HKIA Circular No. 38/2025 – 7 July 2025

ARB Circular No. 13/2025 – 7 July 2025

Dear Professional Assessment Candidates,

Updated HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment (PA) Handbook
 

Please be informed that the HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment Handbook has been revised from last version in April 2025 and the amendments in Section 3 Admission of Non-Local Architectural Professionals cover the following areas:

1. Section 3.1  Eligibility

3.1.1   A non-local architectural professional (NLAP) who:

1. 1. 1. holds valid professional registration to practice architecture, in a country/territory outside the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR), as administered by a non-local national registration body of architects of that country/territory recognised by HKIA/ARB under section 3.4; and
          
2. 1. 2. has acquired not less than 12 months of pre-registration OR post-registration practical experience in the country/territory where the NLAP holds his/her professional registration under section 3.1.1(a); and
          
3. 1. 3. has acquired adequate recognised local practical experience in the HKSAR,may qualify for admission as a Member of HKIA and registration as a registered architect under ARO through the HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment.

2. Section 3.2 Categories of Non-local Architectural Professionals (NLAP)

NLAP belonging to the following two categories (Group A and Group B) are eligible to apply for HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment via the NLAP admission path under section 3.3.
 

3.2.1  NLAP Group A 

A NLAP with not less than 15 years of overall (local + non-local) post-professional registration practical experience, of which not less than 12 months is considered local practical experience under section 3.1.1(a).
     

3.2.2  NLAP Group B

1. An NLAP with not less than 2 years of relevant local practical experience under section 3.5, gained after non-local professional registration under section 3.1.1(i).
    
2. For NLAP from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the following specific requirements shall apply;
3. 1. With Registration Certificate for Class 1 Registered Architect (一級註冊建築師註冊證書)
      
      - only relevant local practical experience gained after the date of the applicant’s Registration Certificate for Class 1 Registered Architect (一級註冊建築師註冊證書) issued by the National Administration Board of Architectural Registration (NABAR) (全國註冊建築師管理委員會) will count for the minimum 2 years of relevant local practical experience.
       
   2. With Qualification Certificate for Class 1 Registered Architects (一級註冊建築師執業資格證書) only
      
      - the applicant should gain not less than 3 years of relevant local practical experience after the date of such Qualification Certificate.

3. List out the overseas national registration bodies currently recognised by HKIA/ARB in Section 3.4.
    
4. Section 3.5 Local Practical Experience of NLAP

3.5.3    All local practical experience should be substantive and verifiable (with documentary proofs) to the satisfaction of HKIA/ARB for being recognised under section 3.2. It should be the responsibility of the NLAP to keep such documentary proofs, or acquire such documentary proofs from official sources upon request of the HKIA/ARB for the purpose of section 3.2.
 

5. Section 3.6 Overseas Practical Experience for NLAP
   3.6.3   All overseas practical experience should be substantive and verifiable (with documentary proofs) to the satisfaction of HKIA/ARB for being recognised under sections 3.1 and 3.2. It should be the responsibility of the NLAP to keep such documentary proofs or acquire such documentary proofs from official sources upon request of the HKIA/ARB for the purpose of sections 3.1 and 3.2.

The amendments are in force with immediate effect.

Please click the link below to download the amended HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment Handbook:

https://hkia.net/en/whats-on/2/news-and-informatino/detail/10

Thank you for your kind attention.
 

Yours sincerely,

HKIA Secretariat