Decree No. 85/2020/ND-CP: Procedures for issuance of architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam

Procedures for issuance of architecture practicing certificates are specified in Article 25 of Decree No. 85/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government as follows:

Program, contents and forms of tests for architecture practicing certificates:

- Vietnam Association of Architects shall design and promulgate a program and documents serving the holding of tests and a set of questions after obtaining written consent from the Ministry of Construction.

- The set of questions worth 100 points must conform to Clause 2 Article 26 of the Law on Architecture, including:

+ 10 questions on professional experience, which are worth 40 points;

+ 05 questions on legal knowledge, which are worth 20 points;

+ 05 questions on specialized knowledge, which are worth 20 points;

+ 05 questions on the code of professional conduct of practicing architects, which are worth 20 points.

- Forms of a test for an architecture practicing certificate:

+ Individuals applying for an architecture practicing certificate for the first time shall take the test by completing a multiple choice test and oral questions. The oral test shall be conducted immediately after the result of the multiple choice test is announced. In this test, each individual is required to draw lots and then answer up to 04 questions about knowledge and application thereof to individuals’ practice of architecture in line with the set of questions mentioned in Clause 2 of this Article;

+ Individuals applying for re-issuance or renewal of their architecture practicing certificate shall take the test by completing a multiple choice test.

- To pass the test, an individual must be awarded at least 70 points including 16 points for the legal knowledge section; for the remaining sections, such individual must be awarded at least 50% of the points specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

- A test shall be held every 06 months or upon request depending on the actual requirements at a licensed test location. In case of failure to hold the test, it is required to notify the applicant once in writing within 15 days from receipt of the registration form.

- Any individual that wishes to register to take a test shall send a registration form according to the form provided in the Appendix III hereof together with a copy of his/her training certificate to the agency that holds the test, whether online, by post or in person.

- An organization or agency holding a test for architectural practicing certificates shall:

+ notify test results to individuals within 15 days after the date of the test;

+ issue certificates of test results to individuals who pass the test.

- The test results shall be valid for up to 12 months from the date of issuance of the certificate of test results. If the certificate of test results is lost, an application for re-issuance of the certificate shall be prepared.

View more details at Decree No. 85/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from September 07, 2020.

Thanh Thao

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