Questions and Answers Arising from the AIBC Special Meeting

Updated February 16, 2009

Section D: Specialist Designations

D1. Q: Doctors all start with the same basic education, assuring the public interest has been protected through a basic standard of care after which a medical doctor can specialize with more education and qualification. In what way is this similar to what is presently proposed for AIBC specialization designations?

D2. Q: Can you explain how the act - and the profession - will administer both “associates” and “specialists”? Will size and type of building also be a specialty?

D3. Q: How has “the public” expressed its requirement for “inclusion” -“audits”, “associate members” and particularly “specialization” v. generalist practitioners?

D4. Q: Is it the intent of the new act that only a designated specialty architect can practise in that specialty?

D5. Q: Will there be new educational +/or experience requirements for new specialty designation?

D6. Q: Does AIBC Council currently have plans to create new specialist designations under the government’s new Bill 10?

A: The issue of specialist designations is not one proposed by the AIBC for new legislation. The AIBC (along with APEGBC) was granted authority to create specialist designations through Bill 10 which was passed by government on its own initiative.

If any specialist designations are created under the authority granted by Bill 10, it will be done in pretty much the same manner as the medical profession. First, any such designation will have to be approved by the membership through bylaw vote. Second, only members who have already met the public interest entry requirements for the profession will be eligible to qualify for a designation. Finally, the profession itself will set the additional competency requirements (over and above those for entry to the profession) for any specialist designation. The provincial government passed into law Bill 10, which permits specialist designations under existing legislation affecting both architects and engineers. While this bill was passed by the government without any advance notice for AIBC Council, the AIBC believes the government‘s intent was to permit specialist designations (such as “Building Envelope Specialist”) in order to provide assurance to the public that an individual with such a designation has the appropriate qualifications and expertise above and beyond what architects ordinarily do. An apt comparison would be the specialist areas established in the health sector for doctors, and the related standards for qualification.

D2. Q: Can you explain how the act - and the profession - will administer both “associates” and “specialists”? Will size and type of building also be a specialty?

A: Associates and specialists are two distinct things. Specialist designations, if established, will be available to architects wishing to identify their expertise in a specific aspect of practice recognized and regulated by the AIBC. Currently, the AIBC has not designated any specialists pursuant to Bill 10. Any such specialist designation would first have to be developed by the AIBC with registrant input. It would then require the support of AIBC Council before being put to a bylaw (registrant) vote. If passed, any registrants acquiring a specialist designation would have the same legislative and ethical expectations as other registrants. There is no separate administration under consideration for specialists other than development of requisite competency expectations (education, experience, examination and continuing education).

Under the proposed new legislation, the AIBC will have authority to regulate the practise of architecture over a wider range of building sizes and types. It will do this through bylaws that stipulate who can practise in which areas, based on demonstrated competency. This would apply to all registrants, including those currently identified as “associates”.

Specialization will not be determined by building size and type.

D3. Q: How has “the public” expressed its requirement for “inclusion” -“audits”, “associate members” and particularly “specialization” v. generalist practitioners?

A: The public “speaks” to the AIBC in a number of ways, including through direct interaction (such as professional conduct complaints and involvement as lay members on AIBC Council, boards and committees) and indirect communication (through the public’s representatives in government). The provincial government’s decision to enact Bill 10 permitting specialist designations is an example of public policy/public interest being expressed through government, and reflects the industry-wide support that emerged through the provincial government’s Modernization Strategy initiative. The government’s keen interest in new architectural legislation that provides the broadest possible level of public protection and transparency in regulating the profession is another clear manifestation of the public expression.

D4. Q: Is it the intent of the new act that only a designated specialty architect can practise in that specialty?

A: The proposed new act does not establish or speak to specialist designations. Under what has been proposed, the scope of practice for architects will not change, while the scopes of practice for other registrants of the AIBC will be set out in bylaws that will enable their practise in areas applicable to their education, experience and expertise. The new legislation, however, would maintain the AIBC’s ability to establish areas of specialization through registrant-approved bylaws. The basic premise of specialization is similar to the current Enhanced Building Envelope Services provided by BEPs. Where such specialists are retained for specialized scopes of practice independent of the project architect, the project architect will continue to have overall responsibility for design and field review.

D5. Q: Will there be new educational +/or experience requirements for new specialty designation?

A: Yes, along with examination and continuing education requirements.

D6. Q: Does AIBC Council currently have plans to create new specialist designations under the government’s new Bill 10?

A: AIBC Council is exploring the prospect of specialist designations for Building Envelope Professional and Certified Professional. Keep in mind that the presence of one or both of these specialists on a project would not relieve architects of their basic responsibilities under the Architects Act and as outlined in the British Columbia Building Code, nor would it impact an architect’s fundamental scope of practice.

Should you have any further questions regarding the proposed legislation, please submit them using the Feedback resource on the New Legislation web page.

The complete Q&A is also available in PDF format. Please click here to download.