ARB mandatory CPD topics: what architects must cover each year

According to ARB's CPD page, the scheme currently has two mandatory topics: fire and life safety, and environmental sustainability. ARB does not set a minimum number of hours. It suggests, but does not require, at least eight CPD activities a year, and you must record your CPD by 31 December. This post is about architects on the UK register of the Architects Registration Board (ARB), the statutory regulator. For the wider picture, see our guide to how the ARB CPD scheme works.

The two mandatory topics

ARB's CPD page says: "The scheme has two mandatory topics - fire and life safety and environmental sustainability." ARB's scheme document (published 13 December 2023) says ARB may set topics each year that all architects must cover, and that architects should apply them to their own practice. The examples it gives are environmental sustainability, fire and life safety design, and ethics. It also says any topics would be announced with published guidance and notice.

The page also says ARB reviews each year whether to set mandatory topics for the following year. Because that can change, check ARB's CPD page for the year you are recording before you plan your learning.

ARB publishes learning resources for both topics. ARB's mandatory topic guidance page was written for 2024, when architects were expected to carry out CPD on both. Treat any year-specific wording there as dated and rely on the main CPD page for the current position.

What "mandatory" means in practice

ARB describes the scheme as outcomes-focused. In the scheme document, mandatory topics are to be applied to your own practice, so the activity should be relevant to the work you actually do. The documents we read do not prescribe a particular course, provider or format, and ARB says formal and informal activities can count as long as you develop professionally and can apply the learning. That can include reading, on-the-job learning, training, or feedback from clients and colleagues.

ARB's CPD page also states that it will not accept CPD certificates as evidence. Your learning reflections serve as the evidence instead, so attending an event is not enough on its own.

Quick reference

How to record your CPD

ARB says you must record your CPD on MyARB or on RIBA's platform. Each record needs the activity date (start or end date for multi-day activities), a topic, an activity type and a learning reflection. The scheme document says the reflection should cover what you learned, how you apply it, the benefits, how your competence has improved and your next steps. Where you use RIBA's platform, the scheme document says you must provide a copy of the record if ARB asks.

ARB also suggests spreading activities through the year rather than leaving everything until the end. Registration runs on the calendar year, so your record runs from 1 January up to re-registration in November or December, with ARB's recording deadline falling on 31 December.

If you are newly registered, the scheme document says you must carry out CPD but do not need to log it until the new calendar year. For example, someone joining in 2024 starts logging in January 2025.

Linking your CPD to the topics

One practical approach is to plan a small number of activities for each mandatory topic early in the year, then add other learning around your practice. The scheme document says one activity can produce several outcomes and that one outcome can come from several activities. So a single piece of learning on, for example, fire safety in a residential project may be worth recording against more than one aim, as long as the reflection honestly reflects what you learned.

ARB does not tell you how much time to spend on each topic. If you want a rule of thumb, ARB's own suggestion is at least eight activities a year including the two mandatory topics. Record the learning you actually do rather than working backwards from a target.

Planning your year

A simple way to keep the mandatory topics from slipping is to decide in the first quarter what you will do on each, and to put a recurring reminder in your diary to record activities soon after they happen. ARB suggests spreading activity through the year, and a record made shortly after an activity is more likely to carry a useful reflection. Because ARB audits records on a risk basis and will not accept certificates, the quality of your written reflection is what counts. Say what you learned, how you used it and what you will do next, in your own words.

Audit and what happens if you do not comply

The scheme document says ARB audits a sample of records each year, selected randomly on a risk basis. Risk factors include not having been audited before, deferring the previous year, previous disciplinary proceedings, past CPD failure, or a significant period off the Register. The audit outcomes are "Meets requirements", "Action needed" or "Doesn't meet requirements".

The scheme document says architects told they are non-compliant who do not take the required remedial steps within the set period will be removed from the Register. It also says falsely confirming CPD that was not done is treated as dishonesty and may lead to an investigation of unacceptable professional conduct.

ARB reports that 2025 was the first mandatory year of the scheme and that more than 85% of architects initially complied.

Deferments

According to the scheme document, deferment is available for parental leave or long-term sickness. It lasts one year, you stay on the Register, and you must provide a personal development plan explaining how you will catch up. Deferring architects may need to complete two years' CPD in the next cycle and are audited automatically the following year. Repeated deferments are only agreed in exceptional circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Does ARB require a set number of CPD hours?

No. ARB's CPD page says the scheme does not set a minimum number of hours. It suggests at least eight activities per year.

Are the mandatory topics the same every year?

Not necessarily. ARB's page says it reviews each year whether to set mandatory topics for the following year. Check the CPD page for the year you are recording.

Can I upload certificates as proof?

No. ARB says it will not accept CPD certificates as evidence. Your learning reflections are the evidence.

Is RIBA CPD the same as ARB CPD?

No. ARB is the statutory regulator of architects in the UK, and the RIBA is a professional body. You can use RIBA's recording platform to meet ARB's recording requirement, but the two bodies have their own rules. RIBA members have separate RIBA requirements.

Where can I find more learning on the mandatory topics?

ARB publishes learning resources on its website. Our CPD hub also collects guides for regulated professions.

In summary

For ARB, plan learning on fire and life safety and environmental sustainability, record dated activities with honest reflections on MyARB or the RIBA platform, and finish by 31 December. There is no hours target.

This article is general information, not regulatory or professional advice. ARB can change its requirements, so always check the current guidance on the ARB website.