Membership and licensing
Membership classes
RIA's full class schedule explains professional standing and practising rights. New applications currently use three separate routes.
The classes at a glance
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?
Can I stay in a non-practising class and still do occasional work?
Do fellows pay a different fee?
Not sure which class fits?
See what your class costs
Not sure which route fits? Write to architectsofrwanda@gmail.com before you apply.