Illinois, Canada Enter Mutual Recognition Agreement for Architects

SPRINGFIELD – Architects licensed in Illinois will now have a clearer path to practice their trade in the country of Canada, thanks to a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) recently signed by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Secretary Bryan Schneider. The MRA streamlines the licensing process for Illinois architects who meet National Council of Architecture Registration Board standards and wish to be licensed in Canada. In addition, the agreement grants qualified Canadian architects an expedited process for Illinois licensure.

“I am excited about the new opportunities this accord will bring to Illinois architects who desire to practice their profession in Canada,” said Bryan Schneider, IDFPR Secretary. “By allowing mutual accreditations, we not only improve the mobility of our professional architects, we advance technical education worldwide through the sharing of knowledge. This is not simply a Mutual Recognition Agreement; it is a mutually beneficial agreement between our two countries.”

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) originally entered into an MRA on June 17, 2013. This agreement paved the way for individual states, like Illinois, to participate in the MRA between NCARB and CALA. IDFPR Secretary Schneider entered into the MRA on behalf of the State of Illinois on May 21, 2015.