Architects Regulations 2015 (Victoria)

The Architects Regulations 2015 prescribe the detailed regulatory framework for the registration, professional conduct, corporate approval, fees, elections and administrative operations that support the Architects Act 1991. The Regulations do the following, in concrete terms:

State the objectives of the Regulations, tying them explicitly to regulation of professional conduct, registration procedures, fee prescription, nomination procedures for Board membership, and other measures necessary to give effect to the Act (reg 1).
Revoke the predecessor Regulations and consequential amendments (reg 4), and set the commencement date (reg 3).
Make the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct the standard for professional practice (reg 6 and Schedule 1), and empower the Board to produce and publish practice guidelines (reg 7).
Prescribe classes of registration (practising and non‑practising), the eligibility and procedural requirements for applications, and the prescribed fees for first registration and re‑registration in certain circumstances (regs 10 and 11).
Prescribe the process and evidence for approval of partnerships and companies that provide architectural services, including statutory declaration requirements and application fees (reg 12).
Specify how the Board must assess qualifications and professional practice, including prescribed examinations and fees for the Architectural Practice Examination and recognition routes for overseas and interstate qualifications (regs 13-16 and Schedule 2).
Prescribe the content and management of the Register, including required particulars for practising architects, approved partnerships and approved companies, and the requirement to record insurance particulars (reg 17). It requires certain persons to notify the Registrar of changes within 14 days (reg 18) and sets timeframes for certified extracts (reg 19).

Version No. 004

Architects Regulations 2015

S.R. No. 28/2015

Version incorporating amendments as at
15 April 2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Regulation Page

Part 1—Preliminary 1

1 Objectives 1

2 Authorising provision 1

3 Commencement 2

4 Revocation 2

5 Definitions 2

Part 2—Professional conduct 5

6 Standard of practice 5

7 Guidelines 5

8 Board may advise an architect on compliance 5

9 Unprofessional conduct 6

Part 3—Registration of architects and approval of partnerships and companies 7

Division 1—Process 7

10 Classes of registration 7

11 Application for registration as an architect 8

12 Application for approval of a partnership or company 9

Division 2—Qualifications 10

13 Qualifications—standard of professional practice 10

14 Qualifications in architecture 10

15 Prescribed course of study 11

16 Board may approve list of qualifications or courses of study 11

Division 3—The Register 11

17 Contents of the Register 11

18 Notification of changed information 13

19 Certified extract of Register 13

Division 4—Other matters 15

20 Annual fees 15

21 Prescribed time for Board to make decision 16

Part 4—The Board 17

Division 1—Election of architects for nomination to the Board 17

22 Application of Division 17

23 Returning Officer 17

24 Election officials 17

25 Notice of elections for nominations to the Board 17

26 Nomination 18

27 Withdrawal or death of a candidate 20

28 Uncontested election 20

Division 2—Contested election 20

29 Application of Division 20

30 Returning Officer must cause an election to be held 20

31 Method of voting 21

32 Architect must not vote more than once 21

33 Ballot paper 21

34 How to mark the ballot paper 22

35 Procedure for conduct of paper ballot 22

36 Procedure for technology-assisted voting 22

37 Conduct of ballot by a combination of technology-assisted voting and paper ballot 23

38 Counting votes 23

39 Computer counting 23

40 Scrutineers 24

41 Adjournments 24

42 Result of election 24

43 Notification of result of election 25

44 Destruction of voting documents 25

Part 5—Transitional 26

45 Transitional—retired architects to be registered as non-practising architects 26

Schedule 1—Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct 27

Schedule 2—Qualifications in architecture 36

Schedule 3—Procedure for conduct of paper ballot 38

═══════════════

Endnotes 41

1 General information 41

2 Table of Amendments 43

3 Explanatory details 44

Version No. 004

Architects Regulations 2015

S.R. No. 28/2015

Version incorporating amendments as at
15 April 2025

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Objectives

The objectives of these Regulations are—

(a) to regulate the professional conduct of architects; and

(b) to prescribe procedures for the registration of architects and the approval of partnerships and companies; and

(i) fees for applications for registration or approval under the Architects Act 1991; and

(ii) annual fees for registration and approval; and

(d) to prescribe the procedures for the nomination of architects to the Architects Registration Board of Victoria; and

(e) to prescribe other matters to give effect to the Architects Act 1991.

2 Authorising provision

These Regulations are made under section 69 of the Architects Act 1991.

3 Commencement

These Regulations come into operation on 19 May 2015.

4 Revocation

(1) The Architects Regulations 2004[1] are revoked.

(2) The following Regulations are revoked—

(a) Architects (Amendment) Regulations 2005[2];

(b) Architects (Amendment) Regulations 2007[3];

5 Definitions

In these Regulations—

AACA means the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia ACN 109 433 114;

APEC Architect Supplementary Assessment means the domain specific professional examination process maintained by the AACA as the Australian domestic monitoring committee for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Architect Project;

Architectural Practice Examination means the Architectural Practice Examination maintained by the AACA;

ballot paper means a ballot paper prepared in accordance with regulation 33 and includes a ballot paper prepared for the purposes of conducting a technology-assisted vote;

building practitioner has the same meaning as in the Building Act 1993;

candidate profile means the profile of a candidate provided by a nominee under regulation 26;

client means an entity with whom an architect, an approved partnership or an approved company enters into an agreement (whether or not for payment) to provide architectural services;

Code means the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct set out in Schedule 1;

corresponding registration board means the following—

(a) Australian Capital Territory Architects Board established under section 64 of the Architects Act 2004 of the Australian Capital Territory;

(b) NSW Architects Registration Board established under section 59 of the Architects Act 2003 of New South Wales;

(d) Board of Architects of Queensland established under section 77 of the Architects Act 2002 of Queensland;

(e) Architectural Practice Board of South Australia established under section 4 of the Architectural Practice Act 2009 of South Australia;

(f) Board of Architects of Tasmania established under section 3 of the Architects Act 1929 of Tasmania;

(g) Architects Board of Western Australia established under section 5 of the Architects Act 2004 of Western Australia;

National Program of Assessment means the competency-based assessment process conducted by the AACA to determine whether a person's skills are equivalent to those of a person who has completed a qualification in architecture referred to in regulation 14;

nomination day means the day for the close of nominations determined by the Returning Officer under regulation 25(3);

officer, in relation to an approved company, means—

(a) a person who is an officer (as defined in section 9 of the Corporations Act) of the company; or

(b) a person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (a)), by whatever name called, who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of the company;

Returning Officer means the Returning Officer under regulation 23;

the Act means the Architects Act 1991.

Part 2—Professional conduct

6 Standard of practice

The standard for professional conduct and practice for architects is set out in the Code.

7 Guidelines

(1) The Board may prepare guidelines on professional conduct and practice for architects, approved partnerships or approved companies.

(2) The Board must cause a copy of the guidelines made by the Board—

(a) to be made available for inspection by any person at the offices of the Board during the usual office hours of the Board; and

(b) to be available to every architect on the Register; and

8 Board may advise an architect on compliance

(1) The Board may give written advice to an architect on a matter in relation to which the Board determines, under section 18 of the Act, that an inquiry should not be held under Part 4 of the Act.

(2) Without limiting subregulation (1), the Board may advise an architect in relation to a practice or conduct that the Board reasonably believes—

(a) does not comply with the guidelines prepared under regulation 7; or

(b) does not comply with the Act or these Regulations; or

(d) amounts to unprofessional conduct.

9 Unprofessional conduct

(1) An architect who contravenes the Code is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

(2) An architect who contravenes regulation 18(a) without reasonable excuse is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

(3) An architect member of an approved partnership who contravenes regulation 18(b) without reasonable excuse is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

(4) An architect director of an approved company who contravenes regulation 18(c) without reasonable excuse is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

(5) Nothing in this regulation limits the meaning of unprofessional conduct.

Part 3—Registration of architects and approval of partnerships and companies

Division 1—Process

10 Classes of registration

(1) For the purposes of section 9(2)(b) of the Act, the following classes of registration of architects are prescribed—

(a) practising architect;

(b) non-practising architect.

(2) An individual may be registered as a practising architect if the person—

(a) is eligible to be registered as an architect under section 10 of the Act; and

(b) intends to carry out work as an architect; and

(d) has—

(i) paid the relevant annual fees in accordance with section 15(1) of the Act; or

(ii) failed to pay the relevant annual fees, but has given a satisfactory explanation of the failure and paid the relevant annual fees together with the additional fee prescribed in regulation 20(2).

(3) An individual may be registered as a non‑practising architect if the person—

(a) is eligible to be registered as an architect under section 10 of the Act; and

(b) has been registered as an architect under section 11 of the Act; and

(d) has informed the Board of that intention.

11 Application for registration as an architect

(1) For the purposes of section 9(2) of the Act, an application for registration as an architect—

(a) must be in writing; and

(b) must specify the class of registration sought; and

(d) if known to the applicant, must include the information referred to in regulation 17(a)(ii); and

(e) may include additional personal contact information not for publication in the Register.

Reg. 11(2) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 4(1).

