31 October 2025
Practice Notice
Re: Identification of Work for the architectural profession and the competence requirements
SACAP has received complaints, supported by approved building plans, indicating that several registered professionals are undertaking architectural work beyond their categories of registration. Such conduct constitutes a contravention of the Code of Conduct and the Identification of Work for the architectural profession, and undermines both the integrity and the regulatory framework that govern professional practice.
We wish to remind all registered professionals that Rule 2.3 of the Code of Conduct stipulates that a registered person shall only undertake architectural work identified for the category of registration in which they are registered, in terms of section 18 of the Architectural Profession Act 44 of 2000.
Municipalities are therefore requested to reject planning applications submitted by professionals acting beyond their category of registration, unless a valid exemption has been granted. Competence should be verified in real time through the certificate of competence, linked to the Scope of Practice Matrix, which must form a mandatory part of all submission requirements.
Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a registered professional is performing work beyond their category of registration may lodge a complaint of improper conduct with SACAP.
Adhering to the standards of professional practice protects the profession and the built environment by ensuring that only competent professionals design safe and habitable buildings.
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