Architectural Institute of British Columbia

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Physical address:
100-440 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2N5

Phone: (604) 683-8588
Fax: (604) 683-8568

Web: Home Name search
Email: registration@aibc.ca

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

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British Columbia Architect Registration

Agency:Architectural Institute of British Columbia

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Registration

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:
  • $258.50 USD application fee + $12.93 USD GST
    • ($374 CAD + $18.70 CAD)
  • $755.46 USD license fee + $37.77 USD GST
    • ($1,093 CAD + $54.65 CAD)

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:
  • $755.46 USD license fee + $37.77 USD GST
    • ($1,093 CAD + $54.65 CAD)
Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and renewals must be submitted by February 1 to avoid penalties.

British Columbia Architectural Corporation Branch Office Registration

Agency:Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:

Each office offering architectural services to the public must have an Architect available who has direct knowledge of the services provided and is able to provide Direct Supervision of such services.  

Initial Registration

Form:

Application to Register a New Architectural Corporation

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:
  • $66.26 USD registration fee + $3.31 USD GST
    • ($94 CAD registration fee + $4.70 CAD GST)
  • This fee is per branch office being registered
Notes:

This is only to register a new branch office location, NOT a new architectural firm or head office registration. 

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Branch Office registrations will be renewed during the Corporation's Certificate of Practice Renewal. 

British Columbia Architectural Corporation Certificate of Practice

Agency:Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:
  • A clear majority of each class of the voting shares of the corporation must be legally and beneficially owned by Architects AIBC.
  • The majority of directors (over 50%) must be Architects AIBC.
  • The CEO must be an Architect AIBC.
Insurance Requirements:

Professional Liability Insurance in amounts not less than $250,000 per claim and $500,000 aggregate. 

Notes:
  • The firm name must include the word 'architect' or an acceptable derivative word (e.g. architects, architecture or architectural).
  • The exception to the description Rule above is where a Registrant Firm practising both architecture and engineering is registered as permitted by Bylaws 4.56-4.58.  If the architectural and engineering firm chooses not to use the word ‘architect’ in its name, then any representations made by the Firm to the public (websites, cards, letterhead, marketing material) must include a statement of the Firm’s right to practice architecture.
  • Any Architectural Firm that is a corporation must use as part of and at the end of its name, the corporate designation “Limited”, “Limitee”, “Incorporated”, “Incorporee” or “Corporation”, and may use in the Firm name the abbreviations of these words “Ltd.”, “Ltee.”, “Inc.” or “Corp.” respectively, as permitted by Bylaw 4.69.
  • The Firm name may include words which denote plurality, provided that for ‘architects’ or ‘associates’ to appear in the name of the Firm, there must be at least two Architect-owners, or at least one full-time Architect-employee of the Firm in addition to a single Architect-owner. To include the word ‘group’ in the name of a Firm, there must be at least two Architect-owners (partners or shareholders), or at least one Architect-owner and at least two other owners, or full-time employees who are Professional Engineers registered with EGBC.
  • The Firm may use ‘descriptor’ words in its name other than those indicated above, provided that: the descriptor refers only to Firm type: Sole Proprietor, partnership, or corporation; and/or composition: professional categories: Architects, Architects and Professional Engineers. 
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:

Each office offering architectural services to the public must have an Architect available who has direct knowledge of the services provided and is able to provide Direct Supervision of such services.  

Initial Registration

Form:

Application to Register a New Architectural Corporation

Instructions:

You MUST send the proposed firm name(s) in an email message to registration@aibc.ca for approval BEFORE submitting the name request to the BC registry. Once the name has been reserved successfully, you may submit these documents via email: 

  • Completed Application to Register or Reinstate an Architectural Corporation Form
  • Results of Name Request Document from BC Registry

Once AIBC reviews for compliance they will release a consent letter to the BC Registry for usage of the firm name. After this is released, you may complete the incorporation/registration process with the BC Registry and then complete the application submission procedures. 

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:
  • $166.58 USD ($236 CAD) registration fee + annual registration fee based on firm size, determined by total staff including principals and voting shareholders + GST (5% of total)
    • 1-2 persons: $276.69 USD ($392 CAD) 
    • 3-5 persons: $304.93 USD ($432 CAD)
    • 6-10 persons: $444.68 USD ($630 CAD)
    • + each additional increment of 1-5 persons: $147.52 USD ($209 CAD)
Turnaround:

5 weeks

Required Attachments:
  • Certificate of Incorporation/Registration from BC Registry
  • Shareholder Register filed with BC Registry
  • Certificate of Professional Liability Insurance

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:
  • Fees are calculated based on the number of staff employed by the firm + GST (5% of total)
    • 1-2 persons: $276.69 USD ($392 CAD) 
    • 3-5 persons: $304.93 USD ($432 CAD)
    • 6-10 persons: $444.68 USD ($630 CAD)
    • + each additional increment of 1-5 persons: $147.52 USD ($209 CAD)
Due:

Annually by February 1

Supplemental Reporting
Firm Update

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by September 30

Notes:

At the beginning of September, a ‘firm update’ is sent to firms via an email to the firm administrator on file. This annual update is a regulatory requirement, established in bylaws, for all architectural firms. The data gathered in the firm update populates the annual fee invoices, with accurate information leading to a streamlined annual renewal cycle. Failure to complete the annual firm update by its deadline of September 30 may constitute a disciplinary violation.