(2) Subject to subregulation (3), the prescribed fee for an application for first registration as a practising architect is 11 fee units.

(3) In the case of an application for registration as a practising architect by an architect who has been registered as a non-practising architect for 2 or more years immediately before the date of the application—

(a) the Board may ask the architect to provide evidence of the architect's standard of professional practice; and

Reg. 11(3)(b) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 4(2).

(b) the prescribed fee is 8 fee units.

Note

The Mutual Recognition (Victoria) Act 1998 and the Trans‑Tasman Mutual Recognition (Victoria) Act 1998 may apply in relation to registration as an architect in Victoria.

12 Application for approval of a partnership or company

(1) For the purposes of section 12(2) of the Act, an application for approval must—

(a) be in writing; and

(b) include the information referred to in regulation 17(c) or (d), as applicable; and

(2) In the case of an application for approval of a partnership—

(a) each member of the partnership must verify the information in the application by statutory declaration; and

Reg. 12(2)(b) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 5(1).

(b) the prescribed fee is 6·5 fee units.

(3) In the case of an application for approval of a company—

(a) each director must verify the information in the application by statutory declaration; and

Reg. 12(3)(b) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 5(2).

(b) the prescribed fee is 11 fee units.

Division 2—Qualifications

Reg. 13 substituted by S.R. No. 135/2023 reg. 3.

13 Qualifications—standard of professional practice

(1) For the purposes of section 10(b) of the Act, the Board must have regard to the applicant's successful completion of the Architectural Practice Examination.

(2) An applicant for the Architectural Practice Examination must pay the relevant fees specified in subregulation (3) to the Board.

(3) The relevant fees for the Architectural Practice Examination conducted to assess the standard of professional practice under section 10(b) of the Act are—

(a) submission of logbook and statement of practical experience (Part 1) and sitting the written examination (Part 2), $670; and

(b) re-sitting the written examination a second or subsequent time, $265; and

14 Qualifications in architecture

For the purposes of section 10(c)(i) of the Act, the prescribed qualifications are—

(a) a qualification specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 given by a body specified in column 1 of that Schedule in accordance with a condition, if any, specified in column 3 of that Schedule; or

(b) a qualification set out in a list of approved academic qualifications published by the Board under regulation 16; or

(d) a qualification obtained outside Australia and recognised by the Board to be equivalent to a qualification specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 or paragraph (b) or (c).

15 Prescribed course of study

For the purposes of section 10(c)(ii) of the Act, the prescribed course of study is—

(a) the National Program of Assessment; or

(b) the APEC Architect Supplementary Assessment; or

16 Board may approve list of qualifications or courses of study

(1) For the purposes of regulations 14 and 15, the Board, from time to time, may publish a list of approved qualifications in architecture or approved courses of study in the Government Gazette.

(2) If the Board publishes a list under subregulation (1), it may publish the list on its website.

Division 3—The Register

17 Contents of the Register

For the purposes of section 16 of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars—

(a) in the case of any architect—

(i) the date of registration; and

(ii) the registration number; and

(iii) the class of registration; and

(iv) if the architect holds a specialist qualification, the nature of that qualification;

(b) in the case of an architect who is a member of an approved partnership or a director of an approved company—

(i) the name and approval number of the approved partnership or approved company; and

(ii) when the architect becomes a member or director and, if applicable, ceases to be a member or director;

(i) the date of approval; and

(ii) the approval number; and

(iii) the name and address of each member of the partnership; and

(iv) the name and registration number of each architect member;

(d) in the case of an approved company—

(i) the date of approval; and

(ii) the approval number; and

(iii) the name and registration number of each architect director;

(e) details of the required insurance by which each practising architect is covered, including the following—

(i) the name and ABN, ACN or ARBN of the insurer;

(ii) the name of the policy holder;

(iii) the policy number;

(iv) the date of issue and the expiry date of the policy;

(v) the level of indemnity;

(vi) the architects insured under the policy.

18 Notification of changed information

The following persons must notify the Registrar of any change in relation to information contained in the Register in writing and within 14 days of the change—

(a) in the case of an entry relating to the registration of a practising architect, the architect;

(b) in the case of an entry relating to the approval of a partnership, an architect member;

Note

A contravention of this regulation by an architect without reasonable excuse is unprofessional conduct (see regulation 9).

19 Certified extract of Register

(1) A person may apply in writing to the Registrar for a certified extract from the Register.

Reg. 19(2) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 6.

(2) If the extract requested is not in relation to the applicant's own record of registration, the application fee is 5 fee units.

(3) A certified extract from the Register in relation to an individual must include the following—

(a) the name of the individual;

(b) the individual's registration number;

(d) the registration history of the individual;

(e) whether the individual was covered by the required insurance on a day, or days, specified;

(f) the name and ABN, ACN or ARBN of the insurer or insurers by which the individual was covered by the required insurance;

(g) if the individual is or has been an architect member or director of an approved partnership or approved company—

(i) any period of such membership or appointment as director; and

(ii) the name and approval number of the approved partnership or approved company.

(4) A certified extract from the Register in relation to an approved partnership must include the following—

(a) the name of the approved partnership;

(b) the partnership's approval number;

(d) the approval history of the partnership;

(e) the name and registration number of each architect member;

(f) any period of membership of each architect member of the approved partnership;

(g) the name of each member in the approved partnership.

(5) A certified extract from the Register in relation to an approved company must include the following—

(a) the name of the approved company;

(b) the company's approval number;

(d) the approval history of the company;

(e) the name and registration number of each architect director;

(f) any period of appointment as director of each architect director of the approved company.

(6) Not more than 10 business days after the receipt of an application for a certified extract from the Register, the Registrar must—

(a) prepare and certify an extract of the Register; and

(b) at the applicant's election, cause the certified extract to be—

(i) made available; or

(ii) posted to an address in Australia; or

(iii) provided by means of an electronic communication.

Division 4—Other matters

20 Annual fees

(1) For the purposes of section 15(1) of the Act, the prescribed annual fee—

Reg. 20(1)(a) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 7(1)(a).

(a) for a practising architect is 24 fee units; and

Reg. 20(1)(b) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 7(1)(b).

(b) for an approved partnership is 29 fee units; and

Reg. 20(1)(c) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 7(1)(c).

Reg. 20(2) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 7(2).

(2) For the purposes of section 15(4) of the Act, the prescribed additional fee for a practising architect, an approved partnership or an approved company is 7 fee units.

21 Prescribed time for Board to make decision

For the purposes of sections 42(1)(b), 42(1)(f), 43(b) and 43(e) of the Act, the prescribed time is 3 months.

Part 4—The Board

Division 1—Election of architects for nomination to the Board

22 Application of Division

For the purposes of section 47(2)(c) of the Act, the prescribed manner of nomination is an election conducted in accordance with this Division.

23 Returning Officer

The Returning Officer for the conduct of an election is—

(a) the Registrar; or

(b) a fee-for-service election provider nominated by the Board on the Registrar's recommendation.

24 Election officials

The Returning Officer may appoint any election officials necessary to assist in the conduct of an election.

25 Notice of elections for nominations to the Board

(1) The Returning Officer must publish a notice of election—

(a) at least 3 months before the expiry of the office of a member of the Board nominated by architects under section 47(2)(c) of the Act; or

(b) if an office becomes vacant other than by expiry.

(2) The notice of election must be published in the Government Gazette and must specify the following—

(a) the number of vacancies to be filled;

(b) the polling day;

(d) that nominations must be received by 12 noon on the nomination day;

(e) how nominations are to be made;

(f) any other information required by the Returning Officer to be submitted with the nomination.

(3) The Returning Officer may determine the dates of the nomination day and the polling day.

(4) The nomination day must be—

(a) at least 21 days after the day on which the notice of election is published; and

(b) at least 21 days before the polling day.

(5) In the case of an election to fill a vacancy relating to the expiry of a member's term of office, the polling day must be at least 21 days before the expiry.

26 Nomination

(1) The Returning Officer must prepare a nomination form for the purposes of an election.

(2) Any architect may be nominated as a candidate for an election by lodgement of a nomination form with the Returning Officer by 12 noon on the nomination day.

(3) A nomination must be made by 2 individuals who are entitled to vote at the election.

(4) A nomination must be accompanied by—

(a) a candidate profile; and

(b) the written consent of the nominee.

(5) A candidate profile must—

(a) be limited to relevant professional information about the candidate and other information directly relevant to the functions or operations of the Board under the Act; and

(b) be clearly legible; and

(d) comply with other requirements as to form determined by the Returning Officer.

(6) A nomination is invalid if—

(a) the nomination is not made by the use of a nomination form prepared by the Returning Officer; or

(b) the nomination form is not completed in accordance with—

(i) instructions contained in the form; or

(ii) the requirements of this regulation; or

(c) the nomination form, the candidate profile and any other required information are not received by the Returning Officer by 12 noon on the nomination day.

(7) If the Returning Officer finds that a nomination is or may be invalid or defective, the Returning Officer may notify the person concerned and allow that person to remedy the defect by 12 noon on the nomination day.

