Changes to the Prescribed Examination

Overview

About ARB

The Architects Registration Board regulates the architects’ profession in the United Kingdom. We set the standards of competence required to gain entry to the Register of Architects.

Why we are proposing a revised examination

The Architects Act 1997 allows ARB to prescribe qualifications for entry to the Register. It also allows ARB to require applicants who do not hold prescribed qualifications, but who may have achieved equivalent academic competence, to pass a prescribed examination.

ARB is reforming its education and registration framework. Under the new framework, applicants will be assessed against ARB’s Academic Outcomes rather than being required to follow the historic Part 1 and Part 2 qualification structure.

We are therefore proposing to replace the current Part 2 Prescribed Examination with a revised examination aligned with the new framework. The revised examination would retain several features of the current process, including assessment of a portfolio of evidence, an online interview and written feedback for unsuccessful candidates. It would also introduce changes intended to simplify the process, broaden access and improve the applicant experience.

ARB has also consulted on reforms to its international routes to registration. Respondents supported aligning those routes with ARB’s new approach to UK initial education and training, and improving access to the Register for people with qualifications from outside the UK who can demonstrate the required competence. This included simplifying the examination process and removing unintended complexity and barriers.

This consultation sets out our detailed proposals for revising the Prescribed Examination to help meet those aims.

The Prescribed Examination is not intended to be the principal route to registration. It provides an important alternative for people who may otherwise be unable to demonstrate that they have achieved the required Academic Outcomes.

What we are proposing

What would stay the same

The revised examination would retain:

• assessment against defined outcomes;
• a self-assessment and portfolio of evidence;
• an online interview;
• and written feedback for applicants who are unsuccessful.

What would change

We propose to:

• require applicants to hold a qualification equivalent to UK Level 7(RQF);
• allow applications from people with qualifications in architecture or another relevant discipline;
• introduce a staged Application, Review and Interview process;
• require applicants to pass each stage before progressing;
• replace panels of three examiners with two examiners;
• remove referrals to lead examiners and handbacks between stages;
• record interviews for quality-assurance purposes;
• and introduce staged fees so that applicants pay only for the parts of the examination they progress to.

We believe these changes will make the examination clearer, more proportionate and easier to navigate. In particular, they are intended to widen access for applicants whose relevant Level 7 (RQF) qualification is not specifically in architecture; avoid requiring applicants to undertake and pay for later stages where they have not successfully completed an earlier stage and provide clearer decision points and feedback. This in turn should reduce delay and complexity and ensure that the examination is cost effective.

What we are consulting on

We are seeking views on:

• the proposed eligibility requirements;
• the format and stages of the examination;
• the evidence applicants would be required to provide;
• feedback, resits and review arrangements;
• the proposed amendments to the Registration Rules and supporting guidance;
• and any equality, diversity, inclusion or accessibility impacts.

The detailed proposals are contained in the draft Eligibility Guidance, Prescribed Examination Policy Scheme and amended Registration Rules.

The consultation closes on 16 September 2026.