Dutch Parliament Approves Title Act
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Submitted by BNI Admin on Mon, 15/02/2010 - 14:59

09-02-2010 - The Dutch Parliament approved an important alteration of the Architects Title Act. Since 1987 the titles of Architects, Interior Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designers have been reserved to registered professionals in the Netherlands. The now approved review of the Title Act introduces an obligation for continuing education for Interior Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designers (already into force for Architects), as well as a two-year professional experience period before entry into the Register. The most important change however for the Interior Architects is the requirement of a training concluded with a Master’s Degree. This requirement brings the training level of Interior Architects in line with that of the other three architectural disciplines.

 
The objectives which formed the basis for the Architects Title Act of 1987 are:
1. Introducing guarantees of skilled professional practice by Architects, Urban Designers, Landscape Architects and Interior Architects to promote the quality of the built environment and the landscape;
2. Implementing European directives for Architects, Urban Designers, Landscape Architects and Interior Architects;
3. Consumer protection. This means that the principal may assume that if he engages a registered designer, that individual will possess sufficient expertise to execute the assignment.
 
The current changes in the Architects Title Act aim to make it a more powerful instrument of quality. Registered designers under the new act; 1) must have undergone appropriate training on Master level, 2) must have acquired sufficient professional experience in a two year supervised experience period, and 3) must inform their Clients and principals on their expertise and professional competence, including continuing education and training activities, and coverage of the work to be carried out through a professional liability insurance policy.
The new Act comes into effect as of 1 January 2011, and following a transition period the two year training period comes in effect in 2015. It is expected that the Master’s Degree requirement for Interior Architects will also be introduced as of 2015.
 
At this moment the qualifying training of Interior Architects in the Netherlands is on a 4-year Bachelor level. There is currently no qualifying university course in Interior Architecture. It is expected that additional 2-year Master courses will start as of September 2010 or early 2011. These newly set up courses are currently undergoing the official accreditation procedure. A national training profile for the courses has been set up in a close cooperation between BNI, the Dutch Association of Interior Architects, the Architects Registration Board and the Higher Education Council, and was endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
 
Applicants for registration must hold a diploma as specified in the Architects Title Act. Holders of a diploma in Interior Architecture who followed their study in another country than the Netherlands can be registered as such if their professional qualification is assessed and recognized by the Architects Registration Board (Stichting Bureau Architectenregister).
 
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