The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) member licensing boards have ratified two new Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with its counterparts in Canada and South Africa.

The agreements expand access to international reciprocity, allowing qualified architects from each country to pursue licensure through a streamlined process.

The MRA with NCARB’s Canadian counterpart, the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC), replaces an existing agreement between NCARB and ROAC, removing several impediments to architects’ participation.

Meanwhile, the MRA with NCARB’s South African counterpart, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), establishes reciprocal licensure for professional architects in South Africa for the first time.

Both agreements are based on shared competencies obtained at the point of licensure and accept architects from various backgrounds, including those who hold the NCARB Certificate through the Education Alternative or Foreign Architect pathways.