CoA | REGISTRATION OF ARCHITECTS
Only a ‘registered Architect’ or a ‘registered firm of Architects’ can use the title and style of “Architect”. Every time an Architect signs an agreement with the client, he is supposed to quote his ‘Registration Number’. If any person misuses the title and style of Architect, such acts tantamount to committing a criminal offence, which is punishable under section 36 or 37 (2) of the Architects Act, 1972, on first conviction with fine of five hundred rupees, and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with a fine not exceeding one thousand rupees.
As an Architect, I have explained why the Council of Architecture deems it necessary for an Architect to be registered in order to be able to practise and the penalty for not registering.
What is the Register of architects?
Why is it necessary that an Architect be registered with the CoA?
What does the registration with the CoA entitle?
Who is qualified to be registered with the CoA?
What is the relevance of the registration number?
Can a person with an architectural qualification not included in the Schedule be registered with the CoA?
Can a person who is not a citizen of India be registered with the CoA?
Can an Indian citizen residing in another country be registered with the CoA?
In what circumstances is an Architect not registered?
What is the penalty for falsely claiming to be registered?
Who can complain about a ‘pseudo Architect’?
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.
WHY IS IT NECESSARY THAT AN ARCHITECT BE REGISTERED WITH THE COA?
It is very important that every qualified Architect, desirous of carrying on the profession of ‘Architect’, be registered with the Council of Architecture because any reference in law to an Architect, shall be deemed to be a reference to an Architect registered under the Act.
WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION WITH COA ENTITLE?
The registration with the Council of Architecture entitles:
- A person to practice the profession of Architecture, provided he holds a Certificate of Registration with up-to-date renewals;
- A person to use the title and style of Architect. The title and style of Architect can also be used by a firm of Architects, of which all partners are registered with COA.
- Limited Companies, Private/Public Companies, societies and other juridical persons are not entitled to use the title and style of Architect nor are they entitled to practice the profession of Architecture.
WHO IS QUALIFIED TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE?
A person can have his name entered in the Register, on payment of the prescribed fee, if he resides or carries out the profession of Architecture in India and has the necessary qualifications, after having undergone education in accordance with the Council of Architecture – Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 1983.
WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF THE REGISTRATION NUMBER?
On entry in the Register, the Registrar issues a Certificate of registration, in which the Council of Architecture’s Registration Number is mentioned. This Registration Number has to be quoted by the Architect, when signing on an Agreement or on any documents related to the project for which the Architect has been signed.
CAN A PERSON WITH AN ARCHITECTURAL QUALIFICATION NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE, BE REGISTERED WITH THE CoA?
“Any authority in India which grants an architectural qualification not included in the schedule may apply to the central Government to have such qualification recognised, and the Central Government, after consultation with the Council, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the schedule so as to include such qualification therein, and any such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the schedule against such architectural qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised qualification only when granted after a specified date.”
CAN A PERSON, WHO IS NOT A CITIZEN OF INDIA BE REGISTERED WITH THE CoA?
No person other than a citizen of India shall be entitled to registration with the Council of Architecture, India.
CAN AN INDIAN CITIZEN RESIDING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY BE REGISTERED WITH THE CoA?
If a citizen of India residing in another country, holding an architectural qualification registrable in that country is permitted to enter and practise the profession of architect in such a country, the Central Government of India in pursuance of a scheme of reciprocity or otherwise, may after consultation with the Council, direct, by notification in the Official Gazette, that such architectural qualification as the Council has decided should be recognised, shall be deemed to be a recognised qualification.
IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IS AN ARCHITECT NOT REGISTERED?
An Architect may not be registered in rare cases, if he has not applied for registration or if he has not paid the registration fee or renewed the registration. However in most cases, an Architect is not registered because he does not hold a recognized qualification, or because he has not successfully completed the Architecture course, or because his name has been removed from the register for some act of professional misconduct or for some other reasons such as:
- If a request has been received to that effect.
- If the Architect has died since the last publication of the Register.
- If the Architect’s name had been entered by error or on account of misrepresentation or suppression of material fact.
- If the Architect has been convicted of any offence which involves moral turpitude.
- If the Architect is an undischarged solvent.
- If the Architect has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind.
