable to carry out the duties of an architect effectively.
(5) Any person whose application for registration under subsection (1) has been refused by the Board may, within 30 days after being notified of the refusal, appeal to the General Division of the High Court whose decision is final.[20/2017; 40/2019]
(6) In this section, “pre-qualification practical experience” means any practical experience in architectural work acquired by a person before he or she qualifies for registration under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c).[Act 15 of 2026 wef 01/05/2026]
Recognition for purposes of mutual recognition arrangements
15A.—(1) Subject to this section, any registered architect who intends to supply or offer to supply architectural services in any participating jurisdiction, may apply to be recognised for the purposes of any arrangement mentioned in section 6A(2) with a foreign registration authority in that jurisdiction.[20/2017]
(2) An application to be recognised for the purposes of an arrangement mentioned in section 6A(2) with a foreign registration authority of a participating jurisdiction must be granted by the Board if, upon payment of the prescribed fee, it is satisfied —(a)
that under the terms of the arrangement, the applicant is eligible to supply or offer to supply those architectural services in the participating jurisdiction if the applicant is first recognised under this section; and
(b)
that the applicant —(i)
has the requisite practical experience in architectural work as may be approved by the Board; and
(ii)
has passed such oral or written examinations as may be approved by the Board.[20/2017]
(3) Any recognition under subsection (2) —(a)
is valid for the period (not exceeding one year) that the Board determines; and
(b)
may be renewed upon payment of the prescribed fee.[20/2017]
Application for registration
16. Every application for registration under this Act must be made to the Board in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
Certificates of registration
17. Every registered architect is, on payment of the prescribed fee, entitled to receive a certificate of registration under the hand of the Registrar.
Amendment of registers
17A. The Registrar must —(a)
amend any register kept and maintained under section 8(1) when there is any alteration which may come to the Registrar’s knowledge in the name, address or other relevant particulars of any person registered;
(b)
correct any error in any entry in any such register; and
(c)
remove from any such register the name of any person —(i)
whose name has been ordered to be removed under any provision of this Act; or
(ii)
who is dead.[20/2017]
Removal of name and particulars from register of architects
17B.—(1) The Board may order the name and other particulars of a registered architect to be removed from the register of architects if he or she —(a)
has no address in Singapore at which he or she can be contacted or sent any document using his or her particulars in the register; or
(b)
has not renewed his or her practising certificate for a continuous period of at least 10 years.[28/2005]
(2) Despite the provisions of Part 7, the Board may order the name and other particulars of a registered architect to be removed from the register of architects if it comes to the knowledge of the Board that —(a)
he or she has obtained his or her registration by fraud or misrepresentation;
(b)
his or her qualification for registration under section 15 has been withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; or
(c)
he or she refuses or fails to comply with —(i)
an order made (whether before, on or after 6 October 2017) by the Board under section 31B(1)(a) (pursuant to the recommendation of an Investigation Committee under section 31A(d)), or under section 31B(1)(c);
(ii)
an order made (whether before, on or after 6 October 2017) by a Disciplinary Committee under section 31G(2)(c) or (3) to pay a penalty or sum, or under section 31G(2)(e); or
(iii)
any prohibition, restriction or condition imposed by the Board under section 15(2B).[28/2005; 20/2017]
(3) The Board must, before exercising its powers under subsection (2), notify the registered architect concerned of its intention to take such action and must give the registered architect an opportunity to submit reasons, within the period that the Board may determine, as to why his or her name should not be removed from the register.[28/2005]
(4) Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Board under subsection (2) may, within 30 days of being notified of the order, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.[28/2005]
(5) Any registered architect may apply to the Board to have his or her name and particulars removed from the register of architects.[28/2005]
(6) Every application under subsection (5) must be made in the form that the Board may require and the Board may, if it thinks fit, require either or both of the following:(a)
that the application should be supported by a statutory declaration;
(b)
that the applicant should advertise his or her intention to make the application in the manner that the Board directs.[28/2005]
(7) Subject to subsection (8), the Board may, upon receiving an application made under subsection (5), direct the Registrar to remove the name and particulars of the applicant from the register of architects.[28/2005]
(8) No order may be made on an application under subsection (5) if the Board is satisfied that —(a)
disciplinary action is pending against the applicant; or
(b)
the conduct of the applicant is the subject of a complaint made against the applicant which is not dismissed, or an inquiry by an Investigation Committee.[28/2005; 20/2017]
Reinstatement of registration
17C.—(1) Any person whose name and particulars have been removed from the register of architects under section 31G(2)(a) must, if the person’s appeal to the General Division of the High Court under section 31H is allowed, be immediately reinstated without payment of any fee.[28/2005; 40/2019]
(2) The Board may, after the expiry of at least 3 years from the removal from the register of architects of the name and particulars of any person, consider any fresh application for registration by that person in accordance with the provisions of Part 4.[28/2005]
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
