ARB’s independent Commission on Professional Practical Experience (PPE) in architecture has published the findings of its year-long investigation into the challenges faced by aspiring architects in securing appropriate work experience.
Principles of Change
The Commission identified three key areas where they deemed change is essential:
- ARB should remove barriers to flexibility and innovation to lead sustainable change across the profession.
- Learning providers should take a co-ordinating role in supporting trainees to achieve all Competency Outcomes.
- Significant improvements in workplace culture are needed to strengthen how professional competence is acquired.
Key Recommendations
The Commission’s final report outlines a package of interlinked recommendations, positioning ARB as the central driver of reform. These include:
Introduce Legal Title “Trainee Architect”
- The Architects Act 1997 should be amended to permit the legal use of the title “Trainee Architect” for individuals working towards registration.
- As an interim measure, the sector should be encouraged to adopt this terminology, moving away from the use of “student” to more accurately reflect trainees’ roles, responsibilities, and professional development.
Introduce New Record of Competency
- The current Professional Experience Development Record (PEDR), widely criticised as cumbersome and bureaucratic, should be replaced with a new Record of Competency (ROC).
- ARB should establish minimum standards for a streamlined, standardised ROC, to be adopted by learning providers. This would enable trainees to critically reflect on their progress towards competence.
Introduce CPD Mentoring Requirement
- ARB should mandate that all registered architects undertake CPD focused on mentoring, to improve the quality, visibility, and impact of mentoring across the profession.
- Professional bodies should also develop their own CPD programmes aligned with ARB’s requirements and actively promote engagement with mentoring through their member communications.
Remove ‘Double Counting’ Rule
- Currently, time spent in practice as part of a credit-bearing course (e.g. integrated master’s degrees or apprenticeships) cannot be counted towards ARB’s practical experience requirements.
- This restriction should be lifted to support the development of integrated academic–practice models.
Improve Workplace Culture
- Learning providers should share information about pay, contracts, and employment standards across their networks, to better inform both trainees and employers and support fairer, more transparent experiences.
- Professional bodies should use their influence to ensure employers adhere to workplace legislation, including wage laws and the Equality Act, and promote high standards of professional conduct throughout the sector.
If you have any questions or comments about this report, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk
