18.—(1) Where a registered architect desires to engage in the practice of architecture in Singapore after 31st December of any year, he shall, not later than 1st December of that year and in such form and manner as may be prescribed, apply for a practising certificate authorising him to engage in the practice of architecture during the ensuing year.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where a registered architect applies for a practising certificate for the first time after registration under section 15, the application may be made at any time during the year and the registered architect may be issued a practising certificate for the remainder of the year in which the application is made.
(3) Any application by a registered architect under this section shall be accompanied by —
(a)
a declaration in writing stating —
(i)
his full name;
(ii)
the name of the architectural practice under which he practises, or by which he is employed; and
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(iii)
the principal and any other address or addresses of the architectural practice under which he practises, or by which he is employed;
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(b)
such evidence as the Board may require that the applicant has complied with or is exempt from the rules relating to insurance against professional liability; and
(c)
the prescribed fee,
and the Board shall, subject to subsection (4), thereupon issue to the registered architect a practising certificate.
(4) The Board may refuse to issue a practising certificate if —
(a)
the applicant is an undischarged bankrupt;
(b)
the applicant has entered into a composition with his creditors or a deed of arrangement for the benefit of his creditors;
(c)
the applicant does not intend to practise either on his own account or in partnership, or is not or not about to be employed by an architectural practice;
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(d)
the declaration under subsection (3) contains a statement that to its knowledge is false in a material particular;
(e)
the conduct of the applicant affords reasonable grounds for believing that he will not engage in the practice of architecture in Singapore in accordance with any written law and with honesty and integrity;
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(f)
the Board is not satisfied that the applicant has complied with the prescribed requirements relating to continuing professional education;
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(g)
the Board does not approve the name of the architectural practice under which the registered architect intends to carry on his practice or by which he is employed;
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(h)
the applicant’s qualification for registration under section 15(1)(a), (b) or (c) has been withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded or granted;
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(i)
the applicant has failed to comply with any of the conditions imposed by the Minister under section 15(3); or
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(j)
the applicant refuses or fails to comply with —
(i)
an order made (whether before, on or after the date of commencement of section 18(d) of the Architects (Amendment) Act 2017) by the Board under section 31B(1)(a) (pursuant to the recommendation of an Investigation Committee under section 31A(d)), or under section 31B(1)(c);
(ii)
an order made (whether before, on or after the date of commencement of section 18(d) of the Architects (Amendment) Act 2017) by a Disciplinary Committee under section 31G(2)(c) or (3) to pay a penalty or sum, or under section 31G(2)(e); or
(iii)
any prohibition, restriction or condition imposed by the Board under section 15(2B).
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(5) Any registered architect (not being a registered architect who is applying for a practising certificate for the first time) who fails to apply for a practising certificate in the manner and within the period specified in subsection (1) may, on the making of an application in such form and on payment of such additional fee as may be prescribed, be issued a practising certificate for —
(a)
the ensuing year if the application is made during the month of December of any year; or
(b)
the remainder of the year if the application is made on or after 1st January of any year.
(6) Subject to subsection (9), a practising certificate shall, unless earlier cancelled, be in force from the date of its issue until 31st December of the year in respect of which it is issued.
(7) A practising certificate shall specify the name, the principal address and all other addresses of the architectural practice under which the registered architect is practising or by which he is employed.
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(8) Any change in such name or address shall be notified by the registered architect concerned to the Registrar within 2 weeks of such change and an endorsement of such change shall be obtained from the Registrar.
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(9) Where the registration of a registered architect is cancelled under section 17B(2) or 31G(2)(a), the practising certificate, if any, of that architect for the time being in force shall expire forthwith and the Registrar shall enter the date of such expiration on the register of practitioners and remove from that register the name of that architect.
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(10) Any person whose application for a practising certificate has been refused by the Board may, within 30 days after being notified of such refusal, appeal to the General Division of the High Court whose decision shall be final.