Representatives from Canada’s Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), Mexico’s Comité Mexicano para la Práctica Internacional de la Arquitectura (COMPIAR), and the United States’ National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) signed an updated Tri-National Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), increasing access to international practice opportunities in North America.

The updated agreement goes into effect on October 1, 2024. It addresses common barriers to eligibility for qualified architects who are interested in pursuing reciprocity, including:

  • The number of years of post-licensure experience required for eligibility has been reduced from 10 years to five years. The updated agreement also reduces restrictions around where that experience can take place. Previously, all 10 years had to take place within the architect’s home jurisdiction, but under the new agreement, only two out of the five years must take place within the architect’s home jurisdiction.
  • For U.S. architects, the agreement is now open to architects who received their NCARB Certificate through a non-traditional pathway. Previously, U.S. architects were required to earn their Certificate through the traditional path, which includes earning a degree from an architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Under the new agreement, architects who became NCARB certified through the Education Alternative and Foreign Architect pathways are also eligible.
  • Citizenship in the home country is no longer required. Under the original agreement, architects seeking reciprocal licensure were required to be citizens of their home country. The updated agreement waives this requirement.

These changes recognize the level of competency established through each country’s initial licensure processes, acknowledging the value of the various pathways to licensure within each country. By doing so, they reduce the unnecessary barriers to accessibility without removing the level of rigor needed to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.

The updated agreement also includes several operational updates to streamline the application process, removing administrative burdens and allowing architects to receive their reciprocal licenses more efficiently.

Establishing the Agreement

The Tri-National Mutual Recognition Agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States was originally established in 2005, with additional amendments made in 2010. The agreement is based on an assessment of similarities in architecture licensing standards as established by NCARB for utilization by its member jurisdictions and the requirements for registration in Canada and Mexico.

The updated agreement is the result of several years of research and negotiation between NCARB, ROAC, and COMPIAR. NCARB’s member licensing boards ratified the changes at the organization’s Annual Business Meeting in June 2024.

U.S. Jurisdictional Participation

Because each U.S. jurisdiction is responsible for the regulation of architecture within its borders, each U.S. jurisdiction must individually determine if it will accept the Mutual Recognition Agreement. NCARB’s Licensing Requirements Tool has the current list of participating jurisdictions under the “Reciprocal Licensure” tab. NCARB will verify jurisdictions’ participation based on the updated agreement over the next few months. Before applying, be sure to check the tool to ensure the jurisdiction in which you are seeking licensure is participating.

MRA Eligibility

To apply for a reciprocal license under the terms of the updated agreement, architects must:

  • Be licensed and in good standing in a participant jurisdiction
  • Hold an active NCARB Certificate (U.S. architects)
  • Hold a degree in architecture from an accredited architecture program or recognized equivalent accepted as satisfying the education component in the home country
  • Have a minimum of five years of post-licensure experience (at least two of which must be earned in their home country)

To learn more about earning a license to practice architecture abroad, visit www.ncarb.org/international.

Contact Information

Architects interested in pursuing licensure through this agreement should contact their home organization (NCARB, ROAC, or CONARC) to get started: