FAQs

The Firm Update is a requirement for every Firm Registrant and may be completed by a Firm Representative or delegated to other firm contacts (e.g. other architect owners, or a Firm Administrator). A Firm Representative is an Architect AIBC employed by or contracted to the Firm and designated by the Firm Registrant, the owner of a sole proprietorship, or sole owner of an architectural corporation, under Bylaw 4.30. A Firm Administrator is an individual (Registrant or non-Registrant) who has been delegated by the Firm Registrant to respond to general or administrative matters, such as payment of annual fees.

If you are a registered Architect AIBC Owner, a Firm Representative, or a Firm Administrator, log into the Registrant Portal using your individual login information and click on the Firm Update icon.

After logging into the AIBC Portal, you can access multiple firms that you have been assigned as a firm administrator. This list will reflect which firms have a submitted Firm Update, and which are pending submission. If you do not see the firm you are trying to access, please contact firmupdates@aibc.ca.

AIBC Bylaw 4.44 requires all firms to complete an annual firm update by September 30. If there are firm changes after this deadline, Architect AIBC owners, Firm Representatives or Firm Administrators may still log into their accounts and update the corresponding information but the changes will not be reflected for next year’s annual fee invoice.

Even if the information the AIBC has on file for your firm is correct and no changes are needed, verification that the information on record is current and accurate is required. The Firm Update must still be completed.

If you would like to change your firm name, type, or structure, please complete the Application for Architectural Firm Changes (PDF). You are not able to make these types of changes as part of the firm updates as they require review and approval by the AIBC.

When you complete the Firm Update, you will have an option to advise the AIBC that a Firm Change form has been, or will be, submitted within 30 days of your Firm Update submission. The AIBC will review this information and update your Firm Size for Annual Fee Calculation where applicable.

You are required to provide current information, including uploading a copy of your certificate of insurance. If your PLI has expired and a current certificate of insurance is not yet available, you may upload communication with your insurance broker in lieu of this Certificate. Once your certificate is available, please upload it.

A confirmation message for each firm will appear on the portal landing page after clicking “Submit”.

Failure to complete the annual firm update by the deadline will incur a fine of $107 + GST and may result in the matter being referred to the AIBC’s professional conduct department. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact firmupdates@aibc.ca for assistance.

No firm size changes for next year’s billing will be accepted after submitting the Firm Update, except those requiring approval by the Credentials Committee, such as changes to firm name and/or firm type.

Professional liability insurance is a form of insurance that protects architects against claims by clients and third parties. It is also sometimes referred to as “errors and omissions” insurance and is intended to provide protection necessary to defend and settle claims arising out of design services, field reviews and other services customary to architects. Professional liability insurance provides protection to the public through financial remedies for legitimate claims.

The mandate of the AIBC is to regulate the profession of architecture in B.C. in the interest of the public. Mandatory PLI provides access to financial remedies for persons with legitimate claims, and thereby provides at least a minimum level of protection to the public.

PLI is a risk management tool; it protects policy holders from the costs of defending and paying damages for claims. If you practice as an architect, you are exposed – a standard PLI policy provides the financial protection of coverage against claims.

All architectural firms that hold a Certificate of Practice holders are required to obtain insurance. Architects doing work that does not require a CoP, or working for CoP holders, would be exempt from obtaining insurance.

As per Schedule M: Board Rules for Professional Liability Insurance (PLI), the minimum amount of PLI coverage is $250,000 per claim, with an annual aggregate limit of not less than $500,000. Coverage must be in place for all projects undertaken by the firm in British Columbia during the Certificate of Practice period.

A copy of your certificate of insurance can be uploaded through the Registrant Portal.

Yes. For administrative efficiency and, to ensure insurance coverage continuity, firms are highly encouraged to align their insurance policy with the February 1 AIBC annual renewal deadline. Please be reminded that the February 1 deadline is fixed per AIBC Bylaw 4.65.4. Simply contact your insurance provider to work out the details.

During each Annual Renewal Cycle starting with the Firm Update in September, Certificate of Practice holders will be asked to produce a copy of their professional liability insurance to confirm compliance with AIBC Bylaw 4.40. and Schedule M: Board Rules for Professional Liability Insurance (PLI), found in the AIBC Bylaws.

The certification of insurance needs to be submitted to the AIBC by February 1 – the same deadline as Annual Renewal. Failure to do so may result in the matter being directed to the professional conduct department.

Updated certificates of insurance can be uploaded through the Registrant Portal.