In case of a person whose name has been removed from the Register or who has died, his legal representative should surrender his Certificate of Registration to the Registrar, and the name so removed will be published in the Official Gazette.
If any person whose name has been removed from the Register fails to surrender his Certificate of Registration, he shall be punishable with fine of one hundred rupees, and, in case of continued failure, with an additional fine of ten rupees for each day thereafter.
WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR FALSELY CLAIMING TO BE REGISTERED?
Many times ‘pseudo architects’ operate as if they are real Architects and dupe the general public. The only way you can prevent such malpractices, is by insisting that the Architect gives you his ‘Registration Number’. If any person whose name is not entered in the Register but falsely represents that it is entered, or uses in connection with his name or title, any words to suggest that he is registered, such acts tantamount to committing a criminal offence, and is punishable under section 36 or 37 (2) of the Architects Act, 1972, with a fine of one thousand rupees.
WHO CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT A ‘PSEUDO ARCHITECT’?
Anybody who confirms that a person pretending to be an “Architect” is not registered with the Council of Architecture, can lodge a police complaint against the ‘pseudo Architect’ and complain to the Council as well. Before this, the complainant must verify with the Council if the said ‘Architect’ is registered or not. One can complain to the COA in this Complaint Form.
This post was about the Registration of Architects, why it is important for Architects to be registered with the COA, in India. To know more about the Procedure for Registration, go to:
The Council Of Architecture (CoA) in India has stipulated guidelines and regulations regarding an Architect’s profession and education. To know more, go to:
- An Architect’s Educational Qualifications
- An Architect’s Services and Responsibilities
- An Architect’s Charges
- An Architect’s Conduct
- Registration of an Architect with the CoA
- Architectural Competitions
Related Posts:
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Sir,
My registration has expired in COA due to non payment of registration fee. I wasn’t much aware of these official things before and my dad had done all the registration procedure for me. Now it’s almost 2-3yrs since renewal and i have to pay a fine to restore my registration. I am very tensed. I am working in an architectural firm and currently don’t have any office of my own. I want to know whether non payment of fee will affect my working in any Architectural firm?
Hi,I finished my bachelor of architecture in 1997 and i was registered for one year.After that i moved to gulf country for 10 years.In this 10 years i couldn’t renew my CA registration.Now i am back to India and tried to renew my CA.But, i came to know that i need to pay Rs.35000(approx) late fee for my renewal.Rs.10/day.I couldn’t pay that much amount in current financial situation.Please advise for my renewal.I ready to pay nominal late fee.
hi,
i have applied for registration of an architect to COA on 19th january 2017. till i dont get liceses and my original documents back. what can i do now ?
I HAVE APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION OF ARCHITECT ON 19TH JANUARY 2017. STILL I DONT GET MY ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE AND LICENSE BACK.PLEASE HELP ME OUT WHAT CAN I DO NOW ?
CAN ANY DEGREE ,OTHER THEN “B.ARCH” , HELP ANYONE GETTING THE COA REGISTRATION?
I HAVE PASSED NATA WITH VERY GOOD SCORE BUT “RAJASTHAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY ,KOTA” NOT GIVING ME ADMISSION IN “B. ARCH” AT MY HOME TOWN ,UDAIPUR COLLEGE!
I AM TIRED OF DOING ALL TRIALS !
UNIVERSITY SAYS MY AGE IS 39 YEARS AND SO I AM NOT ELIGIBLE TO DO THIS COURSE!
PLEASE HELP
OM SAI RAM
Sit,
I m registered with council of architecture in year 2014 2015 i sent my original documents in delhi by post. But I don’t received yet.
Plz suggest me how to get back my original documents.
Hello Sir
I am 2008 batch BARCH. I want to get registered with COA.
2008 batch in my college doesnt have enrollment no but we got a letter of accreditation from COA.
So how can i apply for COA registration without enrollment no.
Enrollment no is marked as a neccesary field in the form.
I completed B-arch in 2013. I applied for COA registration 4 months back . Didn’t get any response yet . I am extremely worried because I have also send my original degree certificate as mentioned. Please help
I forgot my COA account password.. how can I regenerate password???
Hi Gowthami,
I am not sure since the CoA site is sometimes not very responsive.
