Where can I do a Master of Architecture in Canada that leads toward licensure?
If you want to be licensed in Canada, choose a professional MArch accredited by the CACB, which lists 12 universities including UBC, Toronto, McGill, Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan and Calgary. Check whether your Indian BArch already gives you another certification route, and avoid post-professional degrees that do not lead to licensure.
If licensure is your goal, begin with accreditation. The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) lists professional Master of Architecture programs that meet national standards, and a degree outside that list can leave you short of the academic requirement. Your prior Indian degree also changes which route suits you.
CACB-accredited programs to consider
| University | Notes for your shortlist |
|---|---|
| UBC | Professional MArch; check the current accreditation term on the CACB page |
| University of Toronto | Professional MArch; check the current accreditation term |
| McGill | Professional MArch; check the prior-study requirements for your degree |
| Waterloo | The MArch is the accredited degree; Waterloo describes it as part of an accredited pathway with its pre-professional degree, so check eligibility |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Professional MArch |
| Calgary | Professional MArch; check the current accreditation term |
| Carleton, Dalhousie, Manitoba, Laurentian, Laval, Montréal | Also accredited; check the language of instruction at Laval and Montréal |
Use the CACB accredited program directory to confirm the full and current list of 12 before you apply.
How the licensing pathway works
- Complete a CACB-accredited professional architecture degree, or have your education assessed through the CACB route for internationally educated candidates.
- Register with the architectural regulator in the province where you plan to practise.
- Complete required experience through the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP).
- Pass the required examinations, including the ExAC.
- Meet any remaining requirements set by the provincial regulator.
My Advice
If you already hold a five year BArch from India, speak with the CACB about your academic certification route before paying for a second professional degree. You may need less study than you expect, or a different type of program. Whichever route you pick, confirm the accreditation status on the CACB site on the day you apply.
This information is available on: cacb.ca
Looking for a specific course in Canada?
We will find the universities that offer it, and whether you will get in.
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