ARBV Architect Guidelines

We use guidelines to provide architects guidance on professional conduct and practise. Guidelines also help consumers understand what the ARBV expects of architects. Guidelines are reviewed regularly.

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Classes of registration

Architects are registered in one of 2 classes of registration:

  1. Practising
  2. Non-Practising

When registering for the first time, an architect must be registered in the Practising class. An architect is eligible to be registered in the Non-Practising class if they are already registered and they do ‘not intend to carry out work as an architect’.

ARBV Guideline - Classes of registration
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Client-architect agreements

Written agreements between architects and clients must be entered into prior to the provision of architectural services. These agreements are commonly called a ‘client-architect agreement’ (CAA) or 'client agreements', and they must contain specific information.

ARBV Guideline - Client-architect agreements
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Conflicts of interest

Architects have obligations to disclose any conflict of interest (COI) between themselves and current/former clients.

ARBV Guideline - Conflicts of interest
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Continuing professional development

The Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct requires architects to maintain suitable skills and knowledge. The ARBV refers to this as a requirement for ‘continuing professional development’ or ‘CPD’.

The requirement applies to architects registered in the practising class (architects (practising)).

ARBV Guideline - Continuing professional development
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Informing and agreeing on client access to project material

Both the architect and client are protected if they have an agreement that covers the client's access to:

  • project documents
  • files
  • data.
ARBV Guideline - Informing and agreeing on client access to project material
PDF 211.03 KB
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Obligation to inform client

Architects have obligations to keep clients informed, with reasonable promptness and with accurate and unambiguous information.

ARBV Guideline - Obligation to inform client
PDF 218.8 KB
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Professional fees and costs

Regular statements of account (commonly called ‘invoices’) must be provided by architects to clients unless the client expressly agrees otherwise, and fees and costs must not exceed the structure defined in the client-architect agreement (CAA).

ARBV Guideline - Professional fees and costs
PDF 225.51 KB
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) covers an architect against any claim made during the period of insurance for alleged negligence or breach of duty arising from an act, error or omission relating to an architect’s professional services.

ARBV Guideline - Professional Indemnity Insurance
PDF 329.81 KB
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Protection of adjoining property - section 93 insurance requirements

This guideline focuses on section 93 of the Building Act 1993 (Vic.) which sets out the insurance requirements applicable when protection work is required to be carried out. “Protection Work” is defined in the Building Act as work that is carried out to shore up, underpin or protect an adjoining property when building work is being carried out.

ARBV Guideline - Protection of adjoining property – section 93 insurance requirements
PDF 368.69 KB
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Supervision of unregistered employees

Companies and partnerships approved under the Act which provide architectural services must ensure that a director or partner is responsible for the work and that it is carried out under the supervision of an architect.

ARBV Guideline - Supervision of unregistered employees
PDF 333.46 KB
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NOTE: This Guideline is currently under review as a result of the release of the Architects Regulations 2026.

Updated

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