This is public and Registrant notification that the updated AIBC Bylaws, including two new Professional Standards, are now in effect.
Approved by the AIBC Board on December 3, 2025, the amendments were submitted to the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance for approval and filing with the minister. After review, the Superintendent declared the Bylaw amendments (including the Professional Standards) in force, effective December 10, 2025. The updated AIBC Bylaws (PDF) are now available on the AIBC website.
A summary of all the amendments can be found in the AIBC Bylaws Amendments Chart, as well as on the Code of Ethics Amendments webpage. There are several noteworthy changes of which AIBC Registrants must be aware, particularly the new Competence and Field Services Professional Standards.
New Professional Standards
Two new Professional Standards regarding Competence and Field Services are now in effect:
New Competence Professional Standard (PS: 3.7)
This new standard states that an Architect’s services in preparation for construction be sufficiently complete, correct, comprehensive, and coordinated for the purposes stated. The goal of this standard is to reinforce expectations that documents relied upon for construction are prepared competently. The language is intended to reflect and more directly articulate the profession’s and the public’s historic and current understanding of the nature and quality of core architectural services. This is not a new or ‘higher’ standard for services; it reinforces the expectation that these services are performed competently.
New Field Services Professional Standard (PS: 7.8)
This new standard confirms the requirement that Architects must provide field services for all new building design or building alteration commissions leading to construction.
This standard is intended to reinforce that field services, including field review as defined by building codes, are a basic service expectation on building designs or alterations by Architects, regardless of size, complexity, or client preference. Most notably, field services requirements are not limited to Part 3 buildings; they are also a professional service requirement for Part 9 buildings. This standard does not diminish an Architect’s discretion nor their exercise of professional judgement in relation to the frequency, number, or extent of field reviews on a project.
NOTE: Compliance with the New Professional Standards
The Professional Standards are effective as of December 10, 2025. Architects, other Registrants, and the public are encouraged to review the updated Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which includes extensive explanatory commentary to the standards.
The field services standard (PS: 7.8) may require Architects to review their firm’s contracts going forward to ensure field services are adequately described and addressed for design or building alterations leading to construction, regardless of building size. For contracts already under way as of December 10, 2025, in relation to Part 9 buildings where field services have not been addressed, this standard does not apply. However, Architects are strongly encouraged to bring the standard to their client’s attention and to recommend that appropriate field services are carried out. While the Architect cannot require that existing, executed contracts be amended to reflect the field services obligation, client notice and discussion about the content and value of field services are encouraged.
Practice questions about these Professional Standards should be addressed to practiceadvice@aibc.ca
Updated Bylaws
The proposed amendments to the AIBC Bylaws were generally administrative in nature and have impact on a range of bylaws, including Governance; Registration and Licensing; Complaints and Investigation; Discipline; and Public Disclosure. Highlights include:
Governance
- The Board election bylaws and Schedule F: Board Rules for Board Election were amended to add clarity in the event of an election by acclamation, and to include rules for temporary appointments of Registrant Board Members.
- The General Meeting bylaws have been modernized, including removing legacy procedures such as meeting protocols and voting on meeting minutes, which now can be approved by the Board in advance of the General Meeting.
Registration and Licensing
- The acceptable architectural experience permitted for Former Registrants reinstating (i.e., from countries that have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Canada or the AIBC) has been broadened.
- The cancellation of a Certificate of Practice if there is no Architect able and permitted to practise architecture for the firm is now allowed.
Discipline
- A new bylaw to ensure Complainants are notified in a timely manner of the outcome of a Discipline Hearing has been added.
Public Disclosure
- Only business mailing addresses of Firm Registrants connected to an individual engaged in the Regulated Practice must be published on the Register.
- Information about Temporary Licencees (Architects) must be published on the Register, including the name of the Collaborating Architect and their Architectural Firm.
The Institute will continue to review and refine the AIBC Bylaws. If you have any questions or comments about the amendment process or AIBC Bylaws, please email bylawfeedback@aibc.ca.