CPD requirements for NSW architects
Clause 16 of the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct requires that architects must report to the NSW Architects Registration Board (the ‘NSW ARB’) that they have taken all reasonable steps to maintain and improve the skills and knowledge necessary for the provision of the architectural services they normally provide.
Architects should undertake a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each year, of which at least 10 hours must be Formal CPD activity.
When is your CPD report due and how often do you need to report?
Your CPD report is due at the time of your registration renewal and is submitted as part of the renewal process. Most architects have a registration renewal date of 30 June. For these architects, CPD reporting is due in the month of June. However, other architects who first registered in NSW after 1 July 2019, or were reinstated to the NSW Register of Architects after 1 July 2019, may have a different renewal date that falls on the anniversary of their initial registration or reinstatement. For these architects, CPD reporting is due in the month preceding the renewal date.
Login to My Account to confirm your renewal date.
If you have selected a 1 year registration term, you should report your CPD activities annually. If you have selected a 3 or 5 year registration term you are only required to report your CPD activities at the end of the registration term. In other words, you should report CPD compliance on a 3- or 5-yearly basis. Nevertheless, you are still required to meet the minimum annual CPD requirements and to regularly complete CPD activities.
Please download the CPD factsheet for more information.
NSW ARB CPD webinars
Join the NSW ARB for a series of free online CPD webinars focussed on regulatory requirements and obligations pertaining to practice as an architect. Each webinar provides 1 hour of Formal CPD upon completion of a structured assessment task.
Learning outcomes:
Webinars deliver learning outcomes mapped to Performance Criteria 1 from the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects and content cuts across the “Professionalism” Capability, relating to understanding and incorporating relevant legislation and statutory building requirements, regulations, standards and codes in all aspects of the provision of architectural services.
At the end of each webinar, participants will be able to
- Understand professional obligations under the Architects Act 2003 and the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct
- Understand the regulatory environment for architectural practice in NSW
- Identify common areas of non-compliance and how to address them
- Apply the 2021 NSCA as a framework for professional development
The following program will be updated regularly with dates and availability:
1 Hour Formal CPD
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Monday 01 September 2025 5:00 - 6:00 pm |
Register |
An essential primer on legislation, professional context, and compliance requirements for registered architects in NSW. This webinar explores your professional responsibilities under the Architects Act 2003 and the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct, with a focus on recent disciplinary trends and persistent areas of misunderstanding.
About the presenter:
Dr Kirsten Orr, NSW ARB Registrar & CEO
1 Hour Formal CPD
This webinar takes a deep dive into the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct. Case studies from recent anonymised complaints matters explore the consequences when architects fail to meet their professional conduct obligations. An overview is provided of the process followed by the NSW ARB for investigating complaints.
About the presenter:
Dr Kirsten Orr, NSW ARB Registrar & CEO
1 Hour Formal CPD
What are the business obligations for providing architectural services in NSW? This webinar explains the different types of entities that can hold an ABN, identifies when a responsible architect must be nominated, and explores compliance with the Architects Act 2003 (sections 10, 11, 27, 29, 82, 83) and NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct (clauses 17, 18).
About the presenter:
Dr Kirsten Orr, NSW ARB Registrar & CEO
1 Hour Formal CPD
This webinar clarifies your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) obligations as a NSW architect and explains how to align your learning with the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects. Learn how to identify gaps in your skills and knowledge, track your CPD, and report using the My Account portal.
About the presenter:
Melissa Hollis, NSW ARB Engagement & Communications Officer
