On October 9, the AIBC shared proposed AIBC Bylaw amendments and draft Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements, which outlined the proposed requirements for a Mandatory Firm Registrants Course (“Firm Course”). After consideration and discussion, including feedback from Registrants, the Board has made adjustments to the proposed requirements for the course – specifically regarding deadlines and required participants. Further information about the changes, as well as an overview of the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course, can be found below.
Changes to Draft Board Rules
Originally, it was proposed that all existing Firms would be required to complete the Firm Course over the next two years – by January 1, 2027. Instead, the AIBC Board is now proposing that the initial focus remain on new firms seeking a Certificate of Practice, followed later by expanding the course through the AIBC’s mandatory CES Program to Architects and potentially all AIBC CES Participants – Intern Architects and Architectural Technologists. However, this requirement would be rolled out over a longer time period – likely the end of the 2028 CES reporting period. Since this is still under consideration, the Board is deferring setting a deadline for Architects and potentially other CES Participants to complete the Firm Course.
The Board is recommending that owners, partners, and directors of new firms who are AIBC Registrants be required to take the course before a Certificate of Practice can be issued.
It is important to note that the requirement for all new Certificate of Practice applicants to take the course by January 1, 2025, is still being advanced. This will be facilitated through a special livestream offering of the course, which is taking place on November 13, 2024 (registration and further information below), followed by an online, on-demand version available in early 2025.
What is the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course?
The primary purpose of the Firm Course is to help ensure all Firm Registrants are familiar with the baseline responsibilities and requirements of holding a Certificate of Practice and operating an Architectural Firm in British Columbia. A high volume of practice inquiries and conduct complaints stem from the intersection between running an architectural business and maintaining Professional Standards in a regulated environment. By the end of the course, it is hoped that participants will better understand Firm responsibilities as required under the Professional Governance Act, Architects Regulation, AIBC Bylaws and Practice Standards in the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Under the proposed requirements in the AIBC Bylaws, owners, partners, and directors would only be required to take the course once and would be eligible for Core Learning Units towards an Individual Registrant’s Continuing Education System (CES) requirements.
The Mandatory Firm Registrants Course will take approximately three hours to complete, and will cover a variety of important Firm Registrant topics, including:
- Registration Requirements
- Compliance with Laws
- Professional Liability Insurance
- Contracts and Engagement
- Use of Seal and Services
- Relationships between Employer Firm and Employees in a Regulated Context
Who Should Take the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course?
Effective January 1, 2025:
- all new Certificate of Practice applicants (through Registrants who are sole proprietors, partners, directors, and/or shareholders of voting shared in corporation), must have completed the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course as a pre-requisite for issuance of their Certificate of Practice.
- Registrants who join a Firm’s ranks as a partner, owner, or director will have a 90-day time period after submission of the ‘firm change’ form to complete the Firm Course.
While the mandatory requirements for the Firm Course may be limited, the AIBC invites any Registrant to attend either the livestreamed version or the later on-demand AIBC Course Portal offering. As noted above, the Board intends to recommend that the Firm Course become a mandatory element within the CES Program in the coming years.
How to Attend and Access the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course
For new Certificate of Practice applicants, the livestreamed version of the course will be presented on Wednesday, November 13. This session will be recorded and offered as an on-demand course through the AIBC Course Portal, to be taken at any time.
Those not applying for a new Certificate of Practice are welcome to attend the live presentation on November 13. However, we encourage Registrants who are not making a Certificate of Practice application early in 2025 to wait until the on-demand version of the course becomes available in February 2025.
Register for the November 13, 2024 Live Stream Mandatory Firm Registrants Course
(On-Demand Version Coming February 2025)
- Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
- Time: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Location: Online via Zoom (link will be emailed to all attendees after registration closes)
- Cost: $150 +GST
- Learning Units: 3 Core
- Registration: Registration closes on Monday, November 11, 2024
Please note that by registering you agree to the AIBC Firms Course policies.
Resources and AIBC Contact
There are resources available regarding the Mandatory Firm Registrants Course. Please note that the resources are proposed documents that have been approved in principle by the AIBC Board, but are not yet in force:
- Draft Schedule T: Board Rules for Firm Continuing Education Requirements
- Proposed Amendments to AIBC Bylaws (see proposed amendments to Bylaw 5.26)
If you have any questions about the Firm Course, registration, or policies, please contact professionaldevelopment@aibc.ca.