Include your BEFA file number with each document, and note that eligibility is confirmed only once the CACB receives the certified hard copies, not when scanned documents are submitted electronically.
Eligibility Process
Before proceeding with your application, carefully review all mandatory eligibility requirements to ensure you meet the requirements of the BEFA Program.
For a step-by-step overview, we encourage you to consult the eligibility resources, which include a process flow chart.
Important Note. The CACB reserves the right to request additional documentation and/or information at any stage of the process to ensure full compliance with the BEFA Certification requirements. Additionally, all documentation submitted becomes the property of the CACB and will not be returned.
Step 1: Application
Applicants must submit their application to the CACB through the online registration system and send the required certified hard copies to the CACB office within two (2) months of paying the eligibility fee.
Important Note. The eligibility fee is non-refundable. Applicants should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
Required Documentation
BEFA Certification requires the following documents:
- 1- Proof of of architectural education (certified true copy);
- 2- Proof of one of the following:
- licensure/registration in a jurisdiction outside Canada; or
- the equivalents to registration/licensure in that /those jurisdiction(s), which may be considered.
All documents must be in the official language selected for your application (English or French). If the originals are in another language, provide a certified true copy of an official translation for each document.
Certified true copies must be issued by the original institution, a lawyer, or a notary; if you cannot provide these, a statutory declaration sworn before a lawyer, notary, or (in Ontario) a Commissioner of Oaths will be accepted.
While your application and scanned documents are submitted electronically, eligibility will not be confirmed until the CACB receives the certified hard copies. All materials become the property of the CACB and will not be returned, and the CACB may request additional documentation or information to meet the BEFA Certification Program requirements.
Submission Instructions
Mail or courier all certified true hard copies to:
Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB)
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 710
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
Step 2: Review
The application will be reviewed within two (2) weeks of the hard copies being received by the CACB office.
Step 3: Possible Outcomes
If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, they will proceed to the Demonstration of Competency stage.
If the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements, the CACB office will provide follow-up communication outlining the rationale for the decision. Applicants have the right to appeal the CACB decision.