27 Withdrawal or death of a candidate

(1) A candidate for election may withdraw the candidate's consent to nomination by lodging a notice of retirement with the Returning Officer at any time before the commencement of the scrutiny of votes in the election.

(2) If a candidate withdraws, dies or ceases to be an architect after the nomination day but before the commencement of the scrutiny of votes in an election, all votes for that candidate (if any) must be discarded.

28 Uncontested election

(1) If the number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the Returning Officer must publish a notice in the Government Gazette declaring the candidate or candidates elected and forward a copy of the notice to the Minister.

(2) If the number of candidates is less than the number of vacancies to be filled, the Returning Officer must inform the Minister of that fact.

Division 2—Contested election

29 Application of Division

This Division applies if the number of candidates is greater than the number of vacancies to be filled.

30 Returning Officer must cause an election to be held

The Returning Officer must cause an election to be conducted in accordance with this Division.

31 Method of voting

(1) The Returning Officer must determine the method of voting to be used not more than 5 days after the nomination day.

(2) The election may be conducted by—

(a) technology-assisted voting; or

(b) a paper ballot; or

(3) Before the election is conducted, the Returning Officer must arrange for all candidate profiles to be—

(a) made available to every architect; and

(b) published on the Board's website.

32 Architect must not vote more than once

An architect must not vote more than once in each election.

33 Ballot paper

(1) The Returning Officer must approve the form of the ballot paper.

(2) The order of names on the ballot paper must be determined by lot drawn by the Returning Officer.

(3) Each ballot paper must—

(a) show the number of vacancies to be filled; and

(b) include the full name of each candidate displayed in the order determined by lot; and

(d) provide any other instruction considered necessary by the Returning Officer.

34 How to mark the ballot paper

(1) To cast a vote, an architect must mark the square opposite the name of each candidate for whom the architect is voting.

(2) The number of squares marked must not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled in the election.

(3) The Returning Officer must reject as informal a ballot paper where the number of squares marked exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled in the election.

(4) Subject to subregulation (3), a ballot paper must be given effect to according to an architect's intention so far as the architect's intention is clear.

35 Procedure for conduct of paper ballot

The procedure in Schedule 3 applies if the method of voting is or includes the use of a paper ballot.

36 Procedure for technology-assisted voting

(1) The Registrar may approve procedures to enable voting at an election using technology-assisted voting.

(2) The approved procedures must—

(a) provide for the authentication of each architect's vote; and

(b) ensure the secrecy of each architect's vote; and

(d) ensure that any vote cast in accordance with the approved procedures is securely transmitted and stored by the Returning Officer; and

(e) be published on the Board's website.

37 Conduct of ballot by a combination of technology-assisted voting and paper ballot

If an election is conducted by a combination of technology-assisted voting and paper ballot—

(a) an architect may vote by paper ballot or by technology-assisted voting; and

(b) the procedure in Schedule 3 applies in relation to votes cast by paper ballot; and

38 Counting votes

(1) Subject to subregulation (2), the candidate or candidates (as required by the number of vacancies) with the highest number of votes is or are to be elected.

(2) If the highest number of votes is received by a number of candidates that exceeds the remaining number of vacancies to be filled in an election, the Returning Officer must decide by lot which candidate is, or which candidates are, to be elected to fill the remaining number of vacancies.

39 Computer counting

(1) The Returning Officer may use a computer program to carry out steps involved in the recording, scrutiny or counting of votes in an election.

(2) If a computer program is used, the method of recording, scrutiny or counting of votes under Schedule 3 may be modified according to the determination of the Returning Officer.

(3) The Returning Officer must not use a computer program unless the Returning Officer reasonably believes that the proper use of the program would produce the same result in the recording, scrutiny or counting of votes as would be achieved if the program were not used.

40 Scrutineers

(1) Each candidate may appoint one person to be a scrutineer for the purposes of the election.

(2) A candidate—

(a) is not eligible for appointment as a scrutineer; and

(b) must not be present at the scrutiny.

(3) The appointment of a scrutineer may be made by written notice served on the Returning Officer personally, by post or electronic communication.

41 Adjournments

The Returning Officer must notify the scrutineers of any adjournment of the scrutiny of envelopes or the counting of votes to a different time or place.

42 Result of election

When counting of votes is completed, the Returning Officer must declare as elected for nomination by architects under section 47(2)(c) of the Act the candidate or candidates (as required by the number of vacancies) elected in accordance with this Division.

43 Notification of result of election

(1) Within 14 days after the declaration of the election result, the Returning Officer must publish a notice of the result of the election in the Government Gazette, setting out the following—

(a) the names of all the candidates;

(b) the number of votes polled by each candidate;

(d) whether a candidate was elected by lot drawn by the Returning Officer;

(e) the name of each candidate elected.

(2) The Returning Officer must forward a copy of the notice to the Minister.

44 Destruction of voting documents

The Returning Officer must cause all documents used in voting to be destroyed at the end of 3 months after forwarding the copy notice to the Minister under regulation 43.

Part 5—Transitional

45 Transitional—retired architects to be registered as non-practising architects

(1) An architect registered as a retired architect in accordance with the Architects Regulations 2004 as in force immediately before their revocation is taken to be registered as a non-practising architect on and from the commencement of these Regulations.

(2) The Registrar must update the Register to reflect the operation of subregulation (1).

(3) Despite regulation 18, a person is not required to notify the Registrar of a change in information caused by the operation of subregulation (1).

Schedule 1—Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct

Regulation 6

Division 1—Architectural services

1 Reasonable standards of conduct

In providing architectural services, an architect must—

(a) act honestly and with reasonable care in the provision of services; and

(b) comply with all applicable laws.

2 Suitability to perform and knowledge of services

(1) An architect in charge of a client's project must—

(a) have suitable skills and experience to be in charge of the project; and

(b) maintain a thorough knowledge of the architectural services to be provided and of matters relating the performance of those services.

(2) An architect must provide architectural services with reasonable promptness according to time programs agreed with the client, or within a time that reasonably accords with the client's instructions.

3 Approval of documents

(1) An architect must not sign as checked, approved or supervised any drawings or other documents which the architect has not checked, approved or supervised.

(2) An architect must not permit the architect's name to be used in relation to any work, document or publication to falsely represent the architect's authorship of, responsibility for or agreement with the content or form of the work, document or publication.

Division 2—Client relations

4 Client agreements

(1) An architect must not provide architectural services for a client unless the architect, or an approved partnership or approved company of which an architect is a member, director or employee, has entered into a written agreement with the client for the provision of those services.

(2) An agreement must include the following—

(a) the parties to the agreement;

(b) the name, registration number and contact details of the architect responsible for providing the services;

(d) the timeframes for providing the services;

(e) how the professional fees and costs of the services will be calculated;

(f) where possible, reasonable estimates of disbursements;

(g) how professional fees and costs, including disbursements, will be paid;

(h) how the architect may inform the client of progress in the provision of the services;

(i) how the client may authorise the architect to proceed with the services, or any part of the services;

(j) a requirement that the architect must inform the client how a change or amendment to the services will affect the professional fees and costs for the services;

(k) how the architect may obtain the client's authority to change or amend the services;

(l) how variations to the agreement may be made;

(m) a reservation of the right of an architect to withdraw from the provision of services under the agreement in the circumstances set out in clause 14;

(n) how the agreement may be terminated and for what reason.

(3) Subclause (2) applies to an agreement for the provision of architectural services entered into by an architect, an approved partnership or an approved company with a client on or after 1 July 2015.

5 Administering a building contract

(1) For the purposes of this clause, an architect administers a building contract for a client if—

(a) the contract concerns the construction of a building and is entered into by the client with a building practitioner; and

(b) the architect has been engaged by the client to inspect or administer the provision of services under the contract.

(2) If an architect is administering a building contract for a client, the architect must—

(a) act with integrity, fairness and impartiality in administering the building contract; and

(b) discharge the architect's obligations in connection with the administration of the building contract diligently and promptly; and

6 Professional fees and costs

An architect who has entered into an agreement under clause 4 must—

(a) provide the client with regular statements of account for the services provided under the agreement unless otherwise expressly agreed with the client; and

(b) ensure that the fees and costs charged do not exceed the fee structure of the agreement.

7 Obligation to inform client

An architect must—

(a) take reasonable steps to ensure that a client is informed of decisions required of the client in respect of the services; and

(b) provide sufficient relevant information with reasonable promptness to enable a client to make an informed decision in relation to the provision of services; and

(c) respond, with reasonable promptness, to a client's reasonable requests for information or other communications about the provision of services to the client; and

(d) take reasonable steps to ensure that all information and material provided to a client is accurate and unambiguous.

8 Changes in circumstances

An architect must promptly advise a client in writing of any circumstance that is likely to prevent the architect from providing the services under the agreement or from following the client's instructions in relation to the services, including a circumstance that imposes on the architect an obligation to withdraw from the provision of services under clause 14.

9 Documents and record keeping

(1) An architect who has entered into an agreement under clause 4 must keep documents in accordance with this clause.

(2) The following documents in relation to the provision of architectural services must be kept—

(a) an agreement in writing signed by the client;

(b) correspondence;

(d) records of client instructions and meetings related to the services provided to the client;

(e) photographs of work in progress;

(f) project journals, diaries or the like;

(g) drawings and other relevant documents.

(3) Documents must be kept for the longer of—

(a) a period of 10 years after the completion of the architectural services; or

(b) the limitation period under section 134 of the Building Act 1993.

10 Confidentiality

(1) An architect must not disclose a client's confidential information without authority.

(2) For the purposes of this clause, a client's confidential information means any information, agreed or understood by the architect and the client to be confidential, that is acquired from or provided to a client in the course of providing architectural services to the client.

(3) An architect may disclose a client's confidential information if—

(a) the client consents in writing to the disclosure; or

(b) the disclosure is required by law.

11 Duty to disclose paid referrals

(1) An architect must disclose the nature of a referral arrangement to a client before entering into an agreement under clause 4.

(2) An architect who is a member of an approved partnership, or a director of an approved company, must ensure that the nature of a referral arrangement is disclosed to a client before the partnership or company enters into an agreement under clause 4.

(3) For the purposes of this clause, referral arrangement means any arrangement between an architect, an approved partnership, or an approved company, and another person to introduce or refer clients to the architect, approved partnership, or approved company for valuable consideration.

12 Conflicts of interest

(1) An architect must not enter into an agreement with a person under clause 4 for the provision of architectural services if the agreement would result in an actual or potential conflict between the interests of—

(a) the architect and that person; or

(b) a current client and that person.

(2) An architect member or director of an approved partnership or an approved company must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the partnership or company does not enter into an agreement with a person under clause 4 if the agreement would result in an actual or potential conflict between the interests of—

(a) a member of the approved partnership and that person; or

(b) an officer of the approved company and that person; or

(3) An architect must not continue to provide architectural services to a client that result in a conflict between the interests of—

(a) the architect and that client; or

(b) 2 or more current clients.

(4) An architect does not contravene this clause if the architect first—

(a) discloses the actual or potential conflict of interest to each affected person; and

(b) obtains the written consent of each affected person.

13 Duty to disclose paid endorsements

(1) An architect must not recommend, endorse, or specify a product or service to a client if the architect receives or expects to receive an inducement from a third party to do so.

(2) An architect does not contravene this clause if—

(a) the inducement is in the nature of salary, wages or attributable personal services income from an approved partnership or approved company; or

(b) the nature and value of the inducement is first disclosed in writing to the client.

14 Withdrawal from the provision of services

An architect must withdraw from the provision of any architectural services to a client if the architect reasonably believes that the provision of those services would cause the architect to contravene the Act, the Regulations or this Code.

Division 3—Architectural practice

15 Notification of qualifications and contact details

(1) An architect must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the architect's qualifications, experience, awards, honours and authorship are stated accurately in all documents.

(2) An architect must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the architect's name and contact details are identified clearly and accurately on stationery, signboards, public notices and in publications.

Division 4—Approved partnerships and approved companies

16 Architect member or director of approved partnership or approved company

An architect member or director of an approved partnership or approved company must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the approved partnership or approved company complies with an obligation imposed on an architect under clauses 6, 9, 10, 13 and 15 as if that obligation were imposed on the approved partnership or approved company.

Division 5—Duties to the public and the profession

17 Duty to engender confidence and respect for the profession

An architect, by the architect's conduct, must endeavour to engender confidence in and respect for the profession of architecture.

18 Duty to maintain standards and integrity of the profession

An architect, by the architect's conduct, must endeavour to maintain the standards and integrity of the profession of architecture.

Schedule 2—Qualifications in architecture

Regulation 14

	Column 1<br>Body	Column 2<br>Qualification	Column 3<br>Condition
1	Deakin University	Bachelor of Architecture	Must have been completed between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2007
2		Master of Architecture
3		Master of Architecture (Design Management)
4		Master of Architecture (Design)	Must have been completed between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2007
5		Master of Architecture (Practice)	Must have been completed between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2007
6	University of Melbourne	Bachelor of Architecture	Must have been completed between 31 December 1954 and 31 December 2009
7		Master of Architecture (A05-DA)
8		Master of Architecture (A05-DB)
9		Master of Architecture (M-ARCH)
10		Master of Architecture (MC-ARCHY2Y)
11		Master of Architecture (MC-ARCHY3Y)
12		Master of Architecture–Option C (052)	Must have been completed between 31 December 2001 and 31 December 2007
13	Monash University	Master of Architecture
14	Oceania Polytechnic Institute of Education Pty Ltd ACN 075 892 723	Bachelor of Architecture	Must have been completed between 11 November 2008 and 31 December 2011
15	Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology	Associateship Diploma in Architecture	Must have been completed on or before 31 December 1979
16		Bachelor of Architecture	Must have been completed between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 2007
17		Fellowship Diploma in Architecture	Must have been completed on or before 31 December 1979
18		Master of Architecture

Schedule 3—Procedure for conduct of paper ballot

Regulation 35

1 Application

This Schedule applies if the Returning Officer determines that the method of election includes a paper ballot.

2 Distribution of ballot paper and candidate profiles

At least 14 days before the polling day, the Returning Officer must cause the following to be delivered to a registered address for each architect registered under the Act—

(a) a ballot paper initialled by the Returning Officer or an election official; and

(b) a ballot envelope on which the words "Place ballot paper only in this envelope" are printed; and

(c) an unsealed return envelope addressed to the Returning Officer, with a place marked for the voter's name, address and signature; and

(d) the candidate profile of each candidate.

3 Lodging of vote

After marking the ballot paper, an architect must—

(a) place it in the ballot envelope and seal the envelope; and

(b) place the ballot envelope in the return envelope and seal the return envelope; and

(d) cause the return envelope to be delivered to the Returning Officer before 12 noon on polling day.

4 Duplicate ballot papers

(1) The Returning Officer may issue a duplicate ballot paper to a voter before 12 noon on polling day if the architect notifies the Returning Officer in a form approved by the Board.

(2) The notification must—

(a) state that the architect did not receive a ballot paper, or that the ballot paper received has been lost, spoiled or destroyed; and

(b) be verified by statutory declaration.

5 Ballot box

The Returning Officer must—

(a) provide a ballot box; and

(b) place all envelopes received before 12 noon on polling day in the ballot box which must be closed and locked.

6 Scrutiny of envelopes

As soon as practicable after 12 noon on polling day, in the presence of any scrutineers who choose to be present, the Returning Officer must—

(a) remove from the ballot box all return envelopes received before the poll closed; and

(b) examine each return envelope and reject as invalid, marking it as such and putting it aside unopened, any envelope which does not bear the signature, name and address of an architect; and

(d) open each valid return envelope and extract the ballot envelope; and

(e) open each ballot envelope and extract the ballot paper and place the paper uninspected in the ballot box; and

(f) when all valid envelopes have been opened and all ballot papers deposited in the ballot box, open the ballot box and count the votes.

═══════════════

Endnotes

1 General information

See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

The Architects Regulations 2015, S.R. No. 28/2015 were made on 28 April 2015 by the Governor in Council under section 69 of the Architects Act 1991, No. 13/1991 and came into operation on 19 May 2015: regulation 3.

The Architects Regulations 2015 will sunset on 26 April 2026: see Subordinate Legislation (Architects Regulations 2015) Extension Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 20/2025.

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

• Headings

All headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.
See section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).

• Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).

• Punctuation

All punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
See section 36(3B).

• Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after
1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).

• Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.

• Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

2 Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Architects Regulations 2015 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Architects Amendment (Fees) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 28/2023

Date of Making:	9.5.23
Date of Commencement:	9.5.23

Architects Amendment (Architectural Practice Examination Fees) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 135/2023

Date of Making:	19.12.23
Date of Commencement:	19.12.23

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3 Explanatory details

Reg. 4(1): S.R. No. 51/2004 as amended by S.R. Nos 53/2005, 40/2007 and 33/2013 and extended in operation by S.R. No. 38/2014. ↑
Reg. 4(2)(a): S.R. No. 53/2005. ↑
Reg. 4(2)(b): S.R. No. 40/2007. ↑
Reg. 4(2)(c): S.R. No. 33/2013.

——

Fee Units

These Regulations provide for fees by reference to fee units within the meaning of the Monetary Units Act 2004.

The amount of the fee is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of that Act, by multiplying the number of fee units applicable by the value of a fee unit.

The value of a fee unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2024 is $16.33. The amount of the calculated fee may be rounded to the nearest 10 cents.

The value of a fee unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the Monetary Units Act 2004. The value of a fee unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. ↑

1 Architects Regulations 2015

Version No. 004

Architects Regulations 2015

S.R. No. 28/2015

Version incorporating amendments as at
15 April 2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Regulation Page

Part 1—Preliminary 1

1 Objectives 1

2 Authorising provision 1

3 Commencement 2

4 Revocation 2

5 Definitions 2

Part 2—Professional conduct 5

6 Standard of practice 5

7 Guidelines 5

8 Board may advise an architect on compliance 5

9 Unprofessional conduct 6

Part 3—Registration of architects and approval of partnerships and companies 7

Division 1—Process 7

10 Classes of registration 7

11 Application for registration as an architect 8

12 Application for approval of a partnership or company 9

Division 2—Qualifications 10

13 Qualifications—standard of professional practice 10

14 Qualifications in architecture 10

15 Prescribed course of study 11

16 Board may approve list of qualifications or courses of study 11

Division 3—The Register 11

17 Contents of the Register 11

18 Notification of changed information 13

19 Certified extract of Register 13

Division 4—Other matters 15

20 Annual fees 15

21 Prescribed time for Board to make decision 16

Part 4—The Board 17

Division 1—Election of architects for nomination to the Board 17

22 Application of Division 17

23 Returning Officer 17

24 Election officials 17

25 Notice of elections for nominations to the Board 17

26 Nomination 18

27 Withdrawal or death of a candidate 20

28 Uncontested election 20

Division 2—Contested election 20

29 Application of Division 20

30 Returning Officer must cause an election to be held 20

31 Method of voting 21

32 Architect must not vote more than once 21

33 Ballot paper 21

34 How to mark the ballot paper 22

The Regulations rest on a few organising concepts. They are expressed as operational rules that implement the Architects Act 1991 and they allocate duties between the Architects Registration Board (the Board), the Registrar/Returning Officer, individual architects, approved partnerships and approved companies.

Core concepts and how they operate

Standard of practice as a statutory code. The Code in Schedule 1 is the statutory benchmark for professional conduct and practice (reg 6). The Board may supplement the Code with guidelines, which it must make available to architects and the public (reg 7). The Code sets minimum contractual and practice obligations such as a written client agreement (Schedule 1 clause 4), record keeping (clause 9), confidentiality (clause 10), disclosure of referral and endorsement arrangements (clauses 11 and 13), conflict avoidance and management (clause 12), and withdrawal obligations (clause 14). A contravention of the Code is explicitly declared to be unprofessional conduct (reg 9(1)).
Classes of registration and their conditions. The Regulations recognise two classes of registration, practising and non‑practising architects (reg 10). Practising architects must intend to carry out work, hold the required insurance and have paid annual fees (reg 10(2)). Non‑practising registration is available where the person does not intend to practise and notifies the Board (reg 10(3)). The Register must record the class of registration and insurance details for practising architects (reg 17(a) and (e)).
Qualification and assessment pathways. The Regulations specify academic qualifications (Schedule 2), completion of the Architectural Practice Examination and competency assessment processes (reg 13), the National Program of Assessment and the APEC Supplementary Assessment as recognised courses (reg 15), and allow the Board to publish additional approved lists of qualifications and courses (reg 16).
Corporate approval. Partnerships and companies that wish to call themselves approved must submit detailed applications with statutory declarations by members or directors (reg 12). The Register records members, directors and approval numbers (reg 17(c)-(d)).
Fees and administrative timetables. The Regulations set fixed annual fees and fees for applications and certified extracts in fee units (regs 11, 12, 19, 20). They also set the prescribed time for the Board to make certain decisions at three months (reg 21), and provide precise timelines for nomination and polling in elections (reg 25).
Election mechanics. Division 1 and Division 2 of Part 4 set out an administratively detailed nomination and election model for architect nominees to the Board, including the Returning Officer role (reg 23), candidate profile limits (reg 26(5)), ballot construction and marking rules (regs 33-34), technology‑assisted voting safeguards (reg 36), scrutiny and counting procedures including use of lots to resolve ties (reg 38), publication of results (reg 43) and destruction of voting documents after three months (reg 44).
Record‑keeping and notification duties. The Register must contain specific particulars (reg 17). Persons tied to certain entries must notify changes in writing within 14 days (reg 18). Certified extracts must be produced within 10 business days and include specified particulars (reg 19).

Interlocking nature. These concepts are interlocked. For example, being a practising architect requires insurance to be recorded on the Register (reg 10(2)(c) and reg 17(e)), and failure to notify a change to Register particulars can be treated as unprofessional conduct (reg 9 and reg 18 note). Election procedures and Board guidance are intended to shape Board composition and the interpretation and enforcement of the Code and registration decisions. Fees expressed as fee units create a recurring financial link between practitioners and the administrative costs of regulation; the mechanics for fee calculation are in the endnotes (Fee Units).

What these concepts mean for behaviour. The Regulations force concrete actions: enter written client agreements with mandatory content (Schedule 1 clause 4); maintain and be able to evidence insurance (reg 17(e)); keep records for 10 years or the Building Act limitation period (Schedule 1 clause 9(3)); update the Register within 14 days (reg 18); pay prescribed fees at levels set in reg 20 and elsewhere; and follow precise procedures if participating in Board nomination and voting (Part 4). Many of these requirements are procedural and information‑centric, which changes the administrative practices of firms and individuals.

The Regulations name and delineate specific affected parties. The principal cohorts and the concrete effects on them are:

Individual architects. The Regulations directly regulate architects in many ways. They set the standard of practice (reg 6, Schedule 1) and make contraventions of the Code unprofessional conduct for architects (reg 9(1)). Architects must comply with registration requirements and may be registered as practising or non‑practising (reg 10). A practising architect must be covered by the required insurance and must have the insurer and policy recorded in the Register (reg 10(2)(c); reg 17(e)). Architects must keep records of work for at least 10 years (Schedule 1 clause 9(3)), provide clients with written agreements meeting prescribed content (Schedule 1 clause 4), disclose referral and endorsement arrangements (clauses 11 and 13) and avoid or disclose conflicts of interest (clause 12). Architects who are members of partnerships or directors of companies have additional duties tied to those organisational entries (reg 9(3)-(4); reg 16).
Approved partnerships. Partnerships seeking approval must apply in writing, include specified particulars, verify the information by statutory declaration from each member, and pay the prescribed fee (reg 12(1)-(2); reg 17(c)). The Register records each member, their registration numbers and the partnership's approval number and history (reg 17(c)). An architect member of an approved partnership is subject to the regulatory duties that attach to the partnership entry, and may be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for specified contraventions (reg 9(3)).
Approved companies. Similar to partnerships, companies must apply with particulars, each director must verify information by statutory declaration, and prescribed fees apply (reg 12(3); reg 17(d)). The Register records architect directors and approval particulars (reg 17(d)). Architect directors are personally accountable for contraventions tied to company entries (reg 9(4)).
The Architects Registration Board and Registrar. The Board is given powers to prepare guidelines (reg 7), to advise architects in specified circumstances (reg 8), to publish approved lists (reg 16), and to run and oversee elections (Part 4). The Registrar functions as the Returning Officer by default (reg 23) and is the custodian of the Register, obliged to prepare certified extracts within 10 business days (reg 19(6)) and to update the Register for transitional arrangements (reg 45).
Clients of architects. Although clients are not regulated directly, the Regulations impose duties on architects in their dealings with clients, for example mandatory written agreements with specified terms (Schedule 1 clause 4), disclosure obligations (clauses 11 and 13), prompt information and progress reporting duties (clauses 2 and 7), and preservation of confidentiality (clause 10). Clients therefore gain statutory entitlements to certain documentation and disclosures.
Insurers and insurers’ policy holders. Because the Register must record insurance particulars for practising architects (reg 17(e)), insurers and policy holders are indirectly affected. Registered architects must ensure the information in the Register is accurate and updated within 14 days of change (reg 18).
Overseas and interstate bodies and candidates. The Regulations identify interstate corresponding registration boards and enable recognition of qualifications and registrations from those bodies (definitions in reg 5, regs 14-16). The AACA is identified as the national assessment body (reg 5, regs 13-15).
Voters and candidates in Board elections. Architects eligible to vote are given access to candidate profiles and voting paper material under defined timelines (regs 25, 31-33, Schedule 3). Candidates must be nominated by two eligible voters and submit a candidate profile limited to 200 words (reg 26). The Returning Officer, election officials and possible external election providers (reg 23) are also implicated.

Differential impacts and who pays. The Regulations impose direct costs on applicants (application fees in regs 11 and 12; examination fees in reg 13(3)), annual fees on registrants and approved entities (reg 20), and administrative burdens on architects and approved entities to keep records, disclose arrangements and update the Register (reg 18 and Schedule 1). Practising architects pay the lower annual fee relative to companies and partnerships (reg 20(1)(a)-(c)), while companies pay the highest annual fee, which creates a differential financial obligation by organisational form.

Timing and transitional effects. The Regulations convert retired architect registrations into non‑practising registrations on commencement (reg 45), and specify that persons are not required to notify the Registrar of changes caused by that operation (reg 45(3)). The Regulations also specify sunset information in the endnotes, indicating a sunset date (Endnotes).

The Regulations impose a range of positive duties on architects, approved partnerships and companies, and confer certain procedural rights. Key duties and rights are set out below with their statutory references.

