The OAA regulates individuals and legal entities involved in the practice of architecture in Ontario. Anyone who wants to practise architecture in the province and offer professional services to the public must first obtain a Certificate of Practice (CoP).
An applicant for a Certificate of Practice must be an Architect in good standing with the OAA, hold professional liability insurance, and comply with applicable regulations. For further information, including coverage amount requirements, review Terms and Conditions for Mandatory Professional Liability Insurance.
As per the Architects Act and Regulations, the OAA requires all members and CoP holders to keep their records current and true. Please contact the OAA for any of the following:
- any change to a firm’s Certificate of Practice, such as a change in firm name, contact information, or change in corporate structure/ownership;
- addition or subtraction of licensed members to the firm’s CoP; and
- for corporations, any and all proposed alterations or amendments to the corporation’s incorporating documents, bylaws, or corporate structure, including any unanimous shareholder agreements pertaining thereto.
Additionally, all practices must participate in the OAA Practice Consultation Services review program, which includes responding to a mandatory questionnaire in the first year and also upon request every 10 years.
Categories of Certificates of Practice
- Corporation
- Partnership
- Sole Proprietor
Applications and Guidelines:
Corporation Application and Guidelines
Partnership Application and Guidelines
Sole Proprietorship Applications and Guidelines
Once complete, submit your application and supporting documents to certificateofpractice@oaa.on.ca.