Officially launched in July 2007 and replacing the RIBA Registered Practice scheme, the RIBA Chartered Practice scheme is designed to help you improve your business effectiveness and performance. It is also an assurance to potential clients that participating practices are committed to excellence in design and service; something that may give an RIBA Chartered Practice the edge over the competition.
Find out more by accessing the RIBA Chartered Practice brochure|.
If you meet the criteria outlined below, you can apply to join the RIBA Chartered Practice scheme at any time - find out how to apply|.
If you were an RIBA Registered Practice up to 30 June 2009 you can renew your RIBA Chartered Practice membership. The Main Contact for your Chartered Practice can gain access by logging onto www.architecture.com| using their individidual login details.
Each separate office within your practice needs to meet the following criteria:
• At least one of your full- time principals (director or partner) must be an RIBA Chartered member
• All of your architectural work must be supervised by a Chartered Architect
• At least 1 in 8 of all staff employed in your practice must be on the ARB register, or an Associate Member of the RIBA or a CIAT member with RIBA Affiliate Membership
• Atleast 1 in 10 of all staff employed in your practice must be an RIBA Chartered Member or Associate Member
• Your practice must have a current and appropriate professional indemnity insurance policy
• Your practice must operate an appropriate Quality Management System
• Your practice must operate an appropriate Health and Safety Policy
• Your practice must have a written employment policy in place which addresses the principles of the RIBA policy statement on employment
• Your practice must have an appropriate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework in place
• Your practice should be working towards the development of a written Environmental Management Policy and its application to the business operation of the practice by 1st July 2010
More Information
The Chartered Architect principal (director or partner) who signs the Chartered Practice declaration (see
how to apply| for more information on this) on behalf of your practice holds the prime responsibility for meeting the criteria.
Including all staff (not just fee-earning staff) means that we can measure and classify practices on the same basis as other statistical data (i.e. for benchmarking, government SME definitions, QM requirements, etc) and is also a fairer way of reflecting practice turnover and ability to pay subscriptions.
For more information, see the RIBA
Chartered Practice manual online|.
If you have any further queries please call our Chartered Practice information line on +44 (0) 20 7307 3725.