Key duties

Comply with the Code. Architects must meet the standards in the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct (reg 6; Schedule 1). Breach is declared to be unprofessional conduct (reg 9(1)).
Enter written client agreements that contain prescribed content. The Code requires an architect to enter into a written agreement before providing services, and lists mandatory terms and processes that must be included, such as scope, fee arrangements, authority for variations, timelines and termination rights (Schedule 1 clause 4). This duty applies to architects and approved partnerships or companies acting through architects.
Maintain records and retain them for a minimum period. The Code requires specified documents to be kept including agreements, correspondence, financial records, project journals, drawings and photographs, for the longer of 10 years after completion or the Building Act 1993 limitation period (Schedule 1 clause 9).
Confidentiality and disclosure. Architects must not disclose a client’s confidential information without authority or legal compulsion (Schedule 1 clause 10). Architects must disclose the nature of any referral arrangement before entering into a client agreement (clause 11), and must disclose or refrain from endorsements where inducements are involved unless disclosed in writing or are salary/wages (clause 13).
Conflict management and withdrawal. Architects must avoid conflicts of interest and must disclose and obtain written consent when conflicts exist (clause 12). Architects must withdraw if providing services would cause a contravention of the Act, Regulations or Code (clause 14).
Insurance and Register particulars. Practising architects must be covered by the required insurance (reg 10(2)(c)), and the Register must contain specified insurance particulars including insurer identity, policy number, issue and expiry dates and level of indemnity (reg 17(e)). Persons with relevant entries must notify the Registrar of change within 14 days (reg 18).
Application and verification. Applicants for registration and for approval of partnerships and companies must submit prescribed information to the Board, include particulars that correspond with the Register content (reg 11 and reg 12), and, for corporate approvals, members and directors must verify information by statutory declaration (reg 12(2)(a)-(3)(a)).
Election-related duties. Candidates must supply candidate profiles limited to 200 words (reg 26(5)). Voting architects must not vote more than once (reg 32), and ballot papers must be marked in accordance with rules (regs 33-34). Returning Officers and election officials must follow the procedures set out in Division 2 and Schedule 3 where applicable.
Timeframes for Board decisions. The Board is subject to a prescribed three month decision period for particular statutory decisions referenced to the Act (reg 21).

Rights and procedural protections

Right to guidance from the Board. The Board may give written advice to an architect instead of holding a disciplinary inquiry under section 18 of the Act, and may advise in relation to conduct it reasonably believes does not comply with guidelines, the Act, the Regulations, or affects fitness to practise (reg 8). This provides a remedial, advisory pathway short of inquiry.
Right to access guidelines and candidate materials. The Board must make guidelines available for inspection, provide them to every architect on the Register and publish them on the website (reg 7(2)). Candidate profiles must be made available to every architect and published on the Board website before an election (reg 31(3)).
Procedural protections in elections. The Regulations provide a detailed voting, scrutiny and counting procedure, including authentication and secrecy requirements for technology‑assisted voting (reg 36), use of scrutineers (reg 40), adjournment notices (reg 41), and publication of results with vote counts and informal votes (reg 43). These rules create public record and auditability of election outcomes.
Right to certified extracts. Any person may apply for a certified extract of the Register and the Registrar must prepare and certify extracts within 10 business days, with procedural options for delivery (reg 19(1), (6)). The content of extracts is prescribed (reg 19(3)-(5)).
Right to a three month decision window. The Board’s decision time for certain decisions is prescribed at three months, which sets an outer limit for administrative action noted against specific Act sections (reg 21).

Interplay of duties and enforcement. The Regulations convert several duties into disciplinary exposure by framing contraventions as unprofessional conduct (reg 9), and by specifying that an architect who fails to notify changed Register information without reasonable excuse is guilty of unprofessional conduct (reg 9(2), reg 18 note). The Board’s power to advise rather than inquire (reg 8) creates a discretionary remedial step in the enforcement sequence. The Regulations themselves do not set out sanction types or monetary penalties; those follow from the Act, but the Regulations create the factual predicates for a disciplinary process.

The Regulations delineate the conduct elements that constitute unprofessional conduct and set out administrative enforcement mechanisms, but they do not themselves set specific monetary penalties or describe disciplinary sanctions. The following summarises enforcement mechanisms and operational penalties to the extent contained in the instrument.

Unprofessional conduct as the regulatory trigger

Express conversion of contraventions into unprofessional conduct. The Regulations make a contravention of the Code an instance of unprofessional conduct (reg 9(1)). They also specify that failing to comply with reg 18 (notification of changed Register information) without reasonable excuse is unprofessional conduct (reg 9(2)), and extend similar exposure to architect members of partnerships and architect directors of companies where they fail to comply with the notification obligation attached to partnerships and companies (reg 9(3)-(4)).
Limits on definition. The Regulations explicitly state that reg 9 does not limit the meaning of unprofessional conduct (reg 9(5)). That signals that other bases in the Act or case law may apply, but the Regulations themselves add specific items to the catalogue.

Board advisory and inquiry discretion

Board may give advice instead of inquiry. Where, under section 18 of the Act, the Board determines that an inquiry should not be held under Part 4 of the Act, the Board may give written advice to an architect (reg 8(1)). The Board may advise on matters it reasonably believes do not comply with the guidelines, the Act, the Regulations, affect fitness to practise, or amount to unprofessional conduct (reg 8(2)). This creates a discretionary, non‑punitive pathway for dealing with potential misconduct.
Procedural timeframes. The Regulations set a prescribed time for certain Board decisions at three months (reg 21). This prescriptive time limit constrains the duration in which the Board must decide applications or other enumerated matters cross‑referenced to the Act (reg 21).

Administrative steps and record obligations

Register accuracy enforcement. The Register is the central administrative instrument. Failure to notify changes within 14 days by the relevant person is declared unprofessional conduct absent reasonable excuse (reg 18 and the note to reg 18). The Registrar’s duties include producing certified extracts within 10 business days (reg 19(6)), providing a record that can be used in enforcement actions.
Election procedural controls. The Regulations create enforceable procedural rules for elections, including nomination validity (reg 26(6)), ballot form and marking rules (regs 33-34), scrutiny procedures (Schedule 3), and destruction of voting documents after three months (reg 44). The Returning Officer has express powers to reject invalid nominations and to determine methods of voting (reg 25, reg 31). These procedural rules form the basis for administrative challenges or contestation, but remedies for disputes are not spelled out in the Regulations.

Monetary and administrative costs

Fees as a form of regulatory cost. The Regulations prescribe fees for application, annual renewal and extracts (regs 11, 12, 19, 20). While not termed penalties, non‑payment carries consequences: reg 10(2)(d)(ii) contemplates payment with an additional fee (reg 20(2)) where annual fees have not been paid without satisfactory explanation. Fee levels are expressed in fee units and the endnotes specify how a fee unit is valued and published for each financial year.

What the Regulations do not do

No sanctions list in the Regulations. The Regulations themselves do not specify the types of sanctions that the Board may impose for unprofessional conduct. They record that certain conduct amounts to unprofessional conduct, but details on finding, hearings, penalties, suspension, fines or revocation are not contained in this instrument. Those matters are governed by the Act and any adjudicative processes it establishes; the Regulations create the behavioural predicates and set procedure and timing around related administrative functions.
No criminal offences created here. The text does not create criminal offences or specify criminal penalties. It focuses on professional misconduct as a disciplinary category.

Practical enforcement implications

The Regulations make administrative compliance and accurate record‑keeping primary levers of enforcement. Because the Register is specified in granular detail (reg 17) and notification obligations are tight (reg 18), enforcement is likely to proceed through documentary evidence. The Board’s discretion to advise (reg 8) gives it a non‑adversarial tool to correct conduct before escalation. Elections and Board composition are administered with detailed audit cues, which creates procedural transparency but also requires precise administrative compliance from candidates and voters.

The Regulations are explicitly made under the Architects Act 1991 (reg 2), and they are designed to give effect to that Act (reg 1(e)). They also interact with other statutory instruments and administrative frameworks. This section describes the express references and implied connections in the text.

Primary statutory anchor

Architects Act 1991. The Regulations operate as subordinate legislation under section 69 of the Architects Act 1991 (reg 2). Numerous provisions cross‑reference the Act, for example the classes of registration prescribed for the purposes of section 9(2)(b) of the Act (reg 10), the Board’s power to advise under section 18 (reg 8), and prescribed time for decisions for sections in Part 4 of the Act (reg 21). The Regulations specify procedural and documentary requirements that implement the registration, disciplinary and Board nomination functions established by the Act.

Interstate and national bodies

Corresponding registration boards and AACA. The Regulations define "corresponding registration board" by reference to each state and territory board (reg 5) and reference the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) for the National Program of Assessment and the Architectural Practice Examination (reg 5 definitions; regs 13-15). That creates an interface between Victorian regulation and national competence assessment frameworks, and allows for recognition of interstate registration and qualifications where accepted by the Board (reg 14(c)).
Mutual recognition. The note in reg 11 refers to the Mutual Recognition (Victoria) Act 1998 and the Trans‑Tasman Mutual Recognition (Victoria) Act 1998 as potentially applying to registration, indicating the Regulations do not displace those mutual recognition regimes and must be read alongside them.