Admin
Sir,
while applying for registration with COA i have entered incorrect enrollment number i.e my classmates no. What is the procedure to change the enrollment number registered with my email.id.
Thanks
hello sir
i couldn’t find the application form online for architect’s registration. is there the same process for the application? or are they installing some kind of examination for it?
Sir,
Is it quicker to apply in person to the COA? Or the online and in person services mean the same speed in terms of time consumption to register?
Hi Prithiv,
Even if you go in person, nowadays they ask you to apply online first. So stick to applying online.
Admin
Sir,
I am trying to fill the application form online for the registration as an architect, but the computer is not accepting my form due to the punctuation mark (‘) in my name and its not getting submitted. After putting the enrollment number , it automatically fills the form with my name , and I am not been able to edit it. I have tried to contact the COA office but somehow not been able to contact them . What should I do? Please help.Also give me the exact contact number of the COA.
Hi Filanda,
I have got some complaints regarding hitches in the online registration. so why don’t you send al the documents and DD by post? It is a surer way of getting registered. You can read about it in my post on Procedure for Registration.
Admin
Respected sir
I m registered with council of architecture in year 2010-11 but i lost my reg. Number and forgot it. So how can I get my reg number so i can renew.
Hi Nirav,
You are supposed to keep your CoA certificate of Registration safely as it has to be sent back to the CoA every time you renew. Now that you have lost it, you will have to request the CoA to issue you a duplicate certificate. Affix the same signatures and names as available in the Council records in the affidavit for applying for duplicate certificate and send a covering letter. Go through my post on renewal of registration
Admin
Respected sir
I have submitted my application with all necessary documents on 27-11-2015 to register as an architects.
I need to apply for UPSC 2016 job Vacancy for deputy architect post. And i am asked to fill up the Registration number and date of registration. But i did not receive it yet. what should i do?
Hi Divya,
It is surprising that you did not get your registration documents even after 2 months. You should contact the CoA office and ask them about your present dilemma.
Admin
hi,
i enrolled in 2007, and graduated in 2013 (1 year backlog in 2009), but my institute says they dont have my CoA Registration number for 2007 batch. The number is not there even in the CoA Website consolidated list.I have all the marksheets and the degree certificate. Will my application be processed if i dont fill in the CoA Registration number in the form.? Should i mention my predicament in the covering letter?
Many thanks,
RJ
Hi Raj,
I had another query from a 2007 batch reader. He had the same predicament and his college authorities had asked him to leave it blank as they said that the numbers were given for batches from 2008 onwards. You could explain all this in your covering letter.
PS: There is a page on the CoA website regarding enrollment numbers. You could try entering your name and institute name and see if you can access your enrollment number.
Admin
Hi, my registration with COA is about to expire, i want to know the procedure for renewal of my registration. What all documents has to be submitted etc
Hi Amarja Panse,
You can read about it on the CoA website page regarding renewal. Here is the link.
Admin
After submitting the form and documents at COA for registration, how long does it take for the procedure to be completed/verified? Approximately after how many days is the original degree submitted back to the individual?
Hi Shweta,
You can expect about a month for the degree certificate to be returned. Sometimes it takes 45 days.
Admin
hey…. is dere any rule of where if the atudent coyld not clear 3rd year in 5 yaer he or she will not be able to register themselves as an architect..???? if dere is rule dan for wgich year batch it is applicable…..help me with dis
Hi Pawan,
A student is supposed to clear his first year exams before giving the third year exams. Similarly he is supposed to clear his second year exams before giving his fourth year exams and his third year exams before giving his final year exams. If he has not cleared even one of these exams he is not qualified to be an architect. So he will have to clear all the years before applying to the COA for registration.
Admin
wen ill open online registration nata 2015
Hi Soumya,
The details will be available on the 27th March 21015. Click this NATA link.
Admin
Respected sir
I have compleated my all indian institute of architectural engineering in 2000 year. But i didn’t apply for registration at that time. Now i should get council of architecture membership or registration. it became very compulsion in my practice.
so i am requesting u sir pls send me the form of council of architecture
thank u
Is QIP required for professinals for Renewal of license? I am having one time payment license with me which will expire on dec. 2015.
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how to download registration form
Dear Vinay,
Click on ‘Application form’ within the text to download the Registration form.
Regards,
Admin