To be eligible for the MRA, applicants must be a licensed architect in Canada, Mexico, or the U.S. Applicants must demonstrate a period of no less than FIVE years of post-licensure experience, at least two years of which must be in responsible control of the comprehensive practice of architecture and completed in their home country. The application process includes submission of an application form, completion and review of a dossier, and an interview.
Note: Your home country is where your initial license was issued. Your host country is the country where you are seeking licensure.
For detailed information on the MRA—including eligibility requirements, the application process, and a checklist for applicants from each country—read the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Tri-National MRA Manual.
Forms and Documentation
You will need to complete the following forms throughout the application process:
- Application Form [English] [French] [Spanish]
- Attestation of Good Standing [English] [French] [Spanish]
- Resume Form [English] [French] [Spanish]
- Tri-National Dossier Competency Area Form [English] [French] [Spanish]
All submitted documents must be in the official language of the jurisdiction in which you are seeking licensure. French and Spanish forms will be available soon.
Application Process
Here is a broad overview of the steps you need to take to complete the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Tri-National MRA.
- Eligibility. Review the program and eligibility requirements. You are required to have an active certificate/license with your home country before applying for the Tri-National MRA.
- Application. You must complete and submit the application form, along with an Attestation of Good Standing. You may pursue licensure in two countries simultaneously. Your home country will review your application to determine that you meet the eligibility requirements, prior to transmitting your documents to the host jurisdiction.
- Dossier. Prepare and submit your dossier for preliminary review by the host organization demonstrating competency in the three areas outlined in the agreement. Once your dossier meets all the requirements and is formatted correctly, it will be reviewed by a panel of architects who are licensed in the host country.
- Interview. Once the dossier is approved, you will be invited to an interview with the review panel. The interview will take place through a video conference platform and will be conducted in the official language of the host jurisdiction, without the assistance of an interpreter.
- Licensure. After completing the steps above and submitting a final Attestation of Good Standing, you can apply for licensure in the country where you plan to become an architect. The host organization will provide information on obtaining reciprocal licensure.
Jurisdictional Acceptance
There is no national license to practice architecture in the U.S. Each U.S. jurisdiction decides independently whether to participate in an established agreement or opt out. Participating U.S. licensing boards recognize an NCARB Certificate issued in accordance with the MRA and grant reciprocal licenses for practice within their jurisdiction. Conversely, U.S. architects pursuing licensure in Mexico or Canada must be licensed in a participating U.S. jurisdiction to be eligible for this program. Any licensing boards may have additional requirements that must be fulfilled before issuing a license.
NCARB maintains an updated list of U.S. jurisdictions that accept the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Tri-National MRA. If the jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure/registration is not captured on the list, please contact us.