Search the Architects Registration Board (ARB) Architects Register by the person’s name or location, then confirm that the result is the same individual. If you cannot find them, ask for their ARB registration number and check that number in the register. ARB describes it as the official list of UK architects.
Check the individual in the ARB register
Use the ARB Architects Register, which lets you search by name or location. A person’s registration number is unique, so it can help distinguish them from someone with a similar name. A practice website, business card, online directory or professional-body badge is not a substitute for checking the register itself.
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- Open the ARB Architects Register.
- Search using the person’s name or location.
- Check that the result identifies the person you intend to hire. Take particular care if the name is common; use the location and any other details available to confirm the match.
- If you do not find a clear match, ask the person for their ARB registration number and search for or verify that number in the register.
ARB says the register is the only official list of every UK architect. It describes the register as listing more than 42,000 architects, but the page does not date that count, so it should not be treated as a current headcount.
The check is straightforward, but the important point is to verify the person rather than merely find a similar name. A search result is useful only if it corresponds to the architect you are considering. If several people have the same or similar names, do not assume the first result is the right one. Compare the location and other identifying details available, and ask the person to provide their unique registration number if there is still any doubt.
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Then verify the number in the register itself. A number copied into an email, profile or proposal is a claim, not an independent confirmation. Checking it against the official entry helps establish whether the number belongs to the person you are speaking with. If the person will be working through a practice, ask which registered individual will be responsible for the architectural work and check that individual, rather than treating the practice’s general profile as proof of an employee’s status.
People often ask, “How do I check if an architect is registered in the UK?” The practical answer is to use ARB’s register, search by the person’s name or location, make sure you have the correct individual, and verify their registration number if needed. This is a more reliable check than relying on how someone describes themselves in marketing. ARB describes the register as the official list of UK architects, so it is the appropriate place to confirm the status relevant to use of the protected title.
What registration does—and does not—mean
In the UK, the title “architect” is protected: an individual may use it in business or practice only if they are on the ARB Register. That is different from a general restriction on building-design work. ARB says people who are not registered may still provide architectural services, and terms such as “architectural consultant” and “architectural assistant” are not protected in the same way. See ARB’s explanation of who may use the title and how misuse can be reported.
This distinction answers an important question: an unregistered person may offer architectural services, but may not use the protected title “architect” in business or practice. The register check therefore answers a specific question about an individual’s legal status to use that title. It does not, by itself, tell you whether an unregistered designer is competent, whether a registered architect is right for your project, or what services either person is offering. Keep those questions separate when you assess a proposal.
Also read wording carefully. Terms such as “architectural consultant” and “architectural assistant” are not protected in the same way as “architect,” according to ARB. A phrase that includes the word “architectural” is not necessarily a claim that its user is a registered architect. If you are unsure what a person’s wording means, ask directly whether they are registered with ARB and request their registration number. Do not infer registration from a job title or a business description that is different from the protected title.
Registration is a baseline credential, not a promise about an outcome. It does not establish that a particular service is included in a proposed fee, that the person has experience in your type of project, or that the completed work will meet a particular expectation. The register check and the hiring decision serve different purposes: verify status first, then examine the person’s experience, approach, services, fees and written terms.
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ARB registration is not the same as chartered membership
Some architects also choose voluntary membership of professional bodies, including RIBA, RIAS, RSUA or RSAW, and may be chartered. Chartered status is not a legal requirement to practise as an architect and does not replace registration with ARB. Conversely, a professional-body membership badge is not proof that an individual appears on the statutory register. ARB explains this distinction in its guidance for people hiring an architect.
If someone describes themselves as chartered, treat that as a separate piece of information from ARB registration. A professional-body membership can be relevant to your own assessment, but it is not the official check of whether the individual may use the protected title. If your question is “Is a chartered architect the same as an ARB-registered architect?”, the answer is no: chartered membership is voluntary, while ARB registration is the legal requirement for using the title “architect.” Check the register even when the person has a professional-body affiliation.
Equally, do not assume that a person is unregistered because they do not display a membership badge or do not describe themselves as chartered. Those are not substitutes for register status. The direct verification step remains the same for every prospective architect: find the individual in the ARB register or check the registration number they provide.
