The Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) is the statutory authority responsible for regulating Victorian architects, approved companies and partnerships. As the State’s regulator of architects, the ARBV is dedicated to upholding high standards of professional conduct and practice by architects and contributing to better built outcomes throughout Victoria.
The ARBV is an entity within Victoria’s transport and planning portfolio, which is led by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). DTP and its entities share responsibility for Victoria’s transport and planning systems. DTP brings together transport, planning, land, precinct and policy functions within a single department to create thriving places and connected communities. Together with the portfolio agencies, DTP
is responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining Victoria’s transport, planning and land services for use by all. It serves four ministers and one parliamentary secretary.
The responsible ministers for the ARBV for the reporting period were the Hon. Harriet Shing MP, Minister for Housing and Building 1 July 2025 to 15 April 2026 and the Hon. Nick Staikos MP, Minister for Housing and Building from 15 April 2026 to 30 June 2026.
The ARBV and its initiatives are vital contributors to the transport and planning portfolio.
Our vision
A well designed, liveable and safe built environment for Victorians.
Our mission
We will engage, educate and regulate to ensure architectural services in Victoria are delivered according to high professional standards and contribute to improved building outcomes for the benefit of the community.
Our values
The ARBV operates in accordance with the Victorian Public Sector values of:
- responsiveness
- integrity
- impartiality
- accountability
- respect
- leadership
- human rights.
Our role
The ARBV administers the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) and Architects Regulations 2026 (the Regulations).
The Act establishes the framework for the regulation of architects in Victoria and has as its main purposes:
- to provide for the registration of architects
- to provide for the approval of partnerships and companies providing architectural services
- to regulate the professional conduct of architects
- to provide a procedure for handling complaints against architects
- to regulate the use of the terms “architect”, “architectural services”, “architectural design services” and “architectural design”
- to establish the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.
Our functions
The ARBV’s statutory functions include:
- assessing and determining applications for registration from individuals and applications for approval from partnerships and companies
- suspending and cancelling registrations or approvals and revoking suspensions where required
- regulating the professional conduct of architects, approved partnerships and approved companies
- preparing guidelines on professional conduct and practice for architects, approved partnerships and approved companies
- publishing information relating to the operation of the ARBV and the Act
- together with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), administering the Architectural Practice Examination (APE), the most common pathway to registration
- accrediting architectural programs of study within Victoria, in accordance with the established Architecture Program Accreditation Procedure in Australia and New Zealand administered by the AACA and in doing so, determining qualifications required for registration under the Act
- investigating and bringing proceedings for offences against the Act
- carrying out any other powers and functions which are given to it by the Act or which are necessary to implement the Act.
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