Requirements for issuance of architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam

Requirements for issuance and renewal of architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam

Requirements for issuance and renewal of architecture practicing certificates are specifically stipulated in Article 28 of the Law on Architecture 2019 as follows:

(1) Requirements for issuance of architecture practicing certificates shall be regulated as follows:

- The intended applicant must hold university or higher qualification in the architecture sector;

- The intended applicant must have at least 3 years of experience acquired from previous involvement in providing architectural services or partnership with other self-employed practicing architects;

- The intended applicant must successfully pass the test for eligibility to receive architecture practicing certificate.

(2) Requirements for renewal of architecture practicing certificate shall be regulated as follows:

- Architecture practicing certificate has expired;

- Ongoing career development is guaranteed;

- There is none of violations against rules of professional conduct for practicing architects.

(3)Persons spending at least 10 successive years directly involving in exercising state management of architecture, taking university education or other higher training courses in the architecture sector or directly practicing architecture will be granted exemption from the requirements prescribed in point (1).

(4)  Persons winning national or international architecture awards can be exempted from the requirements prescribed in point (1).

Requirements for issuance of architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regulations on issuance and renewal of architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam

- Persons applying for issuance and renewal of architecture practicing certificates shall submit one set of documentation in person, online or by post to entities specialized in the architecture sector under the control of provincial-level People’s Committees.

- Regulatory authorities specialized in architectural activities that are put under the control of provincial-level People's Committees shall be authorized to establish a council to consider issuing and renewing architecture practicing certificates.

The council shall be composed of representatives of regulatory authorities specialized in architecture under the control of provincial-level People's Committees, socio-professional associations in practice of architecture or research institutes, establishments providing training courses in architecture and/or architecture experts.

- The council and members of the council authorized to consider issuing and renewing architecture practicing certificates shall bear responsibility before law and to the person making the decision on establishment of the council for its counsels and advices.

- Members of the council authorized to consider issuing and renewing architecture practicing certificates may hold multiple offices; the council shall be automatically closed after completion of assigned missions.

Legal basis: Article 29 of the Law on Architecture 2019

Rights and obligations of architects obtaining architecture practicing certificates in Vietnam

Rights and obligations of architects obtaining architecture practicing certificates are specified in Article 32 of the Law on Architecture 2019:

(1) Architects holding architecture practicing certificates shall be vested with the following rights:

- Render architectural services;

- Receive protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with law on intellectual property;

- Request project owners to provide information and documents related to assigned duties to produce architectural designs;

- Request project owners and construction contractors to obey approved architectural designs;

- Refuse to perform any illegal request of project owners;

- Refuse to carry out the commissioning of construction works and items in breach of approved architectural designs, engineering standards or regulations;

- Request project owners to observe contractual terms and conditions.

(2) Architects holding architecture practicing certificates shall assume the following obligations:

- Comply with rules of professional conduct for practicing architects;

- Have access to ongoing career development;

- Carry out the designer's supervision during the process of building architectural structures;

- Observe commitments to project owners stated in contracts.

Mai Thanh Loi

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