On February 10, 2023, the AIBC officially came under the authority of the Professional Governance Act (PGA). This legislation replaces the repealed Architects Act.
Professional Governance Act
The PGA is broad and general legislation designed to modernize professional regulation and provide oversight of several regulatory bodies in British Columbia. It clarifies the role of regulatory bodies, and also establishes the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance, which reports into the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The PGA defines AIBC’s mandate and governing authority, and sets standard requirements for key elements of professional governance. It also outlines the obligations and standards that all registrants under the PGA must meet.
View the Professional Governance Act
Regulations
Professional Governance General Regulation
The Professional Governance General Regulation further defines the obligations and standards set out in the PGA, and covers a variety of subjects, including the nomination process for Board Members and requirements for public disclosure of certain regulatory information.
View the Professional Governance General Regulation
Architects Regulation
The Architects Regulation is specific to the architectural profession, and addresses some transitional elements and items that were previously in the Architects Act, such as establishing the “reserved practice” for architects (formerly Section 60, or the ‘exceptions’) and setting reserved titles.
View the Architects Regulation
- AIBC Descriptive Material – Architects Regulation: Reserved Practice of Architecture
A resource that provides an overview of the Architects Regulation, including: Interaction Between the Architects Regulation and the BC Building Code; Alterations to Buildings; Temporary Structures; Architects and Professional Engineers, and a chart that compares the Architects Regulation and the BC Building Code. Of note, the descriptive material is intended as a guide and does not take the place of the Architects Regulation itself, which prevails in all cases.View the AIBC Descriptive Material – Architects Regulation: Reserved Practice of Architecture
AIBC Bylaws
AIBC Bylaws is the single-source document for the regulation of the architectural profession in British Columbia, setting the specific standards and procedures that apply to the AIBC and its Registrants. Schedules are regulatory documents that can be found at the end of the AIBC Bylaws; examples of Schedules include the Fee Schedule, the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, a number of Board Rules, and Administrative Guidelines regarding specific AIBC requirements and programs.
To see all past versions of the AIBC Bylaws made under the PGA, please visit the Prior Bylaws Under the PGA webpage.
Former Act
Before the PGA came into force, the AIBC was governed by the Architects Act and the previous Bylaws made under the Architects Act. These documents are no longer in force, but are provided for reference only as they may be relevant for applications submitted prior to the transition date and in some investigation and discipline cases that concern registrant’s practice and conduct before the PGA and new Bylaws came into force:
- Architects Act (Repealed)
- Bylaws (Not in force)
- Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Not in force)