Canada / United States Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
The new Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between Canada and the United States took effect on January 1, 2014 updating the long-standing relationship related to reciprocal licensure between Canada and the US. This new MRA supersedes the previous Canada/US Inter-Recognition Agreement.
Currently all 11 of the Architectural Regulators in Canada, have become signatories to the new MRA along with 41 of the US Member Boards of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) through completion of their individual Letters of Undertaking.
The MRA provides for the reciprocal registration of architects who are practicing in a jurisdiction that has signed a Letter of Undertaking as noted above. Architects holding an NCARB Certificate who are registered in and have their principal place of practice in a jurisdiction that has signed the Letter of Undertaking may transmit their NCARB Certificate Record to a jurisdiction/province provided that that jurisdiction has also signed the Letter of Undertaking. Architects considering licensure under this Agreement should contact the appropriate provincial/territorial/state licensing board to understand their individual process for reciprocal registration. US Architects who wish to license in a Canadian jurisdiction should review the Reciprocal Application and Guidelines for Architects licensed in the United States.
The new MRA is based on Licence/Registration in ‘good standing’ in an individual’s home jurisdiction and one year (2,000 hours) of post-licensure experience. In addition, the individual’s principal place of practice must be in one of the jurisdictions that have signed on to the Agreement. The following will be required:
- a letter of good standing from the regulatory authority in the individual’s principal place of practice:
- a letter of declaration from the applicant attesting to one year of post licensure experience;
- proof of citizenship/permanent residency in the home country (Canada or US); and a Certificate issued by NCARB. To familiarize yourself further with the details, click here for a copy of the nationally signed new MRA.
The conditions for a U.S. architect to pursue reciprocal licensure in a Canadian jurisdiction through this Agreement include that they are currently licensed in good standing by one or more NCARB Member Board(s) that is a current signatory to this Agreement, that they hold an active NCARB Certificate, and that they meet the eligibility as outlined in the MRA.
The conditions for a Canadian architect to pursue reciprocal licensure in a U.S. jurisdiction through this Agreement include that they are currently licensed in good standing by one or more ROAC jurisdiction(s) that is a current signatory to this Agreement, that they hold an active NCARB Certificate, and that they meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the MRA.
Architects licensed in a Canadian jurisdiction should review the requirements for NCARB certification in section 3 of the NCARB’s Certification Guidelines.
The following is a list of US State Licensing Boards that have currently signed on.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Guam
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- US Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
The remaining US jurisdictions are continuing to consider implementation and the list of signatories will be updated accordingly.
States that do not accept the Tri-National:
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New York
- Wyoming