Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 545)
The Board of Examiners for Architects is composed of a chairman and two members appointed by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.
The Board administers the provisions of the Act, issues, suspends or revokes certificates of registration, administers oaths, subpoenas witnesses, compels attendance, requires production of documents in violation cases, and recommends measures for maintaining ethics and standards in architecture.
Each member must be a Filipino citizen and resident, hold an architecture degree or equivalent, have at least 10 years of legal and active practice in architecture, and not be a faculty member nor have pecuniary interest in an architecture school during appointment.
Members serve a term of three years after appointment or until their successors are appointed and qualified, with the first appointed members serving staggered terms of one, two, and three years respectively.
A registered architect is a person who has qualified under the Act, possesses a certificate of registration issued by the Board, which authorizes the practice of architecture in the Philippines and use of the title "Architect".
It is prohibited to practice architecture without registration, to use the title "Architect" without registration, to falsify registration documents, to impersonate registered practitioners, or to use revoked or suspended certificates. Violations constitute misdemeanors with penalties of fines or imprisonment.
Exemptions include: persons making plans for small buildings under specified limits, farm building enlargements costing under ₱10,000, designing private buildings for personal use, draftsmen or employees under supervision, licensed engineers not using the title architect, and certain government officials or architects on temporary government contracts.
The examination covers: (1) Architectural Design; (2) History and Theory of Architecture; (3) Architectural Engineering including Structural Design, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Plumbing; (4) Architectural Practice and Materials including Building Laws, professional ethics, business functions, specifications; (5) Building Materials and Methods of Construction.
Grounds include obtaining a certificate by fraud, gross negligence, incompetence, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, signing or permitting signature on work not prepared or supervised by the architect, paying money to secure registration beyond regular fees, impersonation, or aiding unauthorized practice.
No. Corporations, partnerships, firms, or associations cannot be registered as such for practicing architecture. Only individual persons with personal qualifications and registration may practice. However, partnerships where each member is properly registered can use the term "Architect."