Membership and licensing

Membership classes

RIA's full class schedule explains professional standing and practising rights. New applications currently use three separate routes.

A graduate architect working on a laptop

The classes at a glance

Student Enrolled on a recognised architecture programme. No practising rights.

Professional intern Registered graduates practising under supervision — the step between a degree and independent practice.

Chartered Fully qualified, with the required professional experience.

Fellow Recognised for distinguished contribution. Conferred, not applied for.

Current application routes

The Become a Member service currently accepts applications from professional interns, firms, and East African or international applicants. The full schedule below remains a reference for professional standing, progression, renewals and classes conferred by RIA.

Full class schedule

The classes below are RIA’s own, as published in its membership material and framed by the law governing the profession of architecture in Rwanda.

Class	Who it is for	Practising rights
Student	Students enrolled on a recognised architecture programme	None
Chartered	Fully qualified professionals with a minimum of one year of professional practice experience	Yes, with a current licence
Corporate	Chartered members with a minimum of three years of professional practice experience	Yes, with a current licence
Senior corporate	Chartered members with a minimum of five years of professional practice experience	Yes, with a current licence
Professional intern	Graduates of a recognised architecture programme completing their required supervised practice	Registered, practising under supervision, no independent practice
Fellow	Chartered members with proven significant contributions to the profession and a minimum of ten years of practice	Conferred, not applied for
Retired	Members who have ceased practice after at least five years as a fully qualified chartered member	None
Honorary	Conferred by the Institute, with a minimum of five years of professional practice experience	None
Affiliate	Local or international professionals from another discipline with a proven interest in the profession	None
Visiting	Professionals registered elsewhere, practising here for a defined period or project	See foreign and project registration

Only classes carrying practising rights permit you to offer architectural services, and then only while your licence for the year is current.

Moving between classes

Movement between classes follows professional experience: chartered after one year of practice, corporate after three, senior corporate after five, and fellowship after ten years with a proven contribution to the profession. Apply in writing to the secretariat with an updated curriculum vitae, a logbook of projects and your training or CPD certificates; the Board of Registration considers the change and confirms the licence fee that applies to your new class.

FAQ

Which class am I eligible for?

It depends on your qualification and your completed professional experience. If your case is borderline, ask the Registrar before applying — it costs nothing and saves a cycle.

Can I stay in a non-practising class and still do occasional work?

No. Occasional work is still practice.

Do fellows pay a different fee?

See the fee schedule; fees vary by class.

Not sure which class fits?

Write to the Registrar before you apply — this saves a cycle if your case is borderline.

See what your class costs

Not sure which route fits? Write to architectsofrwanda@gmail.com before you apply.

See what your class costs Apply for registration