Other Victorian legislation

Building Act 1993. The Regulations reference the Building Act 1993 indirectly by adopting its definition of "building practitioner" (reg 5) and by prescribing the retention period for documents as the longer of 10 years or the limitation period under section 134 of the Building Act 1993 (Schedule 1 clause 9(3)(b)). This links architects' record retention obligations to building law limitation periods.
Corporations Act. The definition of "officer" for an approved company uses the Corporations Act definition (reg 5), tying corporate governance duties to national company law concepts where directors and officers are concerned.

Administrative and monetary frameworks

Monetary Units Act 2004. Fees are expressed in fee units, and the endnotes explain that fee unit values are determined under the Monetary Units Act 2004 and must be published annually (Endnotes and Fee Units). That links fee levels to the general Victorian government fee indexation mechanism.

Transitional and extant rules

Revocations. The Regulations revoke the Architects Regulations 2004 and subsequent amendment rules (reg 4), signalling continuity and replacement of the earlier subordinate instruments. Transitional regulation 45 converts retired architect registrations into non‑practising registrations, and the Registrar must update the Register accordingly (reg 45).

Procedural and administrative overlaps

Election and record statutes. The Regulations set out election procedures and appoint the Registrar as Returning Officer by default (reg 23). They allow the Board to nominate a fee‑for‑service election provider on the Registrar’s recommendation, which creates an administrative interface where private service providers may be engaged to run elections in a public regulatory process (reg 23(b)).

What is not changed or is left to other instruments

Sanctions and inquiry procedures. The Regulations do not supplant the Act’s disciplinary and sanction provisions. They annotate what is unprofessional conduct and give the Board advice powers, but enforcement procedures and sanctioning powers derive from the Act and are outside the scope of this subordinate instrument.

Overall, the Regulations are tightly framed to implement the Act and to integrate Victorian architecture regulation with national assessment frameworks, building law, company law definitions and standard Victorian fee indexing procedures. They are administrative and procedural in design, creating information flows and compliance obligations that intersect with existing Victorian and national statutes.

The Regulations were made on 28 April 2015 and commenced on 19 May 2015 (reg 3 and Endnotes). The instrument contains inbuilt mechanisms for amendment and recordation, and the published version incorporates subsequent amendments up to 15 April 2025. The Endnotes and the Table of Amendments record the specified subordinate rules that have changed the Regulations since their original making. The key elements in the amendment record are:

Revocation of earlier instruments. On commencement the Architects Regulations 2004 and a number of amending Regulations were revoked (reg 4). The endnotes specify the revoked instruments and their S.R. numbers (Endnotes and reg 4).
Fee and examination amendments in 2023. The Table of Amendments records two amending instruments: Architects Amendment (Fees) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 28/2023, made 9 May 2023 and commenced 9 May 2023; and Architects Amendment (Architectural Practice Examination Fees) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 135/2023, made 19 December 2023 and commenced 19 December 2023 (Table of Amendments). These amendments are reflected in the body of the Regulations, for example by changes to prescribed fees in regs 11, 12, 20 and to reg 13 (now substituted in S.R. No. 135/2023) as indicated by the marginal notes in the text such as "Reg. 11(2) amended by S.R. No. 28/2023 reg. 4(1)" and "Reg. 13 substituted by S.R. No. 135/2023 reg. 3."
Incorporated editorial notes and style changes. The Endnotes refer to Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 changes to style and headings which form part of how the Regulations are presented and interpreted (Endnotes).
Fee unit indexing. The Endnotes include a Fee Units section explaining the mechanism for converting fee units to dollar amounts under the Monetary Units Act 2004, and give the fee unit value for the 2024-25 financial year ($16.33). That endnote is part of the statutory record and is consequential to how prescribed fees function in real monetary terms.
Sunset provision noted. The Endnotes note that the Architects Regulations 2015 will sunset on 26 April 2026 under the Subordinate Legislation (Architects Regulations 2015) Extension Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 20/2025. That record indicates the instrument is subject to the Victorian statutory instrument sunset mechanism and has an anticipated review or replacement timetable. The presence of an extension regulation (S.R. No. 20/2025) is recorded in the endnotes, not in the body of the Regulations.
Specific textual amendment annotations. Many provisions carry marginal annotations indicating which S.R. made specific changes, for example to fees and other figures. Where the text shows "Reg. X amended by S.R. No. ..." that indicates a discrete amending statutory rule. Those annotations are the authoritative amendment trace in the published compilation.

Practical impacts of amendment history

Fee levels and administrative details have been updated by discrete amending instruments in 2023, reflecting administrative recalibration rather than wholesale policy redirection. For example, application fees, company approval fees and annual fee levels have been adjusted by S.R. No. 28/2023 (see reg 20 and annotation notes).
Examination procedure costs were revised in an amendment in late 2023 which substituted reg 13 and specified monetary examination fees in dollars for the Architectural Practice Examination (reg 13(3)). That is an example of the Regulations shifting from fee units to direct dollar amounts for at least some operational fees.
The sunset mechanism creates an administrative requirement for review or re‑making of the instrument before the sunset date to maintain continuity. The presence of an extension regulation in 2025 indicates the instrument has been extended, but the Endnotes remain the place where sunset and extension are recorded.

This amendment history is recorded within the instrument itself, and practitioners should consult the published consolidated Regulations and the S.R. instruments cited in the marginal notes for the precise text changes and commencement dates of each amendment.

The Regulations as supplied do not contain any case law citations, judicial commentary or references to litigation outcomes. The instrument itself records no litigation history and names no judicial decisions. Accordingly, the following observations are limited to what the Regulations record, and do not attempt to infer jurisprudence not present in the text.

What is contained in the instrument

No judicial roll. There are no references in the Regulations or in the Endnotes to adjudicated cases, tribunal decisions or judicial interpretations that have construed any of the provisions in this subordinate instrument.
No recorded challenges to validity. The text does not record any statutory challenges, declarations of invalidity, or other litigation outcomes against the Regulations. The Endnotes contain administrative and amendment metadata but no litigation history.

How to proceed if litigation history is needed

Consult primary judicial databases and the Architects Act records. To discover litigation that has involved these Regulations, one must search court and tribunal decisions that interpret either the Architects Regulations 2015 or the Architects Act 1991. This would include tribunals, VCAT decisions, Supreme Court decisions and appellate courts where relevant. Such searches lie outside the statutory text and must be conducted in court databases or the Government Gazette and law reports.
Look for disciplinary decisions under the Act. Because many enforcement consequences are administered under the Act, reports of disciplinary proceedings, findings of unprofessional conduct and related judicial review applications may be recorded in tribunal or court databases. The Regulations provide the statutory predicates for unprofessional conduct but do not themselves report adjudicative outcomes.

Implication for practitioners and researchers

No precedents in the instrument. As the Regulations do not include litigation or case references, practitioners cannot rely on the instrument itself to identify how courts or tribunals have interpreted its provisions. Any analysis of enforcement patterns, how the Board has used its advisory discretion (reg 8), or how strictly provisions such as the Code clauses or notification duties (reg 18) have been applied will require external legal research.
Administrative record may be more informative. For factual patterns about how the Board enforces the Regulations, minutes, published disciplinary decisions, Board guidelines and published advice notes may provide useful practice context. Those materials are external to the Regulations and are not contained in this text.

In short, the Regulations contain no litigation history. Practitioners seeking judicial or tribunal interpretation should search relevant decision databases, Board publications and statutory tribunal records for determinations that engage the Regulations.

The Regulations contain a number of specific requirements that can create operational traps if overlooked. The following "gotchas" are practical, source‑grounded pitfalls that architects, firms and administrators should note, with precise cross‑references.

