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NCARB and ROAC Sign Updated US/Canada Reciprocity Agreement

The refreshed MRA goes into effect on January 15, 2026, and will replace the existing MRA between the two countries

Image courtesy of NCARB

On November 13, 2025, representatives from the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) signed an updated Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that will expand access to opportunities for Canadian and American architects. The refreshed MRA goes into effect on January 15, 2026, and will replace the existing MRA between the two countries.

The agreement is based on substantially equivalent competencies obtained at the point of licensure and accepts architects from each country who have been licensed through a variety of paths—including those who hold the NCARB Certificate through the Education Alternative or International Architect pathways. The updated language was approved by NCARB’s member licensing boards during the organization’s 2025 Annual Business Meeting and aligns with NCARB’s ongoing efforts to recognize Pathways to Practice for individuals who pursued licensure through traditional pathways or via acceptable alternatives.

“The new MRA is the natural evolution for our two organizations’ longstanding agreement,” says ROAC Chair Ian McDonald, an architect registered in British Columbia and Alberta. “It removes some administrative obstacles for those looking to work in Canada and the United States, improving labour mobility of qualified individuals while maintaining the critical focus on competency.”

Updated Eligibility Criteria

The updated agreement between NCARB and its counterpart in Canada removes several barriers to reciprocity that existed in the previous agreement, including eliminating the 2,000 required hours of post-licensure experience, removing requirements related to citizenship, residency, and principal place of practice, and accepting architects licensed or certified through alternative pathways.

To be eligible for reciprocal licensure under the refreshed agreement, architects must:

Be licensed and in good standing in a participating jurisdiction in their home country,
For U.S. architects, hold an active NCARB Certificate

“We are thrilled to continue expanding access to international practice through the NCARB Certificate,” said FY26 NCARB President Edward T. Marley, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP. “By streamlining the reciprocity process, we're recognizing that whether architects have obtained their license via traditional or non-traditional paths, they should be able to bring their expertise to a global market. All architects eligible to take advantage of this revised MRA have met the high standards required for competent practice that protects the public.”

Establishing the Agreement

The first Mutual Recognition Agreement between Canada and the United States was originally signed in 1994 and most recently updated in 2013. The agreement is based on an assessment of similarities between the architecture licensing standards established by NCARB for its member jurisdictions and those set by Canadian provinces.

To learn more about earning a license/registration to practice architecture abroad, visit: