Application for entry in the list of architects (fields of interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning)

One of the following protected professional titles may only be used by those who are entered under the respective title in the list of architects of the Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony, the corresponding directory in another federal state or the list of external service providers:

Interior Designer
Landscape Architect
Urban planner

The same applies to word combinations with one of the professional titles or similar designations. The relevant regulations can be found in particular in § 1 NArchtG.

In order to protect consumers, this ensures that only sufficiently qualified persons pursue the profession under the professional title and that they comply with certain professional rules. However, such protection of the professional title requires the Chamber of Architects to require the persons to be registered to provide proof of their qualifications, usually by

- the completion of at least 3 years of study,

- the completion of at least 2 years of professional experience

- attendance of certain training courses.

By registering, you become a member of the Chamber.

Type of employment

The entry in the list of architects takes place depending on your activity in one of the following four types of employment:

self-employed
active in the construction industry
employed
civil servant

Process flow

An application for registration must be submitted in writing or online using the form provided. The supporting documents referred to under "Required documents" must be attached to the application. The procedure is essentially regulated in §12 of the Lower Saxony Architects Act.

§ 12 Lower Saxony Architects Act (NArchtG)

Who should I contact?

The responsibility lies with the Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony.

Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony

Registration Committee

Laves House

Friedrichswall 5

30159 Hanover, Germany

This procedure can also be carried out through a "Point of Single Contact".

The "Point of Single Contact" is a special service offered by municipalities and the state for service providers.

Find your Point of Single Contact in the Service Provider Portal Lower Saxony

Requirements

Conditions for registration

Registration is possible under the following conditions (overview):

- Completion of a course of study corresponding to the field of study with at least 3 years standard duration of study

- Completion of at least 2 years of practical work experience

- Proof of compulsory training

- Residence, professional establishment or place of work in Lower Saxony. For registration in the type of employment "freelance":

-Proof of sufficient professional indemnity insurance

Registration requirements in detail according to §§ 5-7 NArchtG:

§ 5
Conditions for registration

(-1) On application, a professional title pursuant to Paragraph 1(1) and an addition pursuant to Paragraph 10(1 ) shall be entered in the list of architects who:

1. has a domicile or a professional establishment in Lower Saxony or pursues his profession wholly or partially, but not only temporarily and occasionally, in Lower Saxony and

2. is qualified to perform the professional tasks associated with the professional title in accordance with Paragraph 2(1) to (6).

(2) Entry in the list of architects shall be refused if there are facts showing that the applicant does not have the good repute required for the profession.

Article 6
Qualification on the basis of a degree
and a professional experience

(1) The qualification pursuant to § 5 Par. 1 No. 2 is possessed by any person who:

1. has successfully completed a course of study at a German university corresponding to the respective field of study in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 2 and the guidelines on the content of the training (see Annex), or

2. has successfully completed a course of study corresponding to the respective field of study at a foreign university or at another foreign educational institution which is equivalent to a course of study according to number 1,

and has subsequently completed practical work in that field in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 3 and 4.

(2) ¹ In the field of architecture, the standard period of study must be at least four academic years.

(3) ¹ The practical professional activity must have been completed full-time for at least two years, or correspondingly longer part-time, have built on the knowledge, skills and competences acquired during the course of study in the respective field of study and have enabled the acquisition of practical professional knowledge, skills and competences in the essential parts of the respective professional tasks in accordance with Section 2 para. 1 to 6. 2 It may also have been completed abroad. 3 Proof of the practical professional activity must be provided by submission of own work and by documents showing the duration of the activity and the practical professional knowledge, skills and competences acquired in the process.

(4) ¹ As part of the practical professional activity, at least eight one-day training courses on the following topics must have been attended:

1. public law principles and procedures for planning and construction,

2. civil law foundations of planning and building,

3. planning and construction practice and

4. Cost-effectiveness of planning and construction.

2 Registration with the professional title "architect" requires attendance of two events per subject area and registration with a different professional title in accordance with § 1 para. 1 requires attendance of one event per subject area and four other events.

(5) ^In order to be registered with the professional title "architect", the practical professional activity must also have been completed under the supervision of a member of the profession or a chamber of architects who has supervised that the professional activity complies with paragraph 3 sentence 1. 2 For registration with the professional title "architect", up to one year of practical work may have been completed after completion of a three-year course of study. 3 Details of the contents of the practical professional activity, the requirements for supervision and the documents specified in paragraph 3 sentence 3 may be regulated by the Chamber of Architects by statute.

