Architects (Amendment) Rules 2003

Status:

Published in Subsidiary Legislation Supplement
on 31 Dec 2003

No. S 668

Architects Act

(Chapter 12)

Architects (Amendment) Rules 2003

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 of the Architects Act, the Board of Architects, with the approval of the Minister for National Development, hereby makes the following Rules:

Citation and commencement

1. These Rules may be cited as the Architects (Amendment) Rules 2003 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2004.

New rules 10A and 10B

2. The Architects Rules (R 1) are amended by inserting, immediately above rule 11 in Part II, the following rules:

“Definitions of this Part

10A.—(1) In this Part —

“continuing professional development point” means a continuing professional development point which a registered architect obtains by successfully completing any continuing professional development program;

“continuing professional development program” means any activity, course or programme in the list of activities, courses or programmes published by the Board under rule 13B;

“qualifying period”, in relation to a registered architect, means the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date on which the practising certificate in respect of which he has made an application is to commence;

“requisite continuing professional development points”, in relation to a registered architect, means the number of continuing professional development points he is required to obtain under rule 13A(2), (3) or (4), as the case may be.

(2) In this Part, a registered architect obtains a specified number of continuing professional development points if he successfully completes one or more of the activities, courses or programmes in the list published under rule 13B, the total number of continuing professional development points of which equals or exceeds that specified number.

Application

10B. Rules 13A to 13D shall apply only to a registered architect who applies on or after 1st January 2004 for a practising certificate authorising him to engage in the practice of architecture after 31st December 2004.”.

New rules 13A to 13D

3. The Architects Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after rule 13, the following rules:

“Requirements as to continuing professional education

13A.—(1) For the purposes of section 18(4)(f) of the Act, the Board may refuse to issue a practising certificate to a registered architect if he fails to satisfy the Board that he has obtained or will obtain the requisite continuing professional development points during the qualifying period.

(2) Where a registered architect is below the age of 60 years on the date on which the practising certificate in respect of which he has made an application is to commence, the requisite continuing professional development points he is required to obtain before a practising certificate may be issued to him is 20 continuing professional development points.

(3) Where a registered architect is of or above the age of 60 years but below the age of 70 years on the date on which the practising certificate in respect of which he has made an application is to commence, the requisite continuing professional development points he is required to obtain before a practising certificate may be issued to him is 15 continuing professional development points.

(4) Where a registered architect is of or above the age of 70 years on the date on which the practising certificate in respect of which he has made an application is to commence, the requisite continuing professional development points he is required to obtain before a practising certificate may be issued to him is 10 continuing professional development points.

(5) The Board may issue a practising certificate to a registered architect notwithstanding that he has failed to obtain the requisite continuing professional development points applicable to him during the qualifying period if the registered architect gives an undertaking that he will make up for the shortfall in the requisite continuing professional development points during the period of 12 months immediately following the last day of the qualifying period.

(6) If a practising certificate has been issued to a registered architect by virtue of an undertaking given under paragraph (5), any continuing professional development points obtained by the registered architect to make up for the shortfall in the requisite continuing professional development points referred to in that paragraph shall be disregarded for the purpose of a subsequent application for a practising certificate.

(7) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), the Board may, in such special circumstances as it may determine, issue a practising certificate to a registered architect even though he has failed to satisfy the Board that he has obtained the requisite continuing professional development points applicable to him during the qualifying period.

List of activities, etc., with professional development points

13B. The Board shall publish on its Internet website a list of activities, courses and programmes for the purposes of this Part and the number of continuing professional development points which a registered architect obtains by successfully completing each of the activities, courses and programmes.

Issue of guidelines and directives

13C. For the purposes of rules 13A and 13B, the Board may issue such guidelines and directives, not inconsistent with the provisions of these Rules, as the Board considers necessary.

Transitional provision

13D. Where —

(a)

a registered architect applies on or after 1st January 2004 for a practising certificate authorising him to engage in the practice of architecture in the year 2005; and

(b)

he had, at any time during the period of 12 months immediately preceding 1st January 2004, successfully completed any activity, course or programme —

(i)	published on the Internet website of the Board before 1st January 2004; and
(ii)	identified therein as an activity, course or programme for which a registered architect will obtain a specified number of continuing professional development points (referred to in this rule as the earlier points) if he successfully completes it,

then the earlier points shall be treated as continuing professional development points obtained by the registered architect during the qualifying period for that application.”.

Amendment of rule 18

4. Rule 18(1) of the Architects Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (c); and

(b)

by deleting the full-stop at the end of sub-paragraph (d) and substituting the word “; and”, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following sub-paragraph:

“(e)	a certified true copy of the resolution passed by the board of directors of the corporation under section 20(1)(d) (ii) or (2)(c)(iii) of the Act.”.

[G.N. Nos. S139/95; S394/2000]

Made this 29th day of December 2003.

CHAN SUI HIM

President,
Board of Architects,
Singapore.

[ND 202/1-19 Vol. 12; AG/LEG/SL/12/2002/1 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 38(3) of the Architects Act).

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