ARBV Update

Special Edition, April 2026

Reminder about renewal changes

Renewal for 2026 will start in May and must be completed by Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Renewal must be completed by all architects (practising and non-practising), as well as approved companies and partnerships.

The recent changes to renewal mean that if you don’t renew by 30 June, additional requirements will apply:

• a late fee is payable if renewal is not completed by 30 June
• registration ceases if renewal is not completed by 1 August and registrant details will be removed from the Register of Architects
• an application to reinstate registration or approval can be made within 2 months (i.e. by 1 October). A reinstatement fee will apply in addition to the renewal fee. Reinstatement after 2 months is at the discretion of the ARBV.

This is a snapshot of the changes:

In more detail, the changes mean that the following requirements must be completed by 30 June:

• payment of renewal fees (previously due on 1 July) for practising architects, companies and partnerships
• practising architects, companies and partnerships must provide the ARBV with proof of required professional indemnity insurance coverage
• practising architects must also provide the ARBV with declarations at renewal that:
  • they have complied with continuing professional development requirements and will provide written proof of compliance if requested by the ARBV
  • they are a fit and proper person to continue practising as an architect
• non-practising architects must provide the ARBV with declarations at renewal that:
  • they intend to remain non-practising and will advise the ARBV if that intention changes
  • they are a fit and proper person to be registered.

The ARBV will issue correspondence letting you know when the renewal period has started.

We are hosting a webinar about the changes to renewal and the amendments to the Architects Regulations. Webinar details are set out below.

Changes to the Architects Regulations

The Architects Regulations 2026 came into operation on 25 April 2026.

A sunset review was undertaken by the Department of Transport and Planning to inform the remake of the Regulations and ensure that they:

• remain fit for purpose in a changing building and construction environment
• address ongoing risks associated with professional competency, CPD compliance and building quality
• strengthen consumer protection
• are aligned with amendments made to the Architects Act in 2025.

Changes to the Regulations include:

• prescribing CPD requirements
• introduction of new fees arising from the recent Act amendments
• changes to information included on the public Register of Architects
• amendments to the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct (the Code).

Importantly, the Code (Schedule 1 of the Regulations) has been restructured and revised and while it may look different, many of the obligations are drawn from the 2015 Code or the Act. To assist registrants to understand the changes we have developed a summary of the changes to the Code.

To read the Architects Regulations, click here.

CPD Webinar: Important changes to the regulatory framework for architects

Please join us on Wednesday 29 April 2026, 12–1.30pm for a 1.5 hour webinar. This presentation will provide an overview of the recently introduced changes to the Architects Act, as well as the amendments to the Architects Regulations.

The webinar will cover changes to the renewal process and step through the key elements of the amended Regulations, including changes to CPD requirements and the Code.

There will be a Q&A session at the conclusion of the presentation to answer any questions.

Don’t miss this important webinar! 

CPD Webinar: Wednesday 29 April 2026
Time:  12pm – 1.30pm 
Venue: Online via Teams
Free event

We will be hosting this webinar as a Town Hall meeting - there is no requirement to register. Simply click this link to join at 12pm Wednesday 29 April 2026.  

Need help? Attend a town hall in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support