ARB CPD for architects: how the scheme works, including mandatory topics

If you are on the UK Register, ARB CPD for architects is a legal requirement, not an optional extra. The good news is that the scheme is built around what you learn rather than how many hours you clock up. According to the Architects Registration Board (ARB), June 2026 guidance, there is no fixed hours requirement: you record activities, tag a topic and write a short reflection on what you learned and how you apply it. This guide explains how the scheme works, what the mandatory topics are and how to keep your record in good order. If you also keep CPD records for other professions, our CPD hub gives a wider picture of how we approach professional learning.

What is the ARB CPD scheme?

ARB's CPD scheme applies to every architect on the UK Register. The ARB CPD webpage states that CPD is a legal requirement under the Building Safety Act 2022, and that the scheme covers "everything from attending seminars to reflecting on lessons learned during a project". It applies even if you live or work abroad, work outside architecture, or are retired or not working, although the guidance adapts what is expected in those situations.

The June 2026 guidance (version 2.0) describes a scheme that is outcomes-focused. It deliberately avoids measuring inputs such as hours spent or credit points collected. Instead, ARB reviews whether you undertook CPD, identified lessons from it and considered how to apply them.

How many CPD hours or activities do architects need?

ARB does not set a number of hours. Its CPD webpage says plainly that the scheme "does not set a minimum number of hours to complete". The scheme is activities-based rather than points-based.

ARB does, however, give a benchmark. Its June 2026 guidance recommends at least eight CPD activities a year, and the CPD webpage adds that this should include at least one activity per mandatory topic. ARB describes this as a suggestion rather than a requirement, so you decide how much you need based on your development needs and the work you do. In practice, a sensible approach is to spread activities across the year rather than leaving them until December.

ARB mandatory CPD topics

This is the part of the scheme that most architects ask about. According to the ARB CPD webpage, the scheme currently has two mandatory topics, covering 2026 as well as earlier years:

• Fire and life safety, with competence areas covering ethics, risk management and fire and life safety design (including means of escape, fire spread, emergency access and building regulations).
• Environmental sustainability, with competence areas covering ethics and professionalism, sustainable design principles, environmental and building physics, and construction technology (including climate science, low-carbon design, energy and carbon calculation and circular economy principles).

The June 2026 guidance explains that ARB may set topics that all architects must cover in a given year, giving environmental sustainability, fire and life safety design and ethics as examples. ARB reviews annually whether to set topics for the following year and says it will give advance notice if it does. Ethics appears within the competence guidelines for both current topics, so it is worth building into your plan.

How to approach the mandatory topics

ARB publishes competency guidelines for each topic. Its advice is to review them, identify your own gaps, prioritise those areas and spread your learning over time. ARB does not prescribe how to address a topic or provide the training itself. For fire and life safety, ARB notes that the Building Safety Act has added responsibilities for architects in England and that most architects will need to undertake more formal training in this area.

Because the topic list can change, check the ARB CPD webpage each year before you plan your activities. ARB also notes that where the main guidance document conflicts with the webpage, the webpage is the most up to date.

Where and how to record your CPD

You can record CPD in only two places: MyARB, or the RIBA CPD platform if you are a RIBA member. You must use one system per year and cannot split your record between them. ARB states that CPD recorded locally or on other organisations' platforms is not accepted, and you cannot upload Word or Excel files as your record.

Each activity you record needs:

• the date of the activity (for multi-day activities, the start or end date);
• the most relevant topic (you can tag only one topic per activity);
• the closest matching activity type; and
• a learning reflection covering what you learned and how you apply it to practice or how it improved your competence.

The reflection is your evidence. ARB says attendance certificates and reports are not reviewed and should not be used as evidence of undertaking CPD. Reviewers do not assess grammar, spelling or punctuation, so focus on being specific and honest. If you are keeping evidence for other professional bodies too, our guide to preparing CPD records for an audit covers the general habits that make record-keeping easier.

What counts as a CPD activity?

The June 2026 guidance lists formal training, peer discussion, practical experience, research, self-directed learning, educating others, and tours or visits. Mistakes can count too, provided you identify the aim, what went wrong, how it was mitigated and how the lessons apply going forward.

Key dates, cycle and deferment

Deferment is requested when you renew. If it is approved, you stay on the Register and do not need to record CPD for that year. ARB and RIBA deferments are separate, so RIBA members must apply to each individually, and ARB's 31 December deadline is not extended even if RIBA allows more time.

Reviews, remediation and RIBA members

ARB reviews CPD records annually for quality assurance. According to its CPD webpage, the outcome is either "Meets requirements" or "Doesn't meet requirements". Architects whose records fall short are notified and given time to put them right, and those who do not act may be removed from the Register. You can appeal a "Doesn't meet requirements" outcome. Incorrect declarations may lead to disciplinary action or removal.

RIBA members can satisfy ARB's requirements through the RIBA scheme if they follow it in full and meet ARB's additional requirements: a learning reflection for each activity, a complete record by 31 December and the CPD declaration at renewal. ARB recognises RIBA's core topics, Health, Safety and Wellbeing and Sustainable Architecture, as equivalent to its mandatory topics.

A practical plan for the year

• Read ARB's competency guidelines and note where your knowledge is thinnest.
• Choose your recording platform at the start of the year and stick with it.
• Plan activities for each mandatory topic, then add others relevant to your practice.
• Write your reflection soon after each activity, while the detail is fresh.
• Check your record well before 31 December rather than on the last day.

Frequently asked questions

Do architects have to complete a set number of CPD hours?

No. According to ARB, the scheme does not set a minimum number of hours and does not use hours or credit points as its measure. It is based on recorded activities and learning reflections.

How many CPD activities should I record each year?

ARB recommends at least eight activities a year, including at least one per mandatory topic. It describes this as a suggestion, not a requirement.

Can I record CPD in a spreadsheet or on my employer's system?

No. ARB only accepts records on MyARB or the RIBA CPD platform, and you must use one of them for the whole year.

What happens if I miss the 31 December deadline?

ARB does not allow CPD for a previous year to be recorded, and it warns that declaring CPD which was not recorded puts you at risk of removal from the Register. Speak to ARB's CPD team if you think you have grounds for deferment.

Are there exemptions from ARB CPD?

The only exemption in the June 2026 guidance is deferment, available where you could not undertake CPD for six months or longer in a year. Retired and non-working architects are still expected to develop their knowledge or skills.

Final thoughts

ARB's scheme rewards thoughtful, regular learning rather than box-ticking. Plan your activities around the mandatory topics, write honest reflections and keep an eye on the 31 December deadline, and compliance becomes routine. Always confirm current requirements on the ARB website, as the topics and guidance can be updated. For general support with managing professional learning, you can explore our CPD hub.