British Columbia Architectural Sole Proprietorship or Partnership Certificate of Practice

Agency:Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Sole Proprietorships
  • General Partnerships
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Ownership Requirements:
  • Limited Partnerships: At least one partner must be an Architect AIBC or Architectural Firm
  • Sole Proprietorships: Only Architects AIBC can be owners of a sole proprietorship. A Registrant Firm may not serve as the owner of a sole proprietorship, even if solely owned by an Architect AIBC.
Insurance Requirements:

Professional Liability Insurance in amounts not less than $250,000 per claim and $500,000 aggregate. 

Notes:
  • The firm name must include the word 'architect' or an acceptable derivative word (e.g. architects, architecture or architectural).
  • The exception to the description Rule above is where a Registrant Firm practising both architecture and engineering is registered as permitted by Bylaws 4.56-4.58.  If the architectural and engineering firm chooses not to use the word ‘architect’ in its name, then any representations made by the Firm to the public (websites, cards, letterhead, marketing material) must include a statement of the Firm’s right to practice architecture.
  • Any Architectural Firm that is a corporation must use as part of and at the end of its name, the corporate designation “Limited”, “Limitee”, “Incorporated”, “Incorporee” or “Corporation”, and may use in the Firm name the abbreviations of these words “Ltd.”, “Ltee.”, “Inc.” or “Corp.” respectively, as permitted by Bylaw 4.69.
  • The Firm name may include words which denote plurality, provided that for ‘architects’ or ‘associates’ to appear in the name of the Firm, there must be at least two Architect-owners, or at least one full-time Architect-employee of the Firm in addition to a single Architect-owner. To include the word ‘group’ in the name of a Firm, there must be at least two Architect-owners (partners or shareholders), or at least one Architect-owner and at least two other owners, or full-time employees who are Professional Engineers registered with EGBC.
  • The Firm may use ‘descriptor’ words in its name other than those indicated above, provided that: the descriptor refers only to Firm type: Sole Proprietor, partnership, or corporation; and/or composition: professional categories: Architects, Architects and Professional Engineers. 
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:

Each office offering architectural services to the public must have an Architect available who has direct knowledge of the services provided and is able to provide Direct Supervision of such services.  

Initial Registration

Form:

Application to Register a New Sole Proprietorship or Partnership

Instructions:

You MUST send the proposed firm name(s) in an email message to registration@aibc.ca for approval. If you are not registering with the BC Registry you can immediately submit the application and required documents once the name has been approved by AIBC. If you are registering with BC Registry you must wait for the name to be approved by AIBC and then submit it to the BC Registry. Once the name has been reserved by the BC Registry you should submit the following documents via email: 

  • Completed application for new firm registrant or reinstatement form
  • Results of name request document from the BC Registry

Once AIBC reviews for compliance they will release a consent letter to the BC Registry for usage of the firm name. After this is released, you may complete the incorporation/registration process with the BC Registry and then complete the application submission procedures. 

Filing Method:

Email

Agency Fee:
  • $119.29 USD ($169 CAD) registration fee + annual registration fee based on firm size, determined by total staff including principals and voting shareholders + GST (5% of total)
    • 1-2 persons: $276.69 USD ($392 CAD) 
    • 3-5 persons: $304.93 USD ($432 CAD)
    • 6-10 persons: $444.68 USD ($630 CAD)
    • + each additional increment of 1-5 persons: $147.52 USD ($209 CAD)
Turnaround:

5 weeks

Required Attachments:
  • Copy of evidence of Registration (Sole Proprietorships) or Copy of Register of Partnership
  • Certificate of Professional Liability Insurance

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:
  • Fees are calculated based on the number of staff employed by the firm + GST (5% of total)
    • 1-2 persons: $276.69 USD ($392 CAD) 
    • 3-5 persons: $304.93 USD ($432 CAD)
    • 6-10 persons: $444.68 USD ($630 CAD)
    • + each additional increment of 1-5 persons: $147.52 USD ($209 CAD)
Due:

Annually by February 1

Supplemental Reporting
Firm Update

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by September 30

Notes:

At the beginning of September, a ‘firm update’ is sent to firms via an email to the firm administrator on file. This annual update is a regulatory requirement, established in bylaws, for all architectural firms. The data gathered in the firm update populates the annual fee invoices, with accurate information leading to a streamlined annual renewal cycle. Failure to complete the annual firm update by its deadline of September 30 may constitute a disciplinary violation.

Related Government Agencies

Explore other British Columbia government agencies we can help you stay compliant with:


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