RIBA CPD: recording and requirements for Chartered Members
RIBA Chartered Members must record at least 35 hours of CPD a year, 20 of them in the ten core curriculum topics. Here is how recording works and how it differs from ARB.
According to the RIBA, Chartered Members must undertake and record at least 35 hours of CPD every year, and at least 20 of those hours must come from the ten mandatory RIBA core curriculum topics. You record your CPD on the RIBA's online CPD recording platform, and the RIBA says it cannot accept other forms of record or proof. This is a RIBA membership requirement. It is separate from the Architects Registration Board (ARB), which regulates architects in the UK and has its own CPD scheme.
RIBA and ARB are different bodies
The RIBA is a professional body, and its CPD rules apply to its Chartered Members as a condition of membership. ARB is the statutory regulator, and its CPD scheme applies to every architect on the register. An architect who is both on the ARB register and a RIBA Chartered Member has to meet both sets of requirements. The RIBA says members of more than one professional body must record CPD separately for each. ARB lets architects record on either MyARB or the RIBA platform. Our guide to how the ARB CPD scheme works sets out the regulator's side.
The RIBA CPD requirement
The RIBA's CPD requirements page says you need to undertake and record at least 35 hours of CPD every year, and that at least 20 of the 35 hours must be spent on the ten mandatory RIBA core curriculum topics. The RIBA's CPD compliance policy (June 2026 version) states this for practising Chartered Members and says at least two of the hours must fall within each of the ten core topics. The RIBA's own quick guide notes that 35 hours a year equates to 45 minutes a week.
The obligation starts when you join, so it is pro-rated for your first year. The RIBA says it applies to Chartered Members regardless of their professional circumstances; only fully retired members who are not working in any professional or advisory capacity are exempt.
The ten core curriculum topics
The RIBA lists these as its mandatory core curriculum topics:
- Architecture for Social Purpose
- Health, safety and wellbeing
- Business, clients and services
- Legal, regulatory and statutory compliance
- Procurement and contracts
- Sustainable architecture
- Inclusive environments
- Places, planning and communities
- Building conservation and heritage
- Design, construction and technology
The RIBA says you can choose your own CPD within these topics. It can be structured or informal and can come from any source, as long as it reflects the rules that apply where you practise.
Quick reference
| Item | What the RIBA says |
|---|---|
| Total hours | At least 35 hours of CPD every year |
| Core curriculum | At least 20 of the 35 hours from the ten core topics; at least 2 hours in each topic (compliance policy) |
| Where to record | The RIBA online CPD recording platform |
| Other proof | Not accepted; certificates and attendance notes are not required |
| Recording cycle | 1 January to 31 December; record completed by 31 December |
| Health and Safety test | Applies from 1 January 2025 where designer's duties apply; free; to be passed every 5 years |
| Deferral | Available for maternity, parental, carer, adoption or long-term sick leave |
Recording your CPD
The RIBA says members must record their own activities on its online CPD recording tool. Its compliance policy states that practising Chartered Members are required to record CPD electronically on the RIBA CPD Recording Platform, and that the RIBA does not require attendance notes or certificates. Recording is part of compliance: not recording is treated as a compliance failure.
The compliance policy sets the recording cycle as 1 January to 31 December, with a record to be completed by 31 December of the same year. For the 2025 record, the RIBA's requirements page gave an extended deadline of 30 June 2026. That extension has now passed, so do not assume similar extra time will be offered; check the current RIBA page for the year you are recording.
Is there an annual declaration?
None of the RIBA CPD pages we read describes a separate annual CPD declaration. The evidence is the record on the RIBA platform. The compliance policy does say practising Chartered Members will be asked to declare regularly whether their work involves designer's duties, which determines whether the Health and Safety test applies to them.
The Health and Safety test
From 1 January 2025, the RIBA Health and Safety test applies where designer's duties apply. The compliance policy says the test is free for all RIBA Chartered Members and must be passed every five years. It sits alongside the CPD hours rather than replacing them.
Monitoring and non-compliance
The compliance policy says records and tests are monitored by the RIBA's Practice and Professional Standards departments. Members who have not completed their record or passed due tests are notified in January. If they remain non-compliant after 31 March, a disciplinary notice may follow. The policy states that disciplinary proceedings may result in suspension and/or removal from membership.
Deferrals
Members on maternity, parental, carer, adoption or long-term sick leave can apply for a deferral, which means they are not expected to undertake CPD during that time. The RIBA says to log the deferral on your CPD dashboard. Under the compliance policy, a deferral covers one CPD cycle at a time.
Tips for keeping on top of it
- Check the hours by topic early in the year so you do not leave core topics to December.
- Remember that the 20 core hours count towards the 35, not on top of them.
- Record as you go; do not rely on certificates, because the RIBA does not accept alternative proof.
- Keep ARB and RIBA records aligned if you use both, remembering that each body has its own rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPD hours does the RIBA require?
At least 35 hours a year for Chartered Members, with at least 20 of them from the ten core curriculum topics.
Is RIBA CPD the same as ARB CPD?
No. They are different bodies with different rules. The RIBA sets an hours-based requirement for its members. ARB sets no minimum hours but requires every architect on the register to meet its own CPD scheme.
Can I record RIBA CPD anywhere I like?
No. The RIBA says you must use its online recording tool and that it cannot accept alternative forms of proof or recording.
Do I need to submit an annual CPD declaration?
The RIBA pages we read do not describe a separate CPD declaration. Your record on the platform is the evidence. Check your RIBA dashboard for any current prompts.
Where can I find more CPD guidance?
Our CPD hub brings together guides across regulated professions.
In summary
For RIBA Chartered Members, plan 35 hours, make sure at least 20 sit in the core curriculum with a minimum of 2 hours in each topic, record on the RIBA platform, and finish by 31 December. Check the RIBA's current pages each year in case rules or deadlines change.
This article is general information, not professional advice. The RIBA can change its requirements, so always check the current guidance on the RIBA website.
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