Botswana - Apply for Architect Registration Certificate

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Procedure

Apply In Person

1. A person that wishes to be registered and certified as an Architect, Architectural technologist, or Architectural draftsperson shall file the application with the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC). View the Architects Registration Council contact details through this ARC Office Location & Contact Details.
2. Applicants are required to collect and complete the ARC-Application for Registration Form and Intension to Practice Declaration-Form, obtainable at the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) office or download it via the ARC website Registration Application Form or Download the form directly through this ARC-Application for Registration Form and Intention to Practice Declaration-Form
3. Upon obtaining the application forms, the applicant should legibly complete the form, attach all the supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page and submit the complete application file to the ARC Registrar's office for consideration. Any omission of the required documents or information will render the application process incomplete.
4. The application shall be accompanied by applicable fees (Application fee (non-refundable) & practice fee), all payments should be made as per the council's preferable payment mode. Please refer to the “Fees” section of this page for more fee information.
5. Upon receipt of the application, the Registrar will check for discrepancies or ineligibility in the application documents. If a discrepancy that cannot be immediately corrected exists in any of the documents, the application and all the submitted documents will be returned to the applicant and should not be re-submitted until the discrepancy has been rectified.
6. If everything is in order, the application is registered to be forwarded for assessment, processing, and consideration by Registration Committee which is usually four (4) weeks.
7. Applicants will be issued with an ARC payment receipt/ an acknowledgment letter, which serves as proof of submission of the application and for inquiry referencing if the need arises.
8. Upon receipt of the application file, the Registration Committee shall approve the applicant to be registered in the architectural profession register for the different categories, where it is satisfied that-
   • That he/she is a fit and proper person to be registered as an Architect.
   • Has passed an examination prescribed or any examination recognized as being equivalent to one so prescribed.
   • Has passed any other examination or interview as the committee may determine
   • Has presented evidence of prior learning and experiences in architecture.
   • Has demonstrated his competence as measured against standards as may be determined by the ARC for registration under that category.
9. The Registration Committee administers, May for purposes of ascertaining whether an applicant for registration of the applied architect category, has met the minimum qualifications for registration, prescribe an ARC Professional examination, and invite such applicant to take such examination at a fee. Examinations are held twice a year.
10. Notice of the decision (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) for the application will be communicated to the client by letter.
11. If approved, the committee will direct the registrar to register the applicant and draw up the registration certificate to be issued to the client upon presenting their identity document, approval letter, and proof payment for the applicable registration fee and the membership contribution for the Fidelity Funds, to be validated by the registrar's office at the ARC.
12. Applicants whose application was not successful will be notified of that outcome and may then, be refunded the money they're paid except for the non-refundable registration Information fee.
13. The applicant whose application was not successful can re-apply or appeal the decision to the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) office.
14. The registration certificate shall have the name of the bearer and his or her category of registration and it shall also be subjected to terms and conditions as the Registration Committee may deem fit.

NOTE:

• Upon obtaining the registration certificate, the architect will be required to apply for the practicing Certificate {Refer to wikiprocedure website for full procedures i.e Botswana - Apply for Practicing Certificate from Architects Registration Council}

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Required Documents

• Duly completed, signed ARC-Application for Registration Form
  • Intention to Practice Declaration-Form
• Certified Copy of degree/diploma certificates
• Certified Copy of identity document (Omang for citizens or passport for non-citizens)
• Official education transcript (Where necessary –Applicants may be advised to submit)
• Valid certificate copy of membership certificate(s) of a professional institution(s)
• Valid certificate copy of professional registration or license to practice in a foreign country
• Summary of Professional Experience.
• Copy of Professional Registration certificate(s) with other regulatory body(ies)
• Any other additional supporting documentation request by the ARC.

NOTE: All non-original documents submitted with this application must be certified-true-copy. Copies of certified copies will not be accepted.

