Practice as a Natural Person

Natural persons practise the profession of architect under one of three ethical titles:

• self-employed architect
• municipal architect
• salaried architect

Self-employed Architect

The self-employed architect practises the profession on a full-time or part-time basis and does so independently of any statutory authority or form of paid employment.

Municipal Architect

The municipal architect is recruited or appointed as an architect by a public service institution such as the State, region, province, local authority, intermunicipal body, public institution or semi-governmental agency. The issue of whether this architect is a statutory appointee or contractually bound to a public service institution is of no relevance to the ethical title of municipal architect.

Public servants and functionaries employed by the State, provinces, municipalities and public institutions may not operate as an architect outside their role. A typical example is someone who works for the municipal planning authority and does not in the course of these activities undertake architectural work. Outside his role at the planning authority he may not, therefore, practice as a self-employed architect.

The law allows an exception to the above prohibition in two cases:

• someone who teaches a subject related to architecture or construction technology:
• anyone who wishes to design, plan and project-manage their own home.

Salaried Architect

The salaried architect practises the profession in full- or part-time employment for a natural person or legal entity under the terms of a white-collar employment contract.

The architect may also only practice in self-employment with the consent of his employer and the prior authorisation of the provincial council. Before giving its authorisation the provincial council will consider the particulars of the case, especially the architect's availability under the terms set out in the employment contract.

Change of Ethical Title

The competent provincial council must be notified immediately of any change in title. The three ethical titles are described in articles 4 to 8 inclusive of the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice.

To apply for a change of ethical title you must provide the provincial council with the change of details form. On receipt of this form, your application will be processed at the next council session.

Change of details form (Dutch)