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Jobs In 2024

Architect jobs in Canada – Best Guide 2023

Did you know that architects are one of the most sought-after professions in Canada? Architects are in high demand across all 11 provinces and territories in Canada, with highly skilled professionals earning between $59000 and $92400 per year.

When contemplating Canada as your new home, you will find not just a plethora of immigration alternatives but also a plethora of career prospects.

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Architects are in high demand across the country, and you can obtain a Canadian Permanent Residency Visa with or without a job offer.

Thousands of Architects, just like you, are relocating to Canada. Learn how to join them. More architects are needed in Canada. If you are considering migrating to Canada as an architect, you will find all the information you require here.

One of the significant issues before migrating to Canada is “would I be able to find employment as an Architect in Canada?”. Yes, you will, in a nutshell.

Is There a Need for Architects in Canada?

There is, indeed! As previously said, you can move to Canada as an experienced Architect and have a good chance of finding work in any of Canada’s 11 provinces. These positions are available in the following:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan

It is predicted that during the next few years, 26000 new employment will be produced owing to expansion and the need for replacement, as well as 33000 new positions for graduates and immigrants who want to live and work in Canada.

Architect jobs in Canada

What Do Architects Make in Canada?

Salaries in Canada are competitive, with an experienced Architect earning between $59000 and $92400 per year.

How can I look for Architect jobs in Canada?

The majority of Architect jobs in Canada are offered on job boards. A code is frequently used to identify Architect employment. These identifiers are used to identify various vocations in Canada.

The codes are known as NOC codes. An architect has the NOC code 2151. Architects are responsible for a wide variety of jobs.

These are vocations that many architects pursue. You are covered by the overall noc code of 2151 for Architects if you work in or are employed in any of the following positions.

Architects design and plan the construction and renovation of commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. They may work for architectural firms, private corporations, or governments, or they may work for themselves.

Further Positions within the term of an architect include:

  • Architect
  • Architectural standards specialist
  • Chief Architect
  • Consulting architect
  • The industrial and commercial building architect
  • Residential Architect
  • Residential building architect

How Do I Relocate to Canada to Work as an Architect?

Step 1: Determine your eligibility for immigration.

The most straightforward method is to use our free visa assessment. There are over 80 visa options for entering Canada. We will be able to advise you on the best option for your specific circumstances once you have completed your visa assessment.

Step 2: Obtain Accreditation for Your Qualifications in Canada

To be able to live and work in Canada as an architect, you must have your qualifications gained outside of Canada authorized and recognized in Canada.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) certifies that your degree, diploma, or certificate is valid and meets Canadian standards. This is critical since it allows you to claim Permanent Residency points for your education and training, which may also be necessary for employment, professional registration in Canada, and Canadian immigration services.

The following organizations are authorized to conduct your assessment:

  • Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies;
  • International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
  • World Education Services;
  • International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS); and
  • International Credential Evaluation Service.

Educational and experience requirements for Architects include:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized architectural school or completion of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) syllabus of studies is necessary.
  • An architectural master’s degree may be necessary.
  • In Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, registration with a regulating agency is necessary.
  • Nova Scotia regulates urban and land use planning. Brunswick, New Brunswick Membership in a provincial planning institution is needed in Quebec, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and it may be necessary for additional provinces.
  • The Canada Green Building Council offers Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation, which may be required by some companies.
  • During the evaluation process for Canadian immigration, you may be needed to produce a variety of papers and references to demonstrate your abilities and expertise.

Step 3: Begin the migration process by applying for a Canada visa.

There are numerous paths you can pursue when relocating to Canada as an architect, but we’ve identified the top four that will give you the most chance of success in the application process:

  • Express Entry system
  • Provincial Nominee Program
  • The Rural and Northern Immigration Program
  • The Atlantic Immigration Pilot

1. Express Entry

The Express Entry (EE) system is our preferred method for relocating to Canada as an Architect. It is not only the quickest but also one of the simplest ways to immigrate to Canada. With the correct age, language skills in French and/or English, qualifications, and other criteria, you may be on your way to Canada in 6 months.

The first step in your Canadian Express Entry immigration process is to compute your Express Entry Canada points utilizing the Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

CRS Points are awarded for a variety of factors, including:

  • Age
  • Qualifications
  • English ability
  • French ability
  • Your partner’s skills
  • Work experience

2. Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows immigrants who are skilled or semi-skilled to live and work in Canada. Most immigration streams require a valid employment offer in Canada for at least one year. Each of the 11 provinces and territories has its own PNP, each with its unique set of labor requirements.

If your abilities match what your selected province or territory is seeking, you may be eligible for a provincial nomination, which is worth 600 extra Permanent Residency points and guarantees you an offer of Canadian permanent residency.

3. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program

Because architects are in high demand, you may be able to immigrate to Canada through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program (RNIP). The pilot initiative now has 11 cities signed up to participate. To be considered qualified to apply for Canadian permanent residency through the RNIP, you must have a legitimate work offer in one of the participating towns.

4. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programme

Because Architects are in great demand in the four Atlantic provinces, you may be qualified to apply provided you have a legitimate job offer for at least one year under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

Step 4: Apply for a Job as an Architect in Canada.

It is not necessary to have a job as a highly qualified worker to be allowed to move to Canada, but it will expedite the process. It will help with the immigration procedure because a valid employment offer might gain you between 50 and 200 PR points. This puts you ahead of the competition, as the more points you have, the more likely you are to receive an invitation in one of the several offer rounds conducted through the Canada Visa System.

In Canada, architects are said to do the following:

  • Consult with clients to determine the type, style, and purpose of renovations or new building construction being considered.
  • Conceptualize and design buildings and develop plans describing design specifications, building materials costs, and construction schedules.
  • Prepare sketches and models for clients.
  • Prepare or supervise the preparation of drawings, specifications, and other construction documents for use by contractors and tradespersons.
  • Prepare bidding documents to participate in contract negotiations and award construction contracts.
  • Monitor activities on construction sites to ensure compliance with specifications.
  • Conduct feasibility studies and financial analyses of building projects.
  • Architects may specialize in a particular type of construction, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional.

You can expect to see these terms in Job ads in Canada for Architects, along with the following common tasks, duties, and responsibilities of Architects in Canada.

Understanding the Requirements for Architect Jobs in Canada

  • You can boost your prospects of practicing architecture in Canada by doing the following measures before you immigrate:
  • Attending Prepare For Canada seminars will teach you all you need to know about living and working in Canada.
  • Investigate how your international qualifications may be perceived in Canada and gain a general understanding of the Canadian labor market.
  • Contact the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) as well as the provincial or territorial regulatory agency in the area where you plan to live and work. Learn about the procedure, charges, and time required to obtain a permit. Inquire about the actions you can take in the licensing procedure before and after you immigrate. CACB demands educational credentials such as degrees and original transcripts in order to assess your education against Canadian standards. The documentation must be sent directly to the CACB by the academic institute.
  • Take an online self-assessment on the Canadian Language Benchmarks website to evaluate your language skills.
  • Enroll in language studies in your native country and continue them once you arrive in Canada. To practice the occupation, you must be fluent in advanced English or French (depending on your destination province). Even if you speak English or French fluently, it is beneficial to develop your language skills.
  • While you are still in your home country, gather and organize your official education, employment, and identity documentation. When you call them, find out what other documents you’ll need to bring for work or continuing your study. Check to see what papers need to be translated. In Canada, you may need to hire a professional translation service.
  • Understand how the architect profession is practiced in Canada, as well as the procedures, laws, and legislation that govern architects in the province where you will settle.
  • Understand the popular titles used by employers in Canada for architect positions.

Employment for Architects in Canada

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s occupational reference. It offers job descriptions, occupational statistics, and labor market data. Check to see NOC 21200 for a complete list of architect job titles.

Recognizing Credentials

Finding work in Canada may differ from finding work in your own country. So you may require assistance in finding job openings, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and understanding what Canadian employers look for.

The following are the job criteria for architects in Canada:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized architectural school (or completion of the syllabus of studies from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada)
  • A three-year internship overseen by a certified architect
  • Examination for registration
  • Registration with the provincial or territorial architectural association in the work area
  • Some employers may demand a Master’s degree or LEED certification.

The first step is to get in touch with the Canadian Architectural Certification Board to find out how your educational credentials will be evaluated. After submitting a complete application packet, the assessment takes around three months; subsequently, the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory authority handles the next phases in the licensure process: internship and examination.

You should also:

  • Locate a mentor and fill out the Canadian Experience Record Book.
  • To meet the experience requirement of the licensure procedure, complete a defined number of hours of work experience in designated categories.
  • Submit your previous architectural work experience in your own country for consideration.
  • To become licensed in Canada, consider the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects (BEFA) Program. This bilingual initiative, developed by the eleven Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA), streamlines the procedure for foreign-trained architects to acquire certification for licensure/registration in Canada.

Assessment of Credentials

If you intend to enroll in a college or university program to improve your skills, contact the institution and find out what measures to follow. Also, find out whether they require you to employ a specific credential assessment agency. Using unregistered agencies may result in additional costs and fees.

Make a point of emphasizing your foreign education and skills. Build on your existing knowledge and abilities and extensively investigate university and college possibilities before selecting whether or not to continue your education. 

