Who Can Join | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

 

Who Can Join

Full Membership | Associate Membership | Affiliate Membership | Special Circumstances

Full Membership

Full Membership is reserved for individuals with formal defined qualifications in the field of architecture. It includes the following categories:

  • Architects
  • Interns or Intern Architects
  • Graduates
  • Faculty Member
  • Retired Architects

Members in these categories may use the MRAIC (Member of RAIC) or FRAIC (Fellow of RAIC) abbreviation.

Licensed (or Registered) Architects are encouraged to use the title “Architect” after their name. This not only clarifies professional status, but also helps reinforce the numerous important roles in society held by architects.

Qualifications

The qualifications acceptable for full membership are as follows:

(i) registered and licensed as an architect with a Provincial or Territorial architectural regulator in Canada;

(ii) registered as an intern with a Provincial or Territorial architectural regulator in Canada;

(iii) a full-time faculty member in good standing at a School of Architecture in a Canadian University;

(iv) a graduate of an accredited architectural program in Canada who has earned an M. Arch degree or its equivalent;

(v) a graduate of an international architectural program who is residing or employed in Canada and who has obtained certification from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board or has otherwise satisfied the Board of their qualifications;

(vi) registered as a retired architect with a Provincial or Territorial architectural regulator in Canada.

View the eleven provincial/territorial associations.  

Membership application form

Additional Full Membership Categories 

The following membership categories are available to those who are full members in good standing with the RAIC and meet specific qualifications.  

Fellows

The College of Fellows formally recognizes members and distinguished laypersons who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. Fellowship in the RAIC is an honour conferred on members singled out for their contribution to research, scholarship, public service or professional standing to the good of architecture in Canada, or elsewhere. 

A Member must have been a member of the Institute for at least five years prior to nomination as a Fellow. Fellowship is bestowed for life and is one of the highest honours the Institute can confer upon a Member. 

Fellows may use the FRAIC (Fellow of the RAIC) abbreviation. 

Learn more

Retired Members or Retired Fellows 

A full Member or Fellow retiring may continue as a retired Member of the RAIC with reduced annual fee payments. Retired Members retain all their rights and privileges. 

A letter, attesting retirement from practice, is to be included with the renewal form to be considered for retired status. 

Retired members may use the MRAIC (Member of the RAIC) abbreviation and retired Fellows may use the FRAIC (Fellow of the RAIC) abbreviation. 

Life Members or Life Fellows

A full Member or Fellow may become a Life Member or Life Fellow after 40 years of continuous membership with the RAIC (or reach 75 years of age and have completed 10 years of membership), or at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Life Members shall retain all their rights and privileges. 

A copy of your RAIC certificate or your provincial association certificate is required or if this is not available a letter attesting to membership continuously for 40 years will be considered. 

Life members may use the MRAIC (Member of the RAIC) abbreviation and Life Fellows may use the FRAIC (Fellow of the RAIC) abbreviation. 

Life Members or Life Fellows are members of the RAIC free of charge. 

Affiliate Membership

Affiliate membership is available for those who are involved in the design and construction industry and who are associated with the architectural profession. They may be persons, corporations, organizations or other entities. 

Affiliates in good standing may indicate that they are Affiliates of RAIC but they cannot use the abbreviation RAIC. 

Associate Membership

There are two categories of Associates:

International Associate

International Associate membership is reserved for those who have an architectural license or the equivalent from a non-Canadian licensing authority and demonstrate good standing in the profession in the locale in which they are licensed. Such persons may be resident within or outside of Canada. 

International Associates in good standing may indicate that they are International Associates of RAIC, and may use the title International Associate RAIC or Int’l Assoc. RAIC but not RAIC Associate or the initials RAIC alone or the initials IARAIC as a suffix to their names. 

Student Associate

Student Associate membership is designed for individuals enrolled in architectural studies. To qualify for free membership as a student associate, you must be enrolled full-time in:  
  • A bachelor’s degree program in architecture or an allied field at a Canadian University School of Architecture,  
  • A professional degree program in architecture at a Canadian University School of Architecture,  
  • RAIC Centre for Architecture (Athabasca University),  
  • RAIC Syllabus Program.  
Student Associates may indicate their affiliation as Student Associates of the RAIC but cannot use the abbreviation RAIC in any form.  
 
Student Associate membership is offered free of charge.

Special Circumstances 

Fee Waiver

The Fee Waiver can be considered for reasons including maternity/parental leave, long-term parenting/caregiving leave, sabbaticals, and other reasons that may temporarily affect one’s ability to pay membership fees due to financial hardship.  

Conditions

  • A member requesting a waiver of fees due to parental leave will automatically be approved; 
  • A member requesting a waiver of fees must be a member in good standing for at least one year prior to submitting the request;  
  • If granted, the waiver of fees will be applied for one calendar year (membership cycle);  
  • All fee waiver requests must be submitted using the online application form;  
  • A maximum of two fee waivers may be requested in a 5-year period;  
  • Fee waivers are subject to approval by the RAIC Chief Executive Officer.
Individuals who have been granted a fee waiver will retain rights, privileges, and member benefits with the RAIC. 
 
Submit a request fee waiver here. 
 


 

Deferral Payment 

The Fee Deferral can be considered for reasons including financial hardship, medical/compassionate leave, critical illness, and other reasons that may temporarily affect one’s ability to pay membership fees due to financial hardship.

Conditions

  • A member requesting a deferral of fees must be a member in good standing for at least one year prior to submitting the request;  
  • If granted, the deferral of fees will be applied for three months maximum;  
  • All fee deferral requests must be submitted using the online application form;  
  • A maximum of two fee deferrals may be requested in a 5-year period;  
  • Fee deferrals are subject to approval of the RAIC Chief Executive Officer.
Individuals who have been granted a fee deferral will retain rights, privileges, and member benefits with the RAIC. 
 
Submit a request deferral here.