BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE |FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN
STUDIES |DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL LICENSURE ASSESSMENT – 2026
ARCHITECT’S ORAL EXAMINATION (VIVA VOCE)
Comprehensive Evaluation of Design Excellence, Technical Competence, and
Professional Practice
What is the Architect's Act?
Legislation that governs the architectural profession throughout the province;
Purpose is to protect the public interest;
Affects everyone including related professions, government officials, clients and the public;
Specifies the legal responsibilities for those who practice architecture, including qualifications,
professional conduct standards, liability, and certificates of practice;
Establishes the authority and mandate of the AIBC, the regulatory body for the profession.
What are the bylaws?
Regulate architects, Institute, member firms, licensees, associates;
Approved by majority vote of architects and reviewed by Province;
Address a variety of Institute governance matters, architectural firm requirements, and
competency, professional and ethical standards of the profession.
1|Page
,Difference between the Act and Bylaws
Act - allows us to make bylaws, standards; established by the Province
Bylaws - regulations authorized by governing legislation (Act); approved by members
What is the Code of Ethics? Who does the code of ethics and professional conduct protect?
Establishes the core professional and ethical standards for architects, firms and associates;
Built around those AIBC bylaws that set out the principles, values, standards and rules of
behaviour for the profession, supplemented by council rulings and commentary.
Individual architects, the Institution, public (upholds and safeguards the public interest in
maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and practice by members)
Defines the following responsibilities: Competence; Conflict of Interest; Compliance with Laws;
Full Disclosure; Professional Conduct
Can an architect criticize another architect's work? If so under what circumstances?
Yes - must be fair and honest.
Must be based on considered knowledge and stand up to scrutiny.
Avoid gossip or generalized comments about another architect, their work, reputation, or type
of project.
What is the architect's duty to the client, the public, and profession?
Client - professional service; standard of care; accountability for life and safety; apply billing in
"substantial accord" with Tariff of Fees; do not operate outside of realm of expertise
Public - act with care and competence; adhere to applicable Building Codes
2|Page
, Profession - limit to areas of competence or engage others who are competent; uphold
profession
What considerations and steps would you make in establishing your professional fees?
AIBC Tariff of Fees;
Budget spreadsheet for hours breakdown based on scope
Lump Sum - preliminary work; suitable only if the work is well defined at the outset
Hourly - small projects; partial/additional services; if risky or unknown scope;
% Construction Cost - assumes full basic services, one-off design; single tender; stip sum; tried &
tested; based on ToF
Can an architect begin work for a client without a contractual agreement in place? What form of
contract can this be?
No.
Doc 8C - short form; Doc 6 - full contract
A client has come to you asking that you do the design portion of a project for a considerably
reduced fee. You expect that this work would lead to more projects with this client. Do you take
the project? How should you handle the situation in a professional manner?
Speculative services to lure or entice a client are not permitted. (Code of Ethics)
Obliged to provide minimum standard of care in accordance with TOF;.
Could propose to offer Minimum Scope of Services (Bull. 90) and scale fee toward low end of
Tariff of Fees;
Could offer "partial services" and omit one or two phases (higher risk for all parties).
3|Page
PRACTICE |FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN
STUDIES |DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL LICENSURE ASSESSMENT – 2026
ARCHITECT’S ORAL EXAMINATION (VIVA VOCE)
Comprehensive Evaluation of Design Excellence, Technical Competence, and
Professional Practice
What is the Architect's Act?
Legislation that governs the architectural profession throughout the province;
Purpose is to protect the public interest;
Affects everyone including related professions, government officials, clients and the public;
Specifies the legal responsibilities for those who practice architecture, including qualifications,
professional conduct standards, liability, and certificates of practice;
Establishes the authority and mandate of the AIBC, the regulatory body for the profession.
What are the bylaws?
Regulate architects, Institute, member firms, licensees, associates;
Approved by majority vote of architects and reviewed by Province;
Address a variety of Institute governance matters, architectural firm requirements, and
competency, professional and ethical standards of the profession.
1|Page
,Difference between the Act and Bylaws
Act - allows us to make bylaws, standards; established by the Province
Bylaws - regulations authorized by governing legislation (Act); approved by members
What is the Code of Ethics? Who does the code of ethics and professional conduct protect?
Establishes the core professional and ethical standards for architects, firms and associates;
Built around those AIBC bylaws that set out the principles, values, standards and rules of
behaviour for the profession, supplemented by council rulings and commentary.
Individual architects, the Institution, public (upholds and safeguards the public interest in
maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and practice by members)
Defines the following responsibilities: Competence; Conflict of Interest; Compliance with Laws;
Full Disclosure; Professional Conduct
Can an architect criticize another architect's work? If so under what circumstances?
Yes - must be fair and honest.
Must be based on considered knowledge and stand up to scrutiny.
Avoid gossip or generalized comments about another architect, their work, reputation, or type
of project.
What is the architect's duty to the client, the public, and profession?
Client - professional service; standard of care; accountability for life and safety; apply billing in
"substantial accord" with Tariff of Fees; do not operate outside of realm of expertise
Public - act with care and competence; adhere to applicable Building Codes
2|Page
, Profession - limit to areas of competence or engage others who are competent; uphold
profession
What considerations and steps would you make in establishing your professional fees?
AIBC Tariff of Fees;
Budget spreadsheet for hours breakdown based on scope
Lump Sum - preliminary work; suitable only if the work is well defined at the outset
Hourly - small projects; partial/additional services; if risky or unknown scope;
% Construction Cost - assumes full basic services, one-off design; single tender; stip sum; tried &
tested; based on ToF
Can an architect begin work for a client without a contractual agreement in place? What form of
contract can this be?
No.
Doc 8C - short form; Doc 6 - full contract
A client has come to you asking that you do the design portion of a project for a considerably
reduced fee. You expect that this work would lead to more projects with this client. Do you take
the project? How should you handle the situation in a professional manner?
Speculative services to lure or entice a client are not permitted. (Code of Ethics)
Obliged to provide minimum standard of care in accordance with TOF;.
Could propose to offer Minimum Scope of Services (Bull. 90) and scale fee toward low end of
Tariff of Fees;
Could offer "partial services" and omit one or two phases (higher risk for all parties).
3|Page
