CoA | PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION

The Council of Architecture (CoA) states that, “Any person desirous of practising as an ‘Architect’ in India is required to be registered in the Register, with the Council of Architecture (CoA). He shall be entitled on payment of the prescribed fees to have his name entered in the register, if he resides or carries on the profession of Architect in India and holds a recognised qualification (Indian and Foreign) listed in the CoA  Schedule, or does not hold such a qualification but, being a citizen of India, has been engaged in practice as an architect for a period of not less than five years prior to 27.04.1974 or possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed by rules .”

REGISTER

Though the procedure for registration with the CoA has been explained in detail in the CoA website, it is confusing. So I get many queries regarding the procedure. As an Architect, I have described the details of the procedure for registering with the Council of Architecture in India here under the following headings:

What is the Register of architects?
What is the procedure for getting registered with the CoA?
What are the documents to be submitted along with the application for registration?
Can you apply for registration if you have not received your architectural certificate?
What is the procedure if a mark sheet is missing?
What is the procedure to apply for change in name?
How does one apply for change of name after marriage?
What should be done if the name on the architectural certificate does not match with the name on the basis of which the registration is sought?
Can an Architect have an additional qualification entered in the Register of Architects?
Is the one time payment option available while registering with the CoA?
When is the certificate of registration issued?
When is the Register printed?
What happens if the CoA rejects your application for registration?
Does the registration with the CoA have to be renewed?

 


WHAT IS THE REGISTER OF ARCHITECTS?

The Central Government provides a Register of Architects in India. The Council of Architecture prepares and maintains the Register in accordance with the provisions of the Architect’s Act. The Register includes the following particulars:

  • The full name with the date of birth, nationality and residential address of the Architect.
  • The Architect’s qualification for registration (B.Arch. or M.Arch etc) and the date on which he obtained that qualification and the authority which conferred it.
  • The date of the Architect’s first admission to the Register.
  • The Architect’s professional address.
  • Further particulars prescribed by rules.


 


WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR GETTING REGISTERED WITH THE COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE?

Earlier a person applying for registration was required to download the registration form and send a duly filled form to the Council of Architecture office. But w.e.f. 01.04.2016 onward, only online filled up applications shall be accepted. The instructions for filling and submission of online application form are described here:

1) REGISTER AS AN APPLICANT:

The first step is to sign-up/register yourself as an applicant for registration. For that, you have to go to the CoA site and click on online services. (Please use internet explorer for filling the online application form, because chrome browser is not working properly) Fill in all the details required of you, such as email id (which will be your login ID), year of admission, date of birth, mobile number, enrollment number and OTP which will be sent to your email account. Subsequently a password will be generated by the system and sent to you by email. This will be your login password. With the login ID and password, you can login the Council’s website anytime.

2) FILL UP THE APPLICATION FORM:

Fill-up the application form in proper case and completely. Remember an incomplete application shall not be processed further and no intimation shall be sent in this regard. Please fill up your name in the form as per the recognised architectural qualification certificate on the basis of which registration is sought. Also ensure that the spelling of your name is correctly mentioned on the recognised architectural qualification certificate and marksheets being submitted by you. In case, your name is mentioned incorrectly, you must get the same corrected from the competent authority of the University/institution. 

3) UPLOAD PHOTO AND SIGNATURE:

Upload your recent color photograph of size 3.5 x 3.5cm upto 10KB (max) and Signatures upto 4 KB (max).

4) ENROLLMENT NUMBER:

Enrollment number i.e., (CoA-Six digit Number) is mandatory / as applicable (for admissions from the Academic Year 2008-09 onwards). Make sure that the enrollment number entered is strictly in format as given in the enrollment number list as available on the website of the Council www.coa.gov.in/enrollment. Enrollment numbers of the students are also available with the respective Institutions.

5) TAKE A PRINTOUT OF FILLED FORM:

After filling up the application fully, take a printout of the duly filled form on good quality bond A4 size paper (preferably a coloured one). 

6) CORRECTIONS:

Correction(s), if any, can be made by the applicant in the hard copy of the generated/printed application form by countersigning at the place of correction before sending to the Council. Note that the CoA is strict about completing the application format. 

7) SEND THE FILLED FORM TO THE CoA OFFICE:

The duly filled and signed application form should be properly stapled with the requisite documents in the same order as provided in the checklist mentioned below and may be handed personally either by you or by a person authorized by you, at the office of the “Council of Architecture” (Payment Timings :10.00 am to 01.00 p.m. & 01.30p.m. to 03.30 p.m. on all working days Monday to Friday) or be sent to the Council’s office by registered post addressed to the “Registrar, Council of Architecture, India Habitat Centre, Core- 6A, First floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003″. 

