Canada and the U.S.

Architects can pursue work internationally through our Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between NCARB and the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) (formerly the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA)).

Note: A revised MRA will go into effect on January 15, 2026, removing several impediments that prevented architects from participating in the agreement. More details are available below.

Qualifications

To be eligible for reciprocal licensure under this agreement, you must:

• Be licensed and in good standing in a participating United States jurisdiction or Canadian province/territory. Participating licensing boards may have specific requirements.
• For U.S. architects: Hold an active NCARB Certificate.
• Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. (Removed as of January 15, 2026.)
• Maintain your principal place of practice in a participating jurisdiction. (Removed as of January 15, 2026.)
• Have at least 2,000 hours of post-licensure experience in your home country. (Removed as of January 15, 2026).

Note: Architects who are licensed/registered in their home country through another international Mutual Recognition Agreement or through the previous Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect program (removed as of January 15, 2026) are not eligible under this agreement.

How to Pursue Licensure in Canada

If you are a U.S. architect seeking licensure in Canada, follow the steps below.

1. Confirm Eligibility—Review the requirements above and confirm you meet the eligibility requirements. You should also ensure that you are licensed in a participating U.S. jurisdiction. 
2. Contact the Canadian Licensing Board—Contact the licensing board in the Canadian province/territory where you would like to be licensed to ensure that you meet their specific requirements. You can find contact information for each Canadian provincial and/or territorial regulatory body through ROAC.
3. Contact NCARB—Once you confirm you’re eligible for licensure through the MRA, contact NCARB online or at 202-879-0520 to apply for licensure. NCARB will request a “Letter of Good Standing” from the board (removed as of January 15, 2026).
4. Application Review—NCARB will review your application and provide you with further instructions.
5. Request Transmittal—Log in to your NCARB Record and select “Request Transmittal of your NCARB Record.”

How to Pursue Licensure in the U.S.

If you are a Canadian architect seeking licensure in the United States, follow the steps below.

1. Confirm Eligibility— Review the requirements above and confirm you meet the eligibility requirements, and ensure that you are licensed in a participating Canadian province/territory. You must also verify that the U.S. jurisdiction where you’re seeking licensure participates in the agreement and make sure you are able to meet any jurisdiction-specific requirements.
2. Contact the U.S. Licensing Board—Contact the U.S. licensing board where you would like to be licensed to ensure that you meet their specific requirements. Contact information for the U.S. licensing boards is available on our website.

To learn more about this agreement and the requirements for NCARB certification, read the Certification Guidelines.

Fees

Canadian Architects:

• You will need to establish an NCARB Record and pay a $500 USD fee.
• You will also need to pay a transmittal fee to have your NCARB Record transmitted to the U.S. jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure.
• Finally, you will need to pay additional licensure fees to the relevant jurisdiction. Jurisdictional licensure fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are set by the jurisdiction.

U.S. Architects:

• You will need to pay a transmittal fee to have your NCARB Record sent to the Canadian province/territory of your choice. Canada may charge additional fees.