Written client agreement mandatory content. The Code mandates a written client agreement before providing architectural services (Schedule 1 clause 4(1)). The agreement must contain a long list of specific items including the architect's registration number, scope, timeframes, fee calculations, disbursement estimates, progress reporting, variation procedures and termination provisions (Schedule 1 clause 4(2)(a)-(n)). Failure to include these items can constitute a Code breach, and breach of the Code is unprofessional conduct (reg 9(1)). Practitioners who rely on standard or skeletal engagement letters may fail to meet these requirements.
Notification timing is tight. Persons with register entries must notify the Registrar in writing within 14 days of any change in information in the Register (reg 18). For practising architects, partnerships and companies the relevant persons are specified in reg 18(a)-(c). The Regulations explicitly link non‑notification without reasonable excuse to unprofessional conduct (reg 9(2) and the note to reg 18). Administrative oversight in updating addresses, insurance particulars or membership information can therefore lead to disciplinary exposure.
Insurance particulars are recorded and public. The Register must include insurer name, ABN/ACN/ARBN, policy holder, policy number, issue and expiry dates, level of indemnity and covered architects (reg 17(e)). This requires active management of insurance documentation and timely reconciliation with the Register; errors are public and may be actionable.
Record retention for a long period. Documents listed in Schedule 1 clause 9(2) must be kept for the longer of 10 years after completion or the Building Act 1993 limitation period (Schedule 1 clause 9(3)). Firms need records policies that match the longer of the two durations. Electronic record systems must be configured to preserve documents, including drawings and project journals, for at least a decade.
Candidate profile constraints in elections. Candidate profiles for Board nomination are limited to relevant professional information, must be legible and must not exceed 200 words (reg 26(5)). The nomination requires two nominators who are entitled voters (reg 26(3)). Defective nominations can be invalidated and the Returning Officer may only allow remedial correction up to the nomination day (reg 26(7)). Prospective candidates should prepare concise, compliant profiles and ensure nominators are eligible.
Voting limits and paper ballot formality. An architect must not vote more than once (reg 32). For paper ballots, the number of squares marked must not exceed vacancies; otherwise the ballot is informal and rejected (reg 34(3)). The Schedule 3 paper ballot procedure requires signature, full name and address on the return envelope (Schedule 3 cl 3(c)). A missing signature or incorrect return procedure can invalidate a vote.
Fees expressed in fee units could require conversion. Several prescribed fees are expressed in fee units (regs 11, 12, 19, 20). The endnotes explain fee unit valuation and indexing under the Monetary Units Act 2004. Practitioners must confirm the current dollar value of a fee unit in the relevant financial year and calculate payable amounts accordingly. Attempting to pay the nominal fee units without conversion risks underpayment.
Re‑registration fee difference and evidence requirement. A practising architect re‑registering after being non‑practising for two or more years faces a lower prescribed fee for the application (reg 11(3)(b) indicates prescribed fee is 8 fee units), but the Board may ask for evidence of standard of professional practice (reg 11(3)(a)). That suggests an evidentiary threshold may be applied even if the fee is reduced.
Contraventions by architect members and directors. The Regulations create personal exposure for architects who are members of approved partnerships or directors of approved companies: if the partnership or company contravenes certain notification duties the architect member or director can be guilty of unprofessional conduct (reg 9(3)-(4)). Corporate clients and corporate governance teams must therefore ensure the actions of the legal entity comply with regulatory rules to avoid regulatory action against individual architect officers.
Email and electronic procedures need approval. Technology‑assisted voting procedures must be approved by the Registrar and must provide for authentication and secrecy, among other safeguards (reg 36). The approved procedures must be published on the Board’s website (reg 36(2)(e)). Using ad hoc electronic voting systems without Registrar approval may render results procedurally defective.
Destruction of voting documents. The Returning Officer must destroy all documents used in voting at the end of three months after forwarding the election notice to the Minister (reg 44). Parties seeking to preserve voting records for legal challenges must take steps during that three month window to secure or obtain certified copies, since the statutory duty requires destruction after the period.
Transitional conversion of "retired" registration. Architects registered as "retired" under the 2004 Regulations are converted to non‑practising on commencement (reg 45(1)). The Registrar must update the Register (reg 45(2)) and persons are not required to notify the change (reg 45(3)). However, those architects should be aware that non‑practising status may carry different entitlements and obligations if they later seek practising registration (reg 11(3) may require evidence of professional practice).

These are concrete traps that arise from precise textual obligations. Each of the above is grounded in the cited regulation or Schedule clause and has operational consequences for practice, record management and governance.

Compliance under the Regulations is a mixture of document‑centric administrative controls, substantive practice standards and timely fee and notification management. Below is a practical checklist and procedural guidance matched to the specific provisions. The guidance is strictly source‑grounded in the Regulations and Schedules.

Registration and renewal

Choose the correct class. Decide whether to be registered as a practising architect or as a non‑practising architect, consistent with reg 10(1)-(3). Practising architects must intend to carry out work, hold the required insurance, and have paid annual fees or pay late with the additional fee (reg 10(2)(a)-(d); reg 20(2)).
Application format and content. Submit applications in writing as required by reg 11(1) and include the particulars specified in reg 17(b) and (e) and any known particulars in reg 17(a)(ii). For first registration fees, consult reg 11(2) or recent amending instruments for the current prescribed fee in fee units or dollars.
Prepare evidence of qualification and professional practice. Ensure that documentary proof of prescribed academic qualifications (Schedule 2 or Board approved list, reg 14) and evidence of completion of the Architectural Practice Examination or National Program of Assessment as relevant are ready. The Board may request evidence of standard of professional practice for re‑registration after periods of non‑practice (reg 11(3)(a)).

Insurance and the Register

Maintain required insurance and record details. For practising architects, maintain the required level of professional indemnity insurance and ensure the Register contains the insurer, ABN/ACN/ARBN, policy holder name, policy number, issue and expiry dates, level of indemnity and architects covered (reg 17(e)).
Timely updates. Notify the Registrar of any change to Register information in writing within 14 days as required by reg 18. For partnerships and companies, the architect member or architect director is the notifying person (reg 18(b)-(c)). Non‑notification without reasonable excuse is unprofessional conduct (reg 9(2)).

Client agreements and practice management

Use compliant standard form engagement letters. Draft client agreements that include each item listed in Schedule 1 clause 4(2)(a)-(n), including the responsible architect’s name and registration number. Update standard contracts and client intake processes to capture this information before services commence.
Record keeping. Implement a records retention policy that preserves required documents for the longer of 10 years after completion or the Building Act limitation period (Schedule 1 clause 9(3)). Ensure electronic document management, versioning and backup procedures maintain accessibility for that period.
Confidentiality and disclosure. Include confidentiality clauses consistent with Schedule 1 clause 10 and create processes to obtain written client consent for any disclosure. Before entering into contracts disclose referral arrangements (Schedule 1 clause 11) and any paid endorsements or inducements (clause 13) where applicable.
Conflict checks. Institute conflict of interest checks at project intake that identify actual or potential conflicts and, if a conflict exists, secure written consent from affected parties before proceeding (Schedule 1 clause 12).

Corporate approvals and governance

For partnerships, prepare application packages that include the particulars in reg 17(c), statutory declarations by each member and payment of the prescribed fee (reg 12(1)-(2)). For companies, ensure statutory declarations from directors and the prescribed fee accompany the application (reg 12(3)).
Architect members and directors should monitor their approved entity’s compliance with architect obligations under the Code, because reg 9 exposes members and directors to unprofessional conduct findings for contraventions tied to partnerships and companies.

Elections and Board participation

Nomination compliance. If you intend to stand for nomination, secure two nominating architects eligible to vote (reg 26(3)), prepare a candidate profile limited to 200 words and submit the nomination using the Returning Officer’s form by 12 noon on nomination day (reg 26(1)-(6)).
Voting compliance. If you vote, follow the instructions in regs 33-34 for marking ballot papers. If a paper ballot is used, follow Schedule 3: sign the return envelope, place the sealed ballot envelope inside and ensure it is delivered by 12 noon on polling day (Schedule 3 cl 3).
Technology voting. If technology‑assisted voting is used, verify the procedures published on the Board’s website meet the authentication and secrecy requirements in reg 36. Keep electoral communications within timelines in regs 25 and 31.

Fees and payments

Convert fee units to dollar amounts. For fees expressed in fee units (for example, annual fees in reg 20 and application fees in regs 11 and 12), multiply by the fee unit value as published under the Monetary Units Act 2004 and as noted in the Endnotes. Confirm the current year fee unit value before payment to avoid underpayment.
Timely payment and late fees. Pay annual fees on time. If annual fees have not been paid and the person provides a satisfactory explanation, they must pay the relevant annual fees together with the additional fee prescribed in reg 20(2), as contemplated in reg 10(2)(d)(ii).

Dealing with the Board and regulatory process

Read and follow Board guidelines. The Board may issue guidelines and must make them available to the profession and publish them (reg 7). Use Board guidelines as interpretive tools for compliance with the Code and practice obligations.
Seek Board advice where appropriate. If conduct may be close to a regulatory border, consider seeking written advice from the Board where the Board decides an inquiry should not be held under section 18 of the Act. Reg 8 allows the Board to give written advice on matters it reasonably believes do not comply with the guidelines, the Act or the Regulations, or affect fitness to practise.

Certified extracts and public records

Use certified extracts appropriately. Apply for certified extracts from the Register if you need official confirmation of registration, insurance coverage, partnership or company approval history or other recorded particulars (reg 19). Be aware of the 10 business day production timeframe (reg 19(6)) and the fee for extracts not in relation to your own record (reg 19(2)).

Systems and audit

Implement an internal compliance register. Map each regulatory obligation to a responsible person, with monitoring and escalation triggers. For example, link policy renewal dates for insurance to automatic calendar alerts well before the policy expiry is due to be recorded in the Register.
Train staff. Ensure administrative staff understand notification obligations (reg 18), how to deal with client agreement content (Schedule 1 clause 4), and how to prepare nominations and manage election material if the firm participates in Board elections.

Audit trail and dispute readiness

Keep contemporaneous evidence. For matters where the Board may advise or inquire, preserve records that show compliance steps such as client communications, copies of agreements, insurance certificates and statutory declarations. These records become the primary documentary evidence in any administrative review or disciplinary matter.

Following the steps above maps the Regulations into practical administrative controls and practice behaviours that meet the precise textual requirements of the instrument. The key operational themes are timely notification, accurate Register maintenance, comprehensively documented client agreements, and robust records policies.

Architects Regulations 2015

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Architects Regulations 2015

Source text: opening excerpt

1 Architects Regulations 2015

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply