PATHWAY 7: For architects LICENSED IN THE United States of America

This pathway is for architects licensed in states or territories of the United States of America that are signatories to the Australia, United States of America, New Zealand Mutual Recognition Arrangement, signed in August 2024.

The USA signatory states and territories are listed here.

An applicant for registration in New Zealand under this pathway must:

  • be licensed/registered and in good standing in a USA state or territory that is a signatory to the Australia USA New Zealand MRA
  • hold a current NCARB certificate 
  • NOT have been licensed in the USA by means of a foreign reciprocal licensing agreement/arrangement.

Applicants who meet these criteria may apply for registration in New Zealand. To protect the public interest, the NZRAB is entitled to refuse to register an applicant where he or she is or has been the subject of complaints or disciplinary or criminal proceedings relating to his or her competency, conduct, or character.

To apply you need to:

  • fill out the application form
  • pay the required fee
  • arrange for the USA National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to forward the following to the NZRAB:
    -  A Letter of Good Standing completed by the applicant’s home licensing authority (one of the signatory USA jurisdictions).
    -  A Declaration of Professional Experience completed by the applicant.
    -  A pdf of the applicant’s NCARB Certificate.
    -  A Credential/Evaluation Summary provided by NCARB.

The application form describes:

  • the information and documentation you need to provide
  • the application fee you need to pay and how to pay it
  • how to format and send your application document to NZRAB.

Note that in New Zealand, certified documents must be signed by the authorised witness on every page to confirm that they are true copies.

A registered architect who, for the purpose of obtaining registration, provides orally or in writing makes any declaration or representation knowing it to be false or misleading, or provides any document knowing that it was not genuine, is subject to disciplinary penalties by the NZRAB under section 25 of the Registered Architects Act 2005.

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