Establishment of full text of 25 articles, promulgated on April 18, 2001 as per Examination Yuan (89) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 11664.
Amendments to Articles 1, 5, 8, 17, 18, and 20, promulgated on August 13, 2002 as per Examination Yuan (91) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0910005461.
Amendments to Articles 11, 14, and 25, promulgated on April 29, 2003 as per Examination Yuan (92) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09200036491.
Amendment to Article 20, promulgated on January 13, 2006 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09500003831.
Amendment to Article 5, promulgated on August 31, 2006 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No.09500068361.
Amendments to Articles 14, 16, 17, and 18, promulgated on April 14, 2008 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09700026641.
Amendment to Article 19, promulgated on May 15, 2009 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 09800039531.
Amendments to Articles 1, 4, 5, 6, 11, 18, 21, and 25, promulgated on August 6, 2013 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200066911.
Deletions of Articles 23 and 24, and replacement of Article 23 with Article 25, promulgated on March 24, 2017 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10600015091.
Amendments of full text of 17 articles, promulgated on January 14, 2019 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10700041751.

The text of these Regulations is as follows:

Article 1

These Regulations are established as per Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Professional and Technical Personnel Examinations Act.

Article 2

Senior Professional and Technical Examinations for Architects (“the Examination”) is administered annually and may be held at other times when necessary.

Article 3

No candidate who is disqualified from practicing as an architect according to the Architect Act, or who is ineligible to take national examinations according to other laws or regulations may take the Examination.

Article 4

Those who meet any one of the following may register for the Examination:

1. Have graduated from a division, department, program or degree program in architecture, architecture and urban design, or architecture and urban planning at a public or a registered private junior college or higher level educational institution in the Republic of China or at a foreign junior college or higher level educational institution recognized by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education.

2. Have graduated with a degree in architecture at a public or registered private university in the Republic of China or a foreign university and who have completed courses related to architectural design provided by a division, department, program or degree program and have received a minimum of 18 credits and documents proving the credits obtained.

3. Have graduated from a division, department, program or degree program in at a public or registered private junior college or higher level educational institution in the Republic of China or at a foreign junior college or higher level educational institution recognized by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education and have taken architectural design related courses provided by the division, department, degree program mentioned in the first subparagraph and have received at least 18 credits or have taken five of the following courses for at least 15 credits: building codes, construction and planning regulations, urban design regulations, urban planning regulations, building structure and internship, structure behavior, architectural structure system, building structure, architectural planning, theory of structure, structure and form design, reinforced concrete, steel reinforced concrete, steel structure, structure studies, applied mechanics, mechanics of materials, architectural physics, building services engineering, physical environment of buildings, building environment control systems, high-rise building facilities, construction methods, quantity surveying, construction materials, urban planning, urban design, site plan, landscaping design, community planning and design, urban traffic, district planning, social planning of physical environment, urban development and types, urban environment, urban sociology, architectural history of the world, architectural theories. A maximum of 3 credits will be recognized for each course.

4. Have passed a senior examination in the architect category.

Article 5

Those who meet any one of the following may apply for a partial exemption:

1. Have met any of the conditions set out in Article 4, Subparagraphs 1 to 3 and have met the following seniority requirements in full-time architectural engineering related positions in government agencies, public schools, government-owned enterprises, or legally registered architectural business entities and must hold documents proving the service:

(1) For applicants who have graduated from a graduate program or a 5-year college: 3 years.

(2) For applicants who have graduated from a 4-year college: 4 years.

(3) For applicants who have graduated from a junior college: 5 years.

2. Have meet any of the conditions set out in Article 4, Subparagraphs 1 to 3 and have taught at least two of the subjects listed in Article 4 Subparagraph 3 as a lecturer for at least 3 years, as an assistant or associate professor for at least 2 years, or as a professor for at least one year and have taught at least two of the courses motioned in Article 4, Subparagraph 3 with documents proving service. Seniority for adjunct positions shall be measured as half the total length of employment.

3. Have possessed a foreign architect certificate equivalent to the ROC’s and have worked fulltime in positions related to architecture or construction for at least 1 year with documents proving the service.

4. Have met any of the eligibility requirements set out in Article 4, Subparagraphs 1 to 3, and have passed the level 3 senior civil service exam for the architecture or construction category and then served at architecture or construction positions in a government agency, public school, or public enterprise for at least 3 years with excellent performance and documents proving service.

Applicants for a partial exemption shall obtain the required qualification before exam registration starts and shall submit documents proving their qualification with the application.

Applicants who meet requirements set out in Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 4 shall submit their application for a full exemption by December 31, 2022.

Article 6

Candidates who apply for a partial or full examination exemption in accordance with Articles 5 should submit the following documents and fees.

1. Exemption application form.

2. Proof of exam eligibility.

3. Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, or submit their valid R.O.C. passport with approval from an overseas embassy or consulate, representative office, economic and cultural office, or other agency authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter “Overseas Missions”) proving them to be R.O.C. nationals residing in a foreign country.

