Botswana - Apply for Architect Temporary Practicing Certificate (TPC)

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Procedure

Apply In Person

1. To apply for an Architect Temporary Practicing Certificate (TPC), the applicant should make the application to the Architects Registration Council (ARC). View the Architects Registration Council contact details through this ARC Office Location & Contact Details.
2. Applicant should contact the Architects Registration Council (ARC) office and obtain a registration information pack at a prescribed fee of BWP 130.00. 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.
3. Those eligible are required to collect and complete the Application Form for practicing certificate, obtainable at the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) office or download it via the ARC website PRACTICING CERTIFICATE FORMS or Download the form directly through this Application Form for Practicing Certificate
4. Upon obtaining the application form, 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.
5. The application shall be accompanied by applicable fees i.e. {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.
6. 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.
7. If everything is in order, the application is registered to be forwarded for assessment, processing, and consideration by Registration Committee which is within 30 days.
8. 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.
9. The Registration Committee shall approve the applicant to be issued the practicing certificate for the different categories by the registrar if the Registrar is satisfied that-
   • The applicant is registered with the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC)
   • The applicant is not suspended from practice.
   • The applicant has paid the annual practicing certificate fee.
   • The applicant has obtained a Fidelity Fund Certificate.
   • Has paid, if any, all administrative fines imposed on him or her.
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 practicing certificate to be issued to the client, upon presenting their identity document and approval letter to be validated by the registrar's office at the ARC.
12. Applicants whose application was not successful will be notified of that outcome in writing and will be refunded the practice fee.
13. Unsuccessful applicants can re-apply or appeal the decision to the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) office.

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Required Documents

• Duly completed, signed Application Form for Practicing Certificate
• Certified Copy of Valid applicable Identification document (Certified copy of Passport (bio-data page) or certified copy of Omang)
• Recent passport size photos
• Valid ARC Registration certificate as an architect.
• Fidelity Fund Certificate
• Proof of payment of the practicing certificate fee.
• Evidence of previous or current practice as an architect, architectural technologist or architectural draftsperson.
• Any additional supporting documentation relevant to the application as requested by the Council.

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

• All registered architects, architectural technologists, or architectural draftspersons (Citizens and non-citizens) with the Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) are eligible to apply.

Fees

• Application fee BWP 300.00
• practicing certificate fee:
  • Architect BWP 3,500.00
  • Arch. Technologist BWP 3,000.00
  • Arch. Draftsperson BWP 2,500.00

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 validity of the Practicing Certificate shall be for a period not exceeding one (01) year from the date of issue unless suspended, revoked, or canceled by the Council.
• The practicing certificate should be renewed thirty (30) days before the expiration of the current certificate.

Documents to Use

Application Form for Practicing Certificate

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The time frame for processing the application is within 30 days provided everything is in order.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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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

• Full names of the applicant
• Nationality
• Identification document number (Passport/identity card)
• Contact details (residential address/postal address/telephone/ email address)
• Category of registration
• ARC registration certificate number/date of registration
• Project details (case of temporary registration category)
• Provide list and details of Project/s
• Evidence of previous or current practice as an architect, architectural technologist or architectural draftsperson
• Declaration by the applicant (signature/Date)

Need for the Document

• The practicing certificate allows a person to lawfully execute the works of an Architect in a position of responsibility and/or at a fee. The Practicing certificate expires annually. An architectural professional needs to ensure that they renew their practicing certificate promptly and meet all the requirements.

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, one also need a current Practicing certificate.

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

Others

More information which might help people.