Office Locations & Contacts

Architects’ Registration Council (ARC)
Physical Address: Tholo Office Park (Head Office)
Plot 50369,Tsuma Unit 3B Fairgrounds,Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: +267 395 1830
Fax: +267 391 3730
Email: [email protected]
ARC Office Location & Contact Details.
ARC Website

Eligibility

FOR AN ARCHITECT –

• He/she is resident in Botswana.
• Obtained a professional degree in architecture, a total duration of Full-time study of which shall be a MINIMUM of five (5) years.
• Has passed an examination prescribed or any examination recognized as being equivalent to one so prescribed.
• Performed the work of an architect and gained experience on at least two projects, one of which shall be of sufficient nature to demonstrate competency to serve the public as an architect; and
• A total period of experience of not less than two years after completion of the study.
• Where a person is a member of an institution of architects, membership of which is recognized by the Council as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the required academic acknowledge of, and practical experience in architecture.

AN ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST; –

• He/she is resident in Botswana.
• Obtained a degree or a diploma in architecture, architectural or construction technology, the total duration of Full-time study of which shall be a MINIMUM of three (3) years.
• Has passed an examination prescribed or any examination recognized as being equivalent to one so prescribed.
• Performed the work of an architect and gained experience on at least two projects, one of which shall have been under the supervision of an architect; and
• A total of a period of experience of not less than two years after completion of the study.
• Where a person is a member of an institution of architects, membership of which is recognized by the Council as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the required academic acknowledge of, and practical experience in architectural technology.

AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSPERSON; –

• He/she is resident in Botswana.
• Obtained a certificate in architectural or building technology and draftsmanship, the total duration of Full-time study of which shall be a MINIMUM of two (2) years.
• Has passed an examination prescribed or any examination recognized as being equivalent to one so prescribed.
• Performed the work of an architect and gained experience on at least two projects, one of which shall have been under the supervision of an architect or architectural technologist.
• A total period of experience of not less than two years after completion of the study.
• Where a person is a member of an institution of architects, membership of which is recognized by the Council as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the required academic acknowledge of, and practical experience in architectural draftsmanship.

Fees

• Applicable fees are as follows:
  • Registration Information BWP 130.00
  • Registration of the application BWP 300.00 (Non-refundable)
  • Exam Fee: BWP 1050.00
  • Fidelity Funds: BWP 200.00
• Registration Fee:
  • Architect P 1,750.00
  • Arch. Technologist P 875.00
  • Arch. Draftsperson P450.00
• Resubmission fee BWP 300.00

PAYMENT METHOD NOTES:

• The accepted method of payment is direct deposits into the ARC bank account or using your debit or credit card at the POS machine available at the ARC offices.
• No cash will be accepted at ARC Offices. Cheques sent to ARC by post will also not be accepted. ARC will take no responsibility for cheques lost in the post or intercepted and fraudulently banked in another party’s bank account.
• When payments are made at the Bank, an applicant must quote their full name as the reference.

Validity

• The Registration Certificate is valid indefinite unless suspended, revoked, or canceled by the Council.

Documents to Use

ARC-Application for Registration
Intention to Practice Declaration-Form

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The time frame for processing the application is within 4 weeks provided everything is in order.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

Personal Details

• Full names
• Nationality
• Identification document number (Passport/identity card)
• Contact details (residential address/postal address/telephone/ email address)
• Category of registration
• Declaration by the applicant (signature/Date).

Academic History /Academic Qualification(S) details

• Level of Qualification (e.g. Degree, Diploma, etc)
• The course of Study (e.g. Civil, Mechanical) {Years of Attendance FROM/TO}
• Awarding Institution
• Summary of Professional Experience.

Need for the Document

• An Architect Registration Certificate is a document that proves that the holder is registered and certified with the Architects Registration Council as a professional Architect.
• Registering with the council is very important as it establishes proven knowledge, understanding, and competence. In particular, registration shows ones’ peers, employers, and clients that one has demonstrated a commitment to professional standards and code of professional.
• An architect, architectural technologist, or architectural draftsperson registered shall exhibit, and keep exhibited, in a prominent place on the business premises, the certificate of registration and practicing certificate.

Information which might help

• An Architect Registration Certificate shows that one has met the requirements to join the Architectural profession under regulations by ARC. Once granted, it does not expire. The Registration Certificate alone does not allow one too lawfully to perform architectural work, you also need a current Practicing certificate.
• The practicing certificate allows a person to lawfully execute the works of an architect. The practicing certificate expires annually.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

ARC Registration Process
ARC-ARCHITECTS’ REGISTRATION COUNCIL PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION (ARCPE) RULES & GUIDEINES

Others

More information which might help people.