The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the UK’s statutory regulator for architects, created by Parliament under the Architects Act 1997. It keeps one UK-wide register — the Architects Register — which is publicly searchable, so a consumer or employer can check whether a named person is currently registered. The wedge is title protection: under section 20 of the Architects Act 1997, a person may not practise or carry on business under any name, style or title containing the word “architect” unless they are a registered person. Misuse is a criminal offence under s.21, prosecuted by ARB in the magistrates’ courts (the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland), with a fine up to £2,500 per offence (level 4 on the standard scale). That makes architecture a binary, authoritative check — is this person on the ARB Register, yes or no — and the register check is durable even as the qualification route changes.
Sources & verification
- ARB is the UK's statutory regulator for architects under the Architects Act 1997 and keeps one UK-wide, publicly searchable Architects Register — source, verified 2026-06-10
- Under section 20 of the Architects Act 1997 a person may not practise or carry on business under any name, style or title containing the word 'architect' unless they are a registered person — source, verified 2026-06-10
- Misuse of the title 'architect' is a criminal offence under section 21 of the Architects Act 1997, on summary conviction a fine up to level 4 on the standard scale (£2,500) per offence — source, verified 2026-06-10
Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.