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Professional titles can sometimes be confusing. Three (or more) letter acronyms and abbreviations that may confuse rather than reassure. For my sins, I’ve gathered quite a few now, so let me explain what they mean for those who are unsure:

ARB is the Architects Registration Board. Architect is a protected title under law, like Doctor or Dentist. All architects must be on the ARB register to use the title and abide by the code of conduct. Professional qualifications need to be held by those on the register, which is publicly available online. Anyone practicing as an ‘architectural consultant or architectural designer’ is not an architect and has not undergone the same training or passed professional examinations. Architectural Designer is a made-up title to prevent people being prosecuted for misusing the title ‘Architect’. You need no qualifications nor have anyone checking that you carry insurance. If you want an architect and the professional protection that it brings, look for ARB. Would you go to a backstreet dentist, or a Teeth Consultant?

RIBA HQ at Portland Place, London

RIBA is the Royal Institute of British Architects. Many qualified architects choose to become members of this profession organisation to access resources, training and membership discounts. Holding RIBA membership is also known as being Chartered. RIBA is also perhaps better known amongst the general public than ARB. Like the ARB, RIBA has a members’ code of conduct and manages other titles like Conservation Architect, Conservation Registrant (CR) and Client Adviser. RIBA also controls the professional training of architects through the Part 1 (Degree)/ Part 2 (Diploma/Masters)/ Part 3 examination process. Ultimately it promotes the work of architects and seeks to deliver better buildings for all. Use of the RIBA logo is limited to Chartered Practices, a higher grade of membership aimed primarily at larger practices.

RIBA Conservation Registrant (CR) is a list of consultants who have obtained an entry level qualification in Conservation/ Heritage, but should not be confused with the full Conservation Architect title. I’ve chosen to supplement my RIBA CR with a L3 Award in Energy Efficiency in Older and Traditional Buildings.

RIBA Client Adviser is register of experienced professionals who can act independently for a client to offer expert advice about briefing, design, procurement or construction.

Passivhaus Designer is a title obtained by passing the entry requirements of the Passivhaus Institute (PHi), usually via a course and exam. Depending on the qualification held before the course, you may be awarded the title Passivhaus Consultant, but ultimately, they are equal. It allows recipients to offer services to clients to help deliver buildings (both domestic and commercial) to the Passivhaus (or Passive House) standard. They key tool of the Designer is PHPP (Passivhaus Planning Package) which contains all the building data and determines an overall performance. It is complex and is therefore only licenced to those who know how to use it. Passivhaus training is a deep dive into building physics, the properties of materials and insulation, along with considerations for economic payback, building services and high-quality construction techniques. A Passivhaus qualification opens up membership opportunities for bodies that promote the use of Passivhaus, like the UK’s Passivhaus Trust.

For more information visit: www.trustmark.org.uk

Trustmark is the government endorsed quality assurance scheme for consumers to find businesses and individuals who have attained qualifications in a certain field. Consumers can find suppliers via the Trustmark website search or map search. In the retrofit sector, professionals who hold Retrofit Assessor or Retrofit Coordinator roles will have Trustmark membership through their accreditation body, like Elmhurst or Quidos. It shows they have attained the required level of experience and training. Trustmark is also the body that holds retrofit submissions at the end of a project (the Data Warehouse) to ensure that project’s aims have been met, including conducting audits. Consumer protection and quality are at the heart of this initiative. 

Retrofit Coordinator is a role created by PAS 2035, the government’s best practice retrofit standard for domestic buildings. This standard came out of a 2016 report, Each Home Counts, that sought to establish greater control over the retrofit of homes through risk management, proper assessment, involving designers and professional oversight. The Retrofit Coordinator (RC) role was created to give the consumer trustworthy, independent advice and work across all stages of the retrofit process. RC’s are required to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance. L5 is the highest accreditation, where the entry requirements to the course are existing experience and professional qualifications. It is the so-called ‘kingpin’ role, and the hope was that architects and other highly trained construction professionals would retrain in this role as they already possess many of the skills required: dealing with customers, critical analysis, considering options, plus technical knowledge of buildings and systems. Training takes anything from 3 months fast-tracked, to a full year of part-time study.

If you still have any questions about these titles please contact me directly. Also, if you are looking to become qualified yourself, I’d be happy to point you towards the appropriate body or resources.