Registrant Resources

Application for an Architectural Firm / For a Certificate of Practice / or for Changes and Amendments (PDF)

Please note: all architectural firms, members and licensees holding a certificate of practice must also hold professional liability insurance (PLI), and comply with applicable AIBC Bylaws and Rules. For further information regarding PLI, including coverage amount requirements, review Council Rules 8: Terms and Conditions for Mandatory Professional Liability Insurance and the FAQ webpage.

Site Sign Application Form (PDF)

Application for Architectural Firm Changes (PDF)

An architectural firm may cease to be registered through voluntary resignation, non-payment of annual fees, or suspension and removal related to disciplinary action. Your eligibility, requirements and processes for reinstatement of registration vary in each circumstance.

In all cases, your reinstatement becomes official only after you have paid the current application and annual fee, and your application has been reviewedby the Registration and Licensing Board and approved by AIBC Council.

• Bulletin 2: Reinstatement of Registration (PDF)
• Reinstatement Application Form (PDF)

If you have any questions regarding the reinstatement process, please contact the Registration & Licensing department at registration@aibc.ca.

Upon resignation, architects who hold a Certificate of Practice are required to close their architectural firm by providing, in writing, an indication that the firm has met all professional obligations or identify the Certificate of Practice holder that is assuming those obligations. The firm’s Certificate of Practice must be returned to the AIBC.

Architects choosing to resign who are partners or shareholders in an architectural firm are advised to consider the effects the resignation may have on the firm’s compliance with Section 26 of the Act. It is the responsibility of the firm to ensure continued compliance and it may be necessary for the firm to submit an application for a change in the firm’s name or ownership structure for approval by the AIBC.

Architects AIBC may also choose to close their firms and still maintain their architect registration. This may entail practising in another firm holding a Certificate of Practice. You are required to send a notice in writing to the Registration and Licensing Department at registration@aibc.ca advising of your intent to close your firm and providing the same notice requirements as above, an indication that the firm has met all professional obligations or identify the Certificate of Practice holder that is assuming those obligations.

Depending on your firm structure/ownership, there may be additional requirements to meet. Please review Bulletin 5: Resignation of Registration (PDF) for detailed information.

Of note, if the firm is a corporation but cannot be closed at this time for legal and tax reasons then architects may apply for the firm to change to “Inactive” status. This means that the corporation will not have a Certificate of Practice, but remains on the AIBC register while they are in the process of dissolution. Once dissolved, architects may apply for the inactive firm to be closed with the AIBC. For more information see ‘Apply to make Architectural Firm Changes’ accordion topic above.

Architectural firms registered with the AIBC are required to pay annual fees. Fees are determined annually by the AIBC Council and provided in Bulletin 1: Fees, Fines and Charges.

As set in the Architects Act, February 1 is the annual deadline for renewal of registration and payment of fees. Find detailed information, including payment instructions, on the AIBC’s Annual Renewal page.

Please be reminded that firm logins are different than architect logins as they are separate registrant categories. As such, architects with a firm have two separate logins – one for their architect account and one for their firm account.

It is your professional responsibility to keep your records up to date with us. You can update your contact information by logging in to AIBC’s secure registrant site.

Every summer, the AIBC also sends a mid-year reminder to registrants to review and update their information.

At the beginning of October, a ‘firm update’ is sent to firms via an email to the firm administrator on file. This annual update is a regulatory requirement, established in bylaws, for all architectural firms. The data gathered in the firm update populates the annual fee invoices, with accurate information leading to a streamlined annual renewal cycle. Failure to complete the annual firm update by its deadline of October 31 may constitute a disciplinary violation. As of 2020, an administrative penalty will be applied to non-compliant firms.