No. A current certificate of insurance is required by February 1, each year, to renew the Certificate of Practice. Firms deemed non-compliant with the PLI requirements per AIBC Bylaw 4.40. and Schedule M: Board Rules for Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) may be subject to fines equivalent to 50 % of their current annual fee.

No. Though AIBC’s regulatory jurisdiction is limited to British Columbia, insurers are not geographically restricted. Insurance policies can cover projects in other provinces and elsewhere (ie. Washington state). Be sure to clearly review the geographic scope of your coverage with your broker to ensure you are appropriately covered.

Further to the procedure embedded in Schedule M: Board Rules for Professional Liability Insurance (PLI), found in the AIBC Bylaws (PDF), the firm must immediately notify the Institute, in writing, and provide written confirmation of return to PLI compliance within 10 days of the non-compliant event. Fees may apply for non-compliance with the Rules and the lapse would be reported to the professional conduct department for review and investigation.

Many Architects AIBC who practice outside of B.C. are already familiar with mandatory or compulsory PLI. Please talk with your insurance broker in order to determine if your existing policy has the appropriate insurance coverage applicable to B.C. projects. If coverage is provided for BC projects, we will accept coverage provided by captive insurers in other provinces.

It may be possible for a ‘third party’ to maintain insurance coverage for the architectural services you provide, but several conditions are necessary to ensure compliance with AIBC bylaws:

• An architect’s services must always be provided through a Certificate of Practice; and
• The insurance coverage must satisfy all bylaw and rules requirements, including:
  • minimum coverage thresholds ($250,000/$500,000);
  • coverage for all projects undertaken in British Columbia; and,
  • the ability to fulfil notice requirements in the event coverage lapses or falls below minimum thresholds.

While such coverage appears possible under the current PLI requirements, caution is recommended.

First, an architect not holding the policy directly is unlikely to have any control over renewal and other provisions that might affect compliance. Second, such coverage would presumably only address projects undertaken by or on behalf of the third party. The architect would not be covered for any project not covered by the policy held in other hands, and would be non-compliant by undertaking any architectural services outside of the policy coverage. Finally, in order to receive protection for claims made directly against the architect and firm under the policy, the architect will have to ensure ‘named insured’ status within the policy.

Invoices will be sent at the end of November directly to the primary account emails from kkim@aibc.ca. Please check your spam and junk folders if you do not see the email in your inbox. If you still cannot find your invoice after checking all folders, please send an email to finance@aibc.ca including your name as it is registered with the AIBC and your AIBC ID.

The Invoice Number and your AIBC ID can be found on the top right corner of your invoice:

Please ensure you are including all characters when providing your AIBC ID (AIBC-R######) and Invoice Number (2025-R######). For firms, the letter E replaces the R in both the account and invoice number.

To pay online, go to the 2025 Annual Renewal Payment page, scroll down to your registrant category, and double check that the payment figure matches the amount owing on your invoice. Then, input your AIBC ID and Invoice Number, and click “Pay Now”. Please note you do not need a PayPal account to complete this process – simply select “Pay with Debit or Credit Card” (marked below in red):

Payment Methods

• Online (preferred): Using secure and confidential “Pay Now” buttons on the AIBC website: aibc.ca/annual-renewal-payment. This method allows you to pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card or PayPal. Enter both your full AIBC ID (AIBC-R######) and Invoice Number (2025-R######) with all alphanumeric characters. The online payment deadline is 11:59 p.m. PST of the due date.
• E-transfer: Send to finance@aibc.ca, including your AIBC ID, invoice number, and name (as registered with the AIBC) in the message field. Auto-deposit (Interac) is set-up, and no security question is required. Please contact finance@aibc.ca for alternative electronic payment methods.
• By Courier/Drop Off In-Person: With a money order in Canadian funds or cheque from a Canadian Bank to the AIBC office during regular business hours (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Include either a copy of the invoice, or your AIBC ID and Invoice Number with your cheque or money order. If using a courier or dropping off a cheque in-person, allow for sufficient delivery time so that payment arrives before 5 p.m. on Friday, January 31. Note: Given the Canada Post strike, mail service is currently interrupted. To avoid any potential delays, please refrain from sending your annual fee payment through the mail.

If you paid through the AIBC’s online payment page using the PayPal links, you will have received an automated receipt from the provider. These receipts can take over 24 hours to appear in your email – please also check your spam and junk folder. The Institute will email the AIBC’s receipts once the payment has been posted to your account. Receipts are typically sent weekly.

At this time, registrants are not yet able to view or pay their invoice through the Registrant Portal, so the AIBC is encouraging registrants to pay their fees online via the AIBC website or e-transfer to finance@aibc.ca.

Fees must be received in full by February 1 to avoid paying the late fee. This is a requirement set by the AIBC Bylaws; it is a firm deadline without exceptions. Note that February 1 is a Saturday, and if paying by cheque (courier or drop off at the AIBC offices), please ensure your payment arrives at our office before 5 p.m. on Friday, January 31. Payments received at the AIBC Offices on February 3 will be considered late.

The AIBC encourages Registrants to pay their fees online via the AIBC website or e-transfer to finance@aibc.ca.

Please note that in-person payments are not being accepted, and that there are three available methods of payment:

• Online (preferred): Using secure and confidential “Pay Now” buttons on the AIBC website: aibc.ca/annual-renewal-payment. This method allows you to pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card or PayPal. Enter both your full AIBC ID (AIBC-R######) and Invoice Number (2025-R######) with all alphanumeric characters. The online payment deadline is 11:59 p.m. PST of the due date.
• E-transfer: Send to finance@aibc.ca, including your AIBC ID, invoice number, and name (as registered with the AIBC) in the message field. Auto-deposit (Interac) is set-up, and no security question is required. Please contact finance@aibc.ca for alternative electronic payment methods.
• By Courier/Drop Off In-Person: With a money order in Canadian funds or cheque from a Canadian Bank to the AIBC office during regular business hours (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Include either a copy of the invoice, or your AIBC ID and Invoice Number with your cheque or money order. Payments received in our office on February 3 will be considered late. Note: Given the Canada Post strike, mail service is currently interrupted. To avoid any potential delays, please refrain from sending your annual fee payment through the mail.

As mandated by the AIBC Bylaws, annual renewal fees must be paid in full by February 1.

• Per AIBC Bylaw 4.65.4, all Fees and other obligations above must be paid or delivered to the AIBC by February 1 of each calendar year;
• Per AIBC Bylaw 4.65.5, any Registrant failing to pay the full amount of the annual registration Fee required in these Bylaws by February 1 of each calendar year must pay the annual Fee and late payment Fee required in Schedule B by March 1 of each calendar year;
• Per AIBC Bylaw 4.66, The Registrar must cancel the registration of any Registrant who fails to pay the annual Fees, late payment Fee or any other Fees due and owing after March 1 of each calendar year.

Please note that any Registrant who has an amount that is past due and owing to the AIBC will be rendered not in Good Standing.

Yes. If someone else is paying on your behalf using the online method, you will have to provide them with your Invoice Number and AIBC ID (AIBC R-######). They can pay online using a credit card or PayPal. The credit card or PayPal account does not have to be your own.

If someone else is paying on your behalf with a money order or cheque, they will need to attach a copy of the invoice or note the invoice number (from the emailed renewal notice) along with the payment. The cheque doesn’t have to come from your bank account.

If someone else is paying on your behalf by e-Transfer or wire transfer, it must be sent to finance@aibc.ca and must include your AIBC ID, invoice number and name (as registered with the AIBC) in the message field. Auto-deposit (Interac) is set-up, and no security question is required. Your account will not reflect payment unless the finance team is notified in writing.

The AIBC Board approves the budget and establishes the fees. The schedule of annual renewal fees can be found in Schedule B: Fees, in the AIBC Bylaws. The 2025 Fees can be found here. Questions about fees can be submitted to the AIBC Board at BoardChair@aibc.ca.

Refer to Schedule N: Fee Waiver Administrative Guidelines (PDF) and the Fee Waiver Application Form (PDF) for information on waivers or reductions of the annual renewal fee for financial hardship, family leave (including maternity and parental leave) or medical disability. The completed application form should be mailed or emailed directly to the Director of Registration & Licensing at registration@aibc.ca, and be marked “Confidential.”

Please refer to the section for Retired Architects on the website.

Resignations must be submitted in writing and may be emailed to registration@aibc.ca before February 1, while still in Good Standing. Please review the below resources for further information:

Cancellation of Registration (Resignation)

• AIBC Bylaws 4.82 to 4.86

Applications to Change or Cancel Registration

• Architects (PDF)
• Retired Architect, Intern Architect, or Architectural Technologist (PDF)
• Firms (PDF)

Information regarding the Reinstatement of Registration can be found in the AIBC Bylaws, specifically:

• AIBC Bylaws 4.16 and 4.25 (former Individual Registrants)
• AIBC Bylaws 4.26 (former Firm Registrants)

Please contact registration@aibc.ca for the reinstatement forms.