Urgent Message from the President of the RIBA-USA and the RIBA Americas Council Representative
On December 24th 2020, it was announced that UK licensed architects will no longer be able to work freely in the EU member states. Reciprocal agreements must now be brokered in each individual country.
The ability for architects to practice globally is of vital importance, particularly at this moment in time.
Prior to joining the EU, US and UK architects enjoyed mutual recognition of qualifications which enabled UK architects to practice in the majority of the US States due to an agreement between ARCUK, the predecessor to the ARB, and NCARB, a private membership body of the registration boards in the majority of the United States.
We urge you to complete the MHCLG consultation which ends January 22, 2021 whether you are a UK or US architect, in order to ask the UK Government to ensure that reciprocity is reinstated between our two countries. They need to hear from each one of us that it is of critical importance now and for our future architects. NCARB can not guarantee registration in all 55 states and territories but this is the first step and we must make it plain in the comments section of the consultation that this is acceptable and desirable. *see illustration below showing a projected map of states (in blue) that will accept NCARB registration through reciprocity. A successful Trade in Services agreement with the US will undoubtedly benefit both sides of the Atlantic and we strongly believe that trade in the construction field will be greatly enhanced by the re-opening of this global network.