8) REGISTRATION FEES:

Each application shall be accompanied by Registration Fee (Non-refundable) of Rs.600/- by way of cash at the counter or by demand draft drawn in favor of “Council of Architecture”, payable at New Delhi or alternately the payment can also be made online through login id details.

NOTE: In case, the request/transaction is not successfully completed, you can write to the CoA on their Email ID: [email protected] mentioning the details of the transaction. In case after the online payment is made and amount has been deducted by your bank but the status of payment is still showing “Make Payment”, DO NOT pay again. Contact the CoA for updating of status of payment. Refund of all disputed payments shall be processed after due verification/reconciliation by the council and shall be settled within 15 days from the date of communication.

9) SUBMIT TO CoA:

Do remember to press ‘Submit to CoA’ button after making the payment online. It ensures that the application form is in order otherwise your application shall not be available for further processing.



 


WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION?

The documents to be submitted along with the application for Registration include the following. Documents must be duly attested by a Gazetted Officer or Notary Public / Oath Commissioner and must be self attested. Documents should be properly stapled with the application form in the same order as provided in the checklist:

1) FILLED-UP APPLICATION FORM: 

Application form color printout in the prescribed format, duly filled in and signed by you. Please ensure that the spelling of your name is strictly as per the recognised university architectural qualification certificate and mark sheets submitted by you.

2) BIRTH CERTIFICATE:

A copy of the date of birth certificate attested by either a Gazetted Officer or Notary Public/Oath Commissioner. In case you do not have a birth certificate, you may submit a self-attested copy of Matriculation / Secondary Examination having a record of your date of birth.

3) 10 + 2 MARK SHEET:  

A  self-attested copy of 10+2 or equivalent examination mark-sheet. In case of 10+3 diploma, enclose all semester’s mark-sheet & diploma certificate

4) ARCHITECTURAL DEGREE CERTIFICATE:

The self-attested copy of the final recognised architectural qualification degree certificate on the basis of which registration is sought i.e. 5-year B.Arch. Degree or 5-year Diploma in Architecture or 5-year Government Diploma in Architecture or Membership of I.I.A. Certificate (as the case may be).  The recognised architectural qualifications (Indian and Foreign) are listed in my post on recognised Indian and Foreign Architectural qualifications. In case the final degree/diploma has not been awarded/ issued by the University, you may submit a self-attested copy of the provisional certificate/passing certificate issued by the competent authority of the University i.e. Asst. Registrar/Dy. Registrar/Registrar or any other competent authority authorised. 

NOTE: The Council of architecture will only accept the Provisional Certificate/Passing Certificate issued by the University and will not accept a provisional certificate issued by an institution. Also, the provisional certificate will not be accepted if the final degree/diploma for the applicant’s batch has already been awarded. Council shall not be responsible for loss or mutilation of any original certificate(s)/ Document(s) sent/received by post. 

5) COPIES OF MARKSHEETS FOR ALL SEMESTERS/YEARS:

The self-attested copies of all semester/year’s mark-sheets of the recognised qualification (including Fail/ATKT/Supplementary etc.) for all the semesters / years along with Practical Training certificate, if any. Alternatively, consolidated marksheet which contains all semesters/years detailed marks. No original mark sheet(s) should be submitted with the application.

6) CASTE/ CATEGORY CERTIFICATE: If any applicable.
7) DEMAND DRAFT:

A demand draft for Rs.600/- (non-refundable) drawn in favour of “Council of Architecture”, payable at Delhi/New Delhi towards registration fee. It must be mentioned that the option of availing of One Time Payment at the time of applying for registration has been discontinued. The registration shall be granted initially for two calendars years and after that period, you can opt for one time payment. 

8) SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE:

A self addressed envelope of size 12″x10″ for sending the certificate of Registration back to the candidate.

9) REGISTERED POST:

It is preferable to send the application along with the self-attested copies of the documents aforementioned, by Registered Post to avoid any loss in transit.

NOTE:
Please make sure that all documents as required by the Council are submitted along with your application for registration. If any application is incomplete in any respect, it would not be processed further for registration.

Since I get many queries and doubts regarding registration with the Council of Architecture, I have addressed them here.


 


CAN YOU APPLY FOR REGISTRATION IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR ARCHITECTURAL CERTIFICATE?

In case, you have not received the architectural certificate pending the award of the same by the University, you may for the time being submit a self-attested copy of the provisional certificate/passing certificate issued by the competent authority of the University i.e. Asst. Registrar/Dy. Registrar/Registrar or any other competent authorised authority. As soon as you receive the original architectural certificate, you must send a self-attested copy of the same to the registrar of the Council of Architecture.

NOTE: The Council of architecture will only accept the Provisional Certificate/Passing Certificate issued by the University and will not accept a provisional certificate issued by an institution. Also, the provisional certificate will not be accepted if the final degree/diploma for the applicant’s batch has already been awarded.


