Is it legal to be an 'Architect'?
We got an interesting question from the UK Architect feedback alias recently which said...
"Are you aware that the title “architect” is protected by English Law?"
Not the first time I've heard this as someone who has the term 'Architect' in their job title, so I took a look at the Architects Registration Board (http://www.arb.org.uk). Seems they've heard the question before too and, thankfully, have taken a pragmatic view about it. They say:
In particular, the Board is aware of widespread use within the computer and IT industry of the word “architect” being incorporated into certain job descriptions, eg. “Systems Architect” or “Software Architect”. While such use may be a technical breach of the Act, the reason for and intention of continued regulation of title is principally to ensure that consumers of architects’ services are guaranteed a certain standard and quality of work.
It was never the intention of the Act to regulate the title for its own sake. The Board therefore takes a pragmatic view, and accepts that the use of the word “architect” causes no concern when used in a context which is clearly not related to the design and construction of buildings.
Phew! :-) Looks like I'm ok as long as I don't try to put bricks on top of each other then!