4. A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5. Exemption application fee.

Article 7

Candidates who apply for a partial exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 shall submit the following documents:

1. Proof of exam eligibility.

2. Proof of seniority at architecture or construction positions. Documents must specify the period of the employment, project names, locations, areas, structure of the projects, areas of responsibility during the projects, and the duration of the projects.

3. Work performance record of 80 points or higher for one year and no less than 70 points in other years.

Candidates who apply for a partial exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 shall submit the following documents:

1. Proof of exam eligibility.

2. Certificate issued by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor.

3. Employment contract.

4. Certificate issued by the school indicating that the candidate has taught the subjects as required.

Candidates who apply for a partial exemption according to Article 5, Paraghraph1, Subparagraph 3 shall submit the following documents:

1. Foreign architect certificate.

2. A copy of regulations applicable to the issuance of the certificate.

3. Documents submitted for the issuance of the certificate proving the candidates’ educational and professional experience, academic transcripts.

4. Proof of seniority of 1 year or more in architecture or construction positions. Documents must specify the period of the employment, project names, location, area, structure of the projects, areas of responsibility during the projects, and the duration of the projects.

Candidates who apply for a partial or full exemption according to Article 5, Paraghraph1, Subparagraph 4 shall submit the following documents:

1. Proof of exam eligibility.

2. Qualification certificate for the level 3 senior civil service exam in the architecture and construction category.

3. Proof of seniority in architecture or construction positions for 3 years or more. Documents must specify the period of the employment, project names, location, area, structure of the projects, areas of responsibility during the projects, and the duration of the projects.

4. Work performance record of 80 points or higher for one year and no less than 70 points in other years.

Article 8

Applications for a partial or full exam exemption will be reviewed by a committee established by the MOEX. Results of the review shall be approved by the MOEX and reported to the Examination Yuan.

Candidates who are granted a partial exam exemption will receive proof of the exemption issued by the MOEX.

Article 9

The Examination is administered in written format and the exam subjects include:

1. Architectural planning & design.

2. Site planning & urban planning.

3. Building codes & practice.

4. Architectural structure.

5. Building structure & construction.

6. Building environment control.

Question types of the exam subjects:

1. Site planning & urban planning, building structure & construction: multi-choice questions.

2. Architectural structure, architectural environmental control: essay and multi-choice questions.

3. Architectural planning & design: essay questions

Article 10

Candidates who have been granted a partial exam exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 or 2 are exempt from the exam subject: building environment control.”

Candidates who have been granted a partial exam exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3 are exempt from the exam subjects: building structure & construction and building environment control.

Candidates who have been granted a partial exam exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 4 are exempt from the exam subjects: site planning & urban planning, building codes & practice, building structure & construction, and building environment control.

Article 11

When registering, candidates should submit the following documents:

1. Registration form.

2. Proof of exam eligibility or approval for partial exemption.

3. Copy of citizen identification card. Overseas Chinese should submit their Overseas Chinese Identity Certificate issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council or submit their valid R.O.C. passport with approval from an Overseas Mission proving them to be R.O.C. nationals residing in a foreign country.

4. A 2.5-cm by 3.5-cm close-up photograph showing the head and top of the shoulders. Head coverings should not be worn and the photo should be taken within one year.

5. Registration fee.

6. Other documents.

Candidates who register according to Article 4, Subparagraph 4 shall submit a qualification certificate of the senior exam.

Candidates who register with a partial exam exemption shall submit proof of exemption.

Article 12

For submissions of overseas documents according to Articles 7 and 11 including diplomas, certificates of degree, architect certificate, academic transcripts, and documents proving professional experience, original documents must be provided along with Chinese translations and copies of verification from overseas missions or from a domestic notary.

Original copies of the abovementioned documents may be replaced with copies that have been verified to be identical to the original by both a local public notary and an Overseas Mission.

Article 13

To pass the Examination, candidates must pass each exam subject. The passing score for each subject is 60 points.

A pass status for an exam subject is valid for 3 years from the date of the announcement of the exam results.

In situations where the candidate holds a valid pass status for an exam subject and registers to sit for the same subject, the new score will replace the old one.

Candidates who have passed an exam subject before obtaining a partial exemption may still hold the pass status during the 3-year validity period.

Article 14

Foreign candidates who meet eligibility requirements set out in Article 4, Subparagraphs 1 to 3 may register to take the Examination and may apply for an partial exemption according to Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 1 to 3.

Article 15

Foreign candidates with an architect certificate issued by their home nation and who are recognized by the professional competent authority of the R.O.C. on a reciprocal basis may apply for a partial exemption.

Foreign candidates who have been granted a partial exam exemption must sit for the exam section: architectural planning & design. The exam method may include the written exam, the oral exam, an educational and professional experience review or other appropriate method based on the concept of reciprocity.

In situation where questions of the test subjects are originally in Chinese, an English version should be provided and candidates may choose to answer in Chinese or English.

Article 16

Examination results shall be reported by the MOEX to the Examination Yuan for the issuance of qualification certificates. The Ministry of the Interior shall be duly informed in writing. Applicants who are granted a full examination exemption shall be deemed as passing candidates.

Article 17

These Regulations shall come into effect upon promulgation.

In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese version, the latter shall prevail.