 


WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IF A MARK SHEET IS MISSING?
In case a mark sheet(s) for any particular semester/year is/are missing or untraceable, you must apply for the duplicate mark sheets to the concerned institution/university and submit duly attested copies of the same. Before submitting the form, ensure that details such as name, course name etc. are correctly mentioned on the mark sheets.


 


HOW DOES ONE  APPLY FOR CHANGE OF NAME AFTER MARRIAGE?

In case of change of surname consequent upon marriage, you should fill up the  application for registration online with the changed name along with supporting documents such as,  application form for change of name and an attested copy of the Marriage Certificate (i.e. Memorandum of Marriage) or an attested copy of your Marriage Certificate / Gazette Notification from the respective State/Central Government or alternatively, an affidavit executed on a non-Judicial Stamp paper of Rs. 10/-, and fill up your changed name in the form as per the attached document. 

 


WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO APPLY FOR CHANGE OF NAME?

In case where where first name is also changed upon marriage or name is changed due to reasons other than marriage, you should fill up the application for registration online with the changed name along with supporting documents such as, application form for change of name and only a duly attested copy of the Gazette Notification from respective Central/State Government shall be accepted.

NOTE: In case of change of name, only the new name must be entered under the column provided for. However, if there is any correction in the details of the name i.e., name order (First name, Middle name and/or Surname or any correction, the same can be done by cutting and correcting the same on the hard copy, at the place but it has to be countersigned by the applicant.



 


WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IF THE NAME ON THE ARCHITECTURAL CERTIFICATE DOES NOT MATCH WITH THE NAME ON THE BASIS OF WHICH REGISTRATION IS SOUGHT?

In case, your name or the nomenclature of the qualification pursued by you is mentioned incorrectly in your architectural certificate, or the mark sheets that you are submitting,  you must get the same corrected from the competent authority of the University/institution before you submit it for registration.


 


CAN AN ARCHITECT HAVE AN ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION ENTERED IN THE REGISTER OF ARCHITECTS?

An architect is entitled to have any additional architectural qualification(s), entered in the Certificate of Registration as an additional qualification on payment of additional qualification fee of Rs.200/- (per qualification).  But only recognized architectural qualification(s)  included in the schedule of qualifications appended to the Architects Act, 1972, can be entered on the Certificate of Registration.

The additional recognized architectural qualification certificates IN ORIGINAL, for verification and return by Registered Post, along with a copy of the same duly attested by either a Gazetted Officer or Notary Public/Oath Commissioner must be enclosed along with the application for registration.

NOTE: Please ensure that the nomenclature of the qualification pursued by you is correctly mentioned on the recognised architectural qualification certificate and marksheets being submitted. In case, the nomenclature of the qualification is not mentioned correctly, you must get the same corrected from the competent authority of the University,before submitting to the Council.


 


IS THE ONE TIME PAYMENT OPTION AVAILABLE WHILE REGISTERING WITH THE COA?

Note that the option of availing of One Time Payment at the time of applying for registration has been discontinued. The registration shall be granted initially for two calendars years only. But at the time of renewal after the initial two years, you may make payment of the prescribed renewal fee annually or opt for One Time Payment as and when your renewal fee falls due. One Time Payment can be opted at the time of renewal, subject to submission of a duly attested copy of the final Degree/Diploma certificate received after convocation, if not submitted earlier.

 


WHEN IS THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION ISSUED?

If the Registrar is of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be registered, then he shall enter  the name of the applicant in the Register and issue a Certificate of Registration. The processing of an application for registration takes at least one month from the date of receipt of application along with all supporting documents in hard copy.


 


WHEN IS THE REGISTER PRINTED?

After the first day of April every year, the Registrar prints copies of the up-to-date Register, which are then available to persons applying for a copy, on payment of the prescribed fee and shall be evidence that on the said date, the persons whose names are entered therein were architects.


 


WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CoA REJECTS YOUR APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION?

Any person whose application for registration is rejected by the Registrar, can within three months of the date of rejection, appeal to the Council.


 


DOES THE REGISTRATION WITH THE CoA HAVE TO BE RENEWED?

The registration shall be granted initially for two calendars years. In order to renew your registration after its expiry, you may make payment of the prescribed renewal fee annually or opt for one time payment as and when your renewal fee falls due. One Time Payment can be opted at the time of renewal, subject to submission of a duly attested copy of the final Degree/Diploma certificate received after convocation, if not submitted earlier. 

NOTE: Even though you pay a one time payment, the registration is given for a period of 10 years at a time and the certificate of registration must be sent IN ORIGINAL for further endorsement before the 10 year period ends along with the form for further endorsement.



For details regarding renewal of registration go to my next post:

The Council Of Architecture (CoA) in India has stipulated guidelines and regulations regarding an Architect’s profession and education. To know more, go to:




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