Voluntary Suspension

As a Registered Architect, if you wish, you are entitled to put your registration on hold by entering voluntary suspension. To request a period of voluntary suspension you need to fill out an application form. There is no fee for this procedure.

Architects sometimes do this when they are working overseas, raising a family or studying. It may also be the right approach for an architect who has been made redundant or cannot work for health reasons.

Being in voluntary suspension means:

• you cannot call yourself a Registered Architect
• you cannot practice in New Zealand using the titles "architect" or "Registered Architect"
• you will not be sent invoices for annual Certificates of Registration
• you can still log on as an architect
• you can still do and record CPD
• your name is still visible on the online New Zealand Architects Register, where it is recorded that you are in "Voluntary Suspension".

You can request a period of voluntary suspension for between 1 - 5 years. The request must be made in year blocks, but you can apply to reinstate your registration at any time, you do not need to wait for your period of voluntary suspension to expire. You can make multiple requests to enter voluntary suspension within your career but we recommend that you reinstate your registration to undergo your 5 yearly continuing registration competence review. 

Coming out of voluntary suspension
If you are in voluntary suspension and less than five years has elapsed since you were either first registered or had your last five-yearly competence review, you can start practising again at any time. All that's required is that you contact the NZRAB and pay for a current Annual Certificate of Registration. Once that is done, your registration will be reinstated and you can start practising again.

If, however, you are in voluntary suspension and more than five years have elapsed since you were either first registered or had your last continuing registration competence review, the Board must assess that you meet the minimum standards for registration before you can be reinstated to the Register.  To undertake this assessment you need to submit a Pathway 4 application for formerly NZ registered architects. 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
We strongly recommended that you undertake and record CPD activities whilst you are in VS.  CPD is useful way of demonstrating that you meet the minimum requirements for registration and continuing registration when you are undertaking your 5 yearly continuing registration competence review, or a pathway 4 application.