Non-Local Architectural Professionals (NLAP), after going through an assessment jointly held by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) and the Architects Registration Board HKSAR (ARB), may be admitted as a Member of the Institute which, in accordance with the Architects Registration Ordinance, will be readily accepted as a Registered Architect by ARB.

A.             Eligibility

1)             Non-Local Architectural Professionals Qualifications

A holder of the professional registration by a national registration body of architects

Professional qualifications other than the list above will be considered case by case based on applicant’s individual merits.recognized by HKIA/ARB as below.

2)       Relevant Local Practical Experience

a) With overall (local + overseas) post-professional registration practical experience of not less than 15 years, or

b) With recognised post-professional registration local practical experience of not less than 2 years.

For details, please refer to HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment Handbook Section 3.

B. Assessment Components

NLAP with not less than 15 years of practical experiences (Group A)

NLAP Group A candidates with not less than 15 years of post-professional registration practical experience (both local and overseas experiences are counted as experience) are required

• to submit a professional profile, and
• to pass the Professional Interview (Professional Assessment Paper 9)  

NLAP with not less than 2 years of practical experiences (Group B)

NLAP Group B candidates with not less than 2 years of recognised post-professional registration local practical experience are required

• to pass Papers 1 and 2 of the Professional Assessment (candidates should follow the 8-year validity rule for Professional Assessment Papers 1 and 2);
• to submit a professional profile; and
• to pass the Professional Interview (Professional Assessment Paper 9).

C. Application procedure

Application Period: 1-31 Oct 2024 
[NLAP 2025 application was ended, next registration period for NLAP 2026 will be on 1-31 Oct 2025]

If you find yourself eligible and interested in applying for NLAP Admission, please submit on or before 5:30pm of 31 October 2024 by email to joinhkia@hkia.org.hk with below documents:

1. HKIA Membership Application form (NLAP)
2. Payment slip with cheque/ payment proof
3. Your professional profile (Annex A – Template of Professional Profile)
4. and substantiating documents required as stated in membership admission guidelines on page 6 of the enclosed application form.

Vetting and confirmation on qualification from issuing authorities may be lengthy on some occasions.  Therefore, applicants are reminded to provide all relevant and complete documentation; otherwise they may risk not being processed in time for NLAP Admission 2025.   

Eligible candidates for enrolling in NLAP Admission 2025 will receive written acknowledgement email from HKIA/ARB. 

All candidates will be automatically registered for the Professional Assessment Lecture Series 2025 to be held in July – September 2025 (Papers 1, 2, 6 and 7), January – February 2025 (Papers 3, 4 and 5) and April 2025 (Paper 8), though attendance of the lectures is non-compulsory. Video recordings will be provided subject to consent of lecture speakers.   

ALL NLAP Group B candidates who have not passed Papers 1 and 2 previously will also be registered for the Professional Assessment Papers 1 and 2 to be held in November 2025.

Both

1. NLAP Group A candidates, and
2. NLAP Group B candidates who have passed both Papers 1 and 2

are eligible to sit for NLAP Professional Interview (Paper 9 of Professional Assessment) in March 2026 with dates to be confirmed.

Package fee

The package fee for NLAP is HK$15,000. Kindly note that HK$5,000 is non-refundable under any circumstances.

The NLAP package fee already includes the fee for a complete series of Professional Assessment lectures of the particular Professional Assessment year, Professional Interview and where applicable, Professional Assessment Papers 1 & 2. However, a relevant fee will be charged for retaking one or both written papers, or the Professional Interview after the first attempt.

Should you have any questions, please contact HKIA/ARB Secretariat Jenny Lai at 3155 0424 or Cindy Yue at 3155 0428.

Encl.   Membership Application Form

          Payment Slip

          Annex A – Template of Professional Profile

          Confirmation_Academic_Qualification

          Confirmation_Professional_Qualification

Please click here to download the circular.