Practice as a Natural Person

Three ethical titles

Natural persons practise the profession of architect under one of three ethical titles:

• self-employed architect
• municipal architect
• salaried architect

Self-employed Architect

The self-employed architect practises the profession on a full-time or part-time basis and does so independently of any statutory authority or form of paid employment.

Municipal Architect

The municipal architect is recruited or appointed as an architect by a public service institution such as the State, region, province, local authority, intermunicipal body, public institution or semi-governmental agency. The issue of whether this architect is a statutory appointee or contractually bound to a public service institution is of no relevance to the ethical title of municipal architect.

Public servants and functionaries employed by the State, provinces, municipalities and public institutions may not operate as an architect outside their role. A typical example is someone who works for the municipal planning authority and does not in the course of these activities undertake architectural work. Outside his role at the planning authority he may not, therefore, practice as a self-employed architect.

The law allows an exception to the above prohibition in two cases:

• someone who teaches a subject related to architecture or construction technology:
• anyone who wishes to design, plan and project-manage their own home.

Salaried Architect

The salaried architect practises the profession in full- or part-time employment for a natural person or legal entity under the terms of a white-collar employment contract.

The architect may also only practice in self-employment with the consent of his employer and the prior authorisation of the provincial council. Before giving its authorisation the provincial council will consider the particulars of the case, especially the architect's availability under the terms set out in the employment contract.

Registration as a Natural Person

You qualify for entry to the roll of the Order of Architects when:

• You have completed your training placement and possess a training certificate.
• You have a foreign qualification with an accompanying certificate that allows direct entry to the roll (without a training placement). If in doubt, contact your provincial council to check whether your diploma qualifies.

To apply for entry to the roll you will need to submit two completed forms to the provincial council of the province in which you will carry out your main activities, i.e. the natural person application form (NL: aanvraagformulier natuurlijke persoon) and the data form (NL: gegevensformulier).

See contact details for all provincial councils.

On receipt of these documents (PDF) , the provincial council will process your application at the next council session.

On the date of entry to the roll your fee will be due. Read more about the Fees for the Order of Architects.

Change of Ethical Title

The competent provincial council must be notified immediately of any change in title. The three ethical titles are described in articles 4 to 8 inclusive of the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice.

To apply for a change of ethical title you must provide the provincial council with the change of details form (NL: formulier gegevenswijziging). On receipt of this form, your application will be processed at the next council session.

Legal instruments

You have the possibility to appeal against a decision of the provincial council to refuse registration on a list of trainees or table. This within a period of thirty days with the Dutch-speaking Council of Appeal. This appeal is lodged by registered letter, addressed to the Dutch-speaking Council of Appeal, attn. registrar Frank Jodts, Koophandelplein 23, 9000 Ghent (art. 25 and 26 Act of 26 June 1963 establishing an Order of Architects). 

If the decision was pronounced in absentia, i.e. you were not present at the hearing, you also have the possibility to lodge an objection within 30 days. This opposition is lodged by registered letter, posted within 30 days addressed to the provincial council that took the decision.