You may be able to obtain advanced standing, transfer some of your credits, and take advantage of prior learning evaluation alternatives to obtain credit or course exemptions. This will help you to finish your program faster while saving money and not having to repeat your education.

Credential Assessment Agencies:

  • World Education Services (WES)
  • Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
  • International Qualifications Assessment Service – Alberta (IQAS)
  • The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

Best Locations for Architect Jobs in Canada

Generally, architecture job prospects are positive. The number of architects is expected to increase slightly over the next few years due to the anticipated growth in construction and the demand for architectural services.

Though most Canadian cities offer employment opportunities in the architectural sector, you may find more opportunities in the fast-growing provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. When looking for jobs, broaden your geographic area to include smaller cities and towns close to your target city. For example, if you intend to work in Toronto, you might find a job opportunity in nearby Hamilton, which is less than an hour’s drive from there.

Before deciding where you want to settle in Canada, research and find out where there is a higher demand for architects to make your job search easier.

Upgrading Your Skills to Meet Architect Job Requirements

Canadian employers place a high value on soft skills, which are personal attributes that enhance your interactions, job performance, and career prospects. Unlike your hard skills, you can apply your soft skills broadly.

Soft skills, such as leadership, good communication, abstraction, strategic thinking, and negotiation skills, are important for architects. As an architect, you are expected to have technical experience, collaboration skills to work with multiple groups, and the ability to lead groups.

If your hard skills will get you an interview, most probably, it is your soft skills that will get you the job and enable you to keep it afterward.

Though not a must, upgrading your education and skills through a bridging program or other educational courses and workshops may be an important part of your journey to becoming a successful architect in Canada.

Skills Upgrading

You may have strong technical skills, but often that is not enough to get a job or maintain it afterward. You may need more training or skills upgrading, especially with regard to your communication skills and team dynamics.

Having strong skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages – English or French – is extremely important for your future in Canada. Whether you choose to focus on learning or improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages most people speak in the area where you intend to live.

You may be eligible for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find other free or affordable classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) classes through school boards or settlement agencies.

There are even language courses to teach you professional terminologies, such as Enhanced Language Training (ELT) and Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) in Ontario. And, if you already speak one of Canada’s two official languages at a high level, learning the other one is a good option, as it may offer you better employment opportunities.

Job Search Techniques for Architects in Canada

Architect career chances remain favorable, although the Canadian labor market is competitive. So, in order to find work, you must prepare and comprehend the job search process.

You must look for work in the area where you intend to settle. As a result, take your time researching job needs in that area and developing a plan for getting work. There are numerous ways to look for architect jobs in Canada:

  • Expand your search to include other vocations and industries like design and construction.
  • Seek out a mentor in the architectural field, such as a retired architect, who can provide you with useful insights and guidance as well as introduce you to their professional network.
  • Join immigrant-serving organizations’ business-related job-finding or networking groups.
  • Attend industry career fairs and check the job sections of your local newspapers on a regular basis.
  • Examine college and university job boards, as well as job boards for associations.
  • Immigration Settlement Organizations
  • Most settlement organizations will assist you in finding work, updating your résumé, writing cover letters, and preparing for job interviews. 

Writing a Resume for Architect Jobs in Canada

Job hunting never gets any simpler, especially for architects, who must do so much more than merely submit a résumé (i.e., portfolios and work samples).

Make sure to highlight your relevant educational qualifications and specialty while producing your architect resume. There are numerous fields in architecture (NOC 2151), such as landscape architecture, infrastructure architect, system architect, and so on, and each has its own set of professional responsibilities and educational requirements. As a result, when creating your resume, make sure to match it to the job profile of the position you’re applying for.

Conclusion

Architects (NOC 21200) create, plan, and develop designs for commercial, institutional, and residential building development and refurbishment. They may work for architectural firms, private corporations, or governments, or they may work for themselves.

Continuing your career will be critical to your success once you arrive in Canada. To assist you to relaunch your career, it’s critical to understand employment standards for architect jobs in Canada before you arrive. At the very least, you want to guarantee that your international credentials are accepted in Canada. If your abilities, experience, and knowledge fit the job description, you may be required to take courses or write exams to prove your qualifications.

By law, you can only practice architecture or use the title “architect” in Canada if you are a full member of the province or territorial regulatory body where you wish to work. However, if you operate in an architectural firm under the supervision of an architect, you do not need to be registered or licensed. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is Canada’s national architectural association and the voice for architecture and its practice. It is made up of nearly 4000 architects.

READ MORE: What are the Highest Paying Chemist jobs in Canada – 2023

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