If you cannot find the person
Do not assume that one unsuccessful search explains why someone is absent. Check the spelling, try a location search, and ask for the person’s unique ARB registration number. Verify the number against the register rather than relying on a number printed in marketing material. ARB says that if the person still cannot be found in the register, they are not an architect.
A missing result is a reason to clarify the facts, not by itself proof of deliberate wrongdoing. If you suspect that someone is using the protected title without registration, ARB accepts reports with supporting evidence. Its reporting guidance says the evidence should relate to an incident within the previous 18 months. Examples include screenshots of a website, social profile, online listing or printed marketing, and emails that use the title in a way that implies UK registration. If the material is online, ARB asks for screenshots as well as links. Details and the reporting route are on ARB’s page about reporting misuse of the title “architect”.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →There are two different tasks here: establishing whether a person is registered and deciding whether to report possible misuse of the title. Start by checking the search details and asking the person for their number. That avoids treating a spelling difference, a common name or an incomplete search as conclusive evidence. If the person still cannot be found, ARB’s guidance says they are not an architect. If the surrounding circumstances suggest they are presenting themselves as one, you can consider making a report with evidence.
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For a report, preserve the material that shows the wording and where it appeared. ARB lists screenshots of websites, social profiles, online listings and printed marketing as examples of supporting evidence; emails may also be relevant if they use the title in a way that implies UK registration. For online content, include screenshots along with the links, rather than relying on a link alone. Pay attention to the 18-month evidence window: ARB says the evidence should relate to an incident within the previous 18 months. The reporting guidance explains the process and evidence expectations.
Reporting suspected title misuse is not the same as making a service complaint or seeking compensation. If your concern is that someone has used the protected title without registration, use ARB’s reporting route for title misuse. If the person is registered and your concern is their professional conduct or competence, the separate complaints process may be relevant. If your issue is a fee or contract dispute, ARB does not decide that kind of dispute or award compensation.
Check the person, not just the practice name
A company or practice name containing the word “architect” does not confirm that a particular person is registered. ARB says a limited company or limited liability partnership may use the title in its name only with ARB permission; permission may be granted where at least one registered person is responsible for architectural work. If the practice name matters to your decision, distinguish its permission to use the title from the registration status of the individual who will work with you. Check that individual in the register.
This matters because the business name and the individual’s status are different questions. A practice may have permission to use the title in its name, but that fact alone does not identify the person who will handle your project or confirm that person’s registration. Conversely, an individual’s entry in the register does not, by itself, establish the practice’s permission to use the title in its company name. Where both points matter, check each separately: ask who will be responsible for your work, verify that person, and distinguish that check from any question about the company or LLP name.
Do not treat a practice logo, website heading or company name as a substitute for an individual register search. If you are engaging a team, clarify who your contact will be and who has responsibility for the architectural work. That helps connect the status check to the service you are actually buying, without assuming that every person associated with the practice has the same status.
What to compare before you hire
Once you have checked registration, judge whether the architect and proposed service fit your project. ARB’s before-hiring guidance suggests considering experience and specialism, practice size and design approach. Ask questions that connect those factors to your project rather than treating registration as a ranking of architects.
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- Relevant experience: Ask about work similar to your project and the specific type of service you need.
- Specialism: Check whether the person’s focus aligns with the project’s requirements.
- Practice size: Understand who will handle the work and how the practice’s scale suits your needs.
- Design approach: Discuss how the architect develops and presents design proposals.
- Scope and responsibilities: Make clear which services are included, what is excluded, and what you or others must provide.
- Fee and payment basis: ARB says there is no tariff for architects’ fees. Agree the fee or the method for calculating it in writing before work starts.
- Contract terms: Read the written agreement so you understand the scope, fee basis and terms before committing.
Use these factors to compare proposals on their merits. A registration entry confirms a threshold status; it does not rank architects or show which one is best for a particular job. Experience and specialism are project-specific, so ask how the person’s previous work relates to the kind of service you need. Practice size is another comparison point: clarify how the practice’s scale fits your requirements and who is expected to handle the work. Discuss design approach directly so you understand how the architect proposes to develop and present ideas.
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Make the proposed scope explicit before comparing fees. Two offers should not be assumed to cover the same work simply because both come from architects. Ask what services are included, what is excluded and what you or other parties will need to provide. The fee is easier to assess when it is considered alongside the scope and responsibilities, rather than as a standalone figure.
ARB says there is no tariff for architects’ fees. That means you should not assume there is a standard price set by ARB. Agree the fee, or the method by which it will be calculated, in writing before work begins. Review the written agreement for the scope, fee basis and terms, and make sure you understand what you are committing to. The check is not complete when you have found a register entry: the practical hiring decision also depends on having a clear agreement about the work and its cost.
Before appointing anyone, you can bring the points together in a simple conversation: confirm the individual’s ARB registration; ask about relevant experience and specialism; clarify who will do the work and the practice’s fit for the project; discuss design approach; define the services and responsibilities; and agree the fee basis and contract terms in writing. This sequence keeps the credential check distinct from the broader question of fit while helping prevent a mismatch between what you expect and what the written service covers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to take a service concern
If a problem arises during the service, ARB generally advises clients to raise it with the architect first. ARB can investigate registered architects for unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence, but it does not award compensation or decide contract and fee disputes. Those limits are set out in ARB’s guidance on complaints and concerns about architects. Keep the distinction clear: a concern about professional conduct may fall within the regulator’s remit, while a request for compensation or a decision about a contractual fee dispute does not.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallStart by identifying what kind of issue you have. If it is a problem with the service, ARB generally advises raising it with the architect first. If the concern is about unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence by a registered architect, ARB may investigate. The regulator’s role is limited: it does not award compensation and does not decide contract or fee disputes. Those are different from the professional-conduct and competence matters ARB says it can investigate.
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Keeping these routes distinct can help you choose the right next step. A suspected unregistered use of the title belongs in the title-misuse reporting process. A concern about a registered architect’s professional conduct or serious professional incompetence may fit ARB’s complaints remit. A disagreement about what the contract requires, the fee, or compensation is not decided by ARB under the guidance described here. In each case, be clear whether you are checking status, reporting a title claim, raising a professional concern or dealing with a contractual disagreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an architect is registered in the UK?
Search the individual’s name or location in the ARB Architects Register. Confirm that the entry is the person you intend to hire, taking care with common names. If there is no clear match, ask for their unique ARB registration number and verify it in the register.
What should I do if an architect is not on the ARB register?
Check the spelling, try a location search and ask for the person’s ARB registration number. Verify the number in the register. ARB says that if the person still cannot be found, they are not an architect. If you suspect they are using the protected title without registration, ARB accepts reports with supporting evidence.
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Is a chartered architect the same as an ARB-registered architect?
No. Chartered membership of bodies such as RIBA, RIAS, RSUA or RSAW is voluntary. ARB registration is the legal requirement for using the protected title “architect,” so check the ARB Register separately.
Can someone provide architectural services without being registered?
ARB says anyone may legally provide architectural services, but only an individual on the ARB Register may use the protected title “architect” in business or practice. Terms such as “architectural consultant” and “architectural assistant” are not protected in the same way.
Does a practice name containing “architect” prove its staff are registered?
No. A limited company or LLP may use the title in its name only with ARB permission, which may be granted where at least one registered person is responsible for architectural work. Check the individual who will handle or be responsible for your project.
What evidence can I send ARB about suspected title misuse?
ARB lists screenshots of websites, social profiles, online listings, printed marketing and relevant emails as examples of supporting evidence. For online content, provide screenshots as well as links. ARB says the evidence should relate to an incident within the previous 18 months.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDoes ARB set architects’ fees or award compensation?
ARB says there is no tariff for architects’ fees; agree the fee or its calculation method in writing before work starts. ARB can investigate registered architects for unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence, but it does not award compensation or decide contract and fee disputes.
The Bottom Line
Verify the individual—not just a practice name—in the ARB Architects Register, using their name or location and checking their unique registration number if needed. Registration is the legal requirement for using the protected title “architect,” but it is not the same as chartered membership or a guarantee that the person is right for your project. After the check, compare relevant experience, services, fees and written contract terms.
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