Article 7
Competence based on the recognition of a European professional qualification

(1) 1 The qualification under Section 5 ( ¹ ) no. 2 for registration with the professional title "architect" shall also be possessed by any person who holds evidence of formal qualifications:

1. in accordance with point 5.7.1 of Annex V to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ 2005, p. EU No. L 255 p. 22; 2007 No. L 271 p. 18; 2008 No. L 93 p. 28; 2009 No. L 33 p. 49; 2014 L 305 p. 115), as last amended by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2016/790 of 7 January 2016 (OJ L 305, p. EU No. L 134 p. 135),

2. in accordance with Annex VI to Directive 2005/36/EC, if the training for the profession of architect began at the latest in the academic reference year referred to therein, or

3. pursuant to Article 49(2) of Directive 2005/36/EC

decreed.

(2) 1 The qualification specified in section 5 para. ¹ no. 2 shall also be possessed by any person who:

1. possesses one or more evidence of formal qualifications required in another Member State of the European Union, another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or a State treated as such by an agreement, in order to obtain authorisation to take up and pursue the profession there, or

2. has pursued the profession full-time for one year, or for an equivalent period of time, in the preceding ten years in a State referred to in paragraph 1 in which that profession is not regulated, and is in possession of one or more evidence of formal qualifications issued and attested by the competent authority in a State referred to in point 1; that the holder has been prepared for the exercise of the profession,

if there are no significant differences in accordance with subsection (4) between the professional qualification resulting from the evidence and the professional qualification referred to in Paragraph 6 or if these

differences referred to in paragraph 6 have been compensated. 2 In the case of registration with the professional title "architect", sentence 1 applies only if the requirement of paragraph 1 is not fulfilled for special and exceptional reasons.

(3) The following shall be treated as evidence of formal qualifications pursuant to subsection (2) sentence 1 no. 1:

1. evidence of formal qualifications issued in third countries under the conditions laid down in Article 3(3) of Directive 2005/36/EC;

2. evidence of formal qualifications or sets of evidence of formal qualifications recognised as equivalent in a country referred to in point 1 of the first sentence of paragraph 2 under the conditions laid down in Article 12(1) of Directive 2005/36/EC, and

3. professional qualifications under the conditions laid down in Article 12(2) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

(4) There are significant differences between the proven professional qualification and the professional qualification required under § 6 if:

1. the evidence relates to skills, knowledge and competences which, in terms of content or scope, differ substantially from the skills and knowledge to which the vocational training regulated in Paragraph 6 relates,

2. the relevant skills, knowledge and competences are an essential prerequisite for the exercise of the profession in question, and

3. the person to be registered has not compensated for these differences by means of knowledge, skills and competences acquired in the course of his professional practice or through lifelong learning and recognised by a competent authority.

(5) ¹ If registration cannot take place due to substantial differences in accordance with paragraph 4, the Chamber of Architects shall establish the proven professional qualification and the significant differences to the professional qualification required under Section 6 by written decision. 2 The decision shall state the level within the meaning of Article 11 of Directive 2005/36/EC of the proven professional qualification, the level required under Section 6 and the reasons why the substantial differences cannot be compensated for by the qualifications referred to in paragraph 4 no. 3. 3 The notification shall also specify which compensatory measures in accordance with paragraph 6 can be used to compensate for the substantial differences.

(6) ¹ For registration with the professional title "architect", the substantial differences specified in paragraph 4 may be compensated for by passing an aptitude test; if the training corresponds to the level of qualification referred to in Article 11(a) of Directive 2005/36/EC, there is no possibility of compensation...

by completing an adaptation period not exceeding three years or passing an aptitude test of the person to be registered, provided that the training corresponds to the level of qualification referred to in Article 11(c), (d) or (e) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

3 If an aptitude test has to be taken in accordance with sentences 1 and 2 nos. 1 and 2, the Chamber of Architects must ensure that the aptitude test can be taken within six months of notification of the decision in accordance with paragraph 5.

Appendix Guidelines on the training content according to § 6 sentence 1 no. 1 NArchtG

General

During the studies, the theoretical and practical aspects of the field of study must be sufficiently emphasized in relation to the respective professional tasks according to § 2 NArchtG as well as the necessary professional skills and possible activities.

Fields

II. Department of Interior Design

The study must be mainly focused on interior design. At least 180 credit points must have been earned in the following subject areas. Credit points must have been earned in the individual subject area groups at least in the specified number.

1. Design: 48 credit points