Denmark
Country Profile
ACE Member Organisations
Danish Association of Architectural Firms DA
Vesterbrogade 1E, 2. Sal – 1620 Copenhagen
Tel : + 45 32 83 05 00
Fax : +45 32 83 07 30
President: Katja Viltoft
Head of Delegation: Dorte Sibast
The Architect’s Association of Denmark AA
Åbenrå 34 – 1124 Copenhagen
Tel : + 45 30 85 90 00
Fax : + 45 32 54 69 01
http://www.arkitektforeningen.dk
President: Johnny Svendborg
Head of Delegation: Dorte Sibast
The statistics are sourced from the The Architectural Profession in Europe 2024 Sector Study.
Access to the profession
| Academic training | 5 years academic education (2+3) given at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and the School of Architecture in Aarhus. |
|---|---|
| Comments | |
| Entrance examination | No |
| If yes How much time | |
| Professional training needed? | No Professional training required by law. Architectural companies being members of Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (DANSKE ARK) must be led by at least one person having at least 5 years of professional experience, out of which at least 2 years as owners/leaders in an architectural company |
| Qualified as | Architect |
Continuous Professional Development
| Are certain subjects mandatory? | No |
|---|---|
| Development of the trainings: A. Estimated number of courses/year B. Estimated number of participants/year C. Estimated lesson hours/year | Figures from the Danish Architects’ Association: A 35 / year B 800 / year No figures from other providers, but probably much more than 800 participants per year from these. |
| Do you have a database of the content of your CPD programme? | The CPD programme of the Danish Association of Architects is found here |
| Do you have any evaluation criteria for the CPD material? | CPD material developed by the Danish Architects’ Association is always evaluated by the participants |
| Does a system of CPD for architects exists in your country? | Yes |
| If it is compulsory, is it required by law or by a Code of Conduct? | Not compulsory |
| If it is regulated, who regulates the system: A professional body A governmental body A combination of the two? | It is not regulated |
| If yes: Is it compulsory? Is it encouraged? Is it free? | No Yes |
| Is it organised? | The CPD courses offered by the Danish Association of Architects is structured, but there is no overall regulationary system. |
| Is this required level validated or checked and how: A. Not requested B. Attendance tracking C. Attendance tracking D. Self-assessment using self-test E. By regular checks F. Examination G. Thesis H. Other means (e.g. electronic monitoring)? | |
| Is training (provision) delivered abroad accepted? | There is no regulation, so any training could be accepted by anybody |
| Level of requirements for the architects: | |
| What kind of sanction is applied for the non-compliance with CPD obligation: A. None B. Reprimand C. Expulsion from the register D. Other? | None |
| What level of training is provided: | Regulation and legislation, sustainability; management; renovation, accessibility, insurance, contracts, business strategies. |
| What types of activities or provisions are accepted: | Courses; Workshop, Excursions or visits |
| Who provides the courses? | The Danish Association of Architects, Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (DANSKE ARK), the schools of architecture, other institutions and private firms. |
| Who recognises (accredits) these trainings? | Nobody – it is not regulated |
Liability and insurance
| Are Architects obligation to carry insurance? | YES (Only members of Danske Arkitektvirksomheder), but all public and professional private clients have insurance demands in the contracts. |
|---|---|
| Comments | |
| How are insurance premiums calculated? | Percentage of fee, varying according to type and geography of work. Always a minimum premium. Single project insurance has fixed premium |
| Insurances/Agents | HDI/Marsh (insurance company/broker). Subscription insurance is in HDI, single project insurance in different companies after tender. Other companies may also offer subscription insurance, but they mostly have limited market experience, less specialized staff and less coverage. Read the insurance sheet |
| Legal Basis: what are the most commonly used Term and Conditions: | Commonly used Term and Conditions: ABR 89 and ABR 18, ABR 18 F (General conditions for Consulting services) which reduces liabilities in several areas compared with Danish law. |
| What are the requirements for obtaining insurance? | Normally just education as an architect (title not protected) Members of Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (DANSKE ARK) have always access due to a general agreement with insurance company HDI, where the conditions each year are updated to match the latest general developments in contract demands. Other architects must negotiate individual insurances. |
| What forms of Insurance contract exist: | Subscription contract for all work in a predefined period, not covered by single project insurance and single project insurance for larger projects. |
Professional title
| Competent authority | There is no obligation to register with an association or an official list. A voluntary registration can be made with the Danish Association of Architects (AA). This association is a private body that has a national head office and 7 local chapters. Membership of the Danish Association of Architects is compulsory in order to use the title Arkitekt MAA (Architect MAA). Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (DANSKE ARK) issues certificates about persons in the member companies fulfilling the demands in directive 2005/36 and, if needed, the length of practice. The Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science |
|---|---|
| If yes, Where? | N/A |
| Mandatory Registration | Yes |
| Professional title | cand.arch. and/or Arkitekt MAA (if member of the Danish Association of Architects) Members of Danske Arkitektvirksomheder (DANSKE ARK) , which are architects having their own practice and companies use the title “Medlem af Danske Arkitektvirksomheder” or “Medlem af DANSKE ARK”. Membership is voluntary. The profession of architect is not regulated; the practice of the profession is unrestricted. |
| Protection of the function of Architects | No |
| Protection of the title “Architect” | No |
Requirements to practice
| What requirements must a European architect fulfill to practice in this country? | Legal requirements: The same as the Danish architects, i.e. none. Requirements in real life: In Denmark the laws regulate the architectural work ex post. That means that the regulation is imposed on the project, not on the person. Denmark has very detailed planning and building regulation laws, which makes it difficult for foreign architects to work in Denmark without cooperating with Danish architects with detailed knowledge of the planning and building regulation. So foreign architects who want to work in Denmark are recommended to work together with Danish architects, or as employed architects in Danish companies, at least for the first years. Detailed knowledge of Danish language is also necessary for those who want to cooperate with Danish building workers. |
|---|
Traineeship
| Additional compulsory practical training – internship | Not compulsory No professional experience required. A majority of students who graduate from the schools (5 years) gain practical experience (approximately half a year) in their holidays during their study. |
|---|---|
| Complementary professional education | No |
| Compulsory Professional examination | No – only a voluntary one after the 2-year programme |
| Compulsory professional experience (requirement for access to the professional examination) Where? To which conditions | At the architectural practices and at the schools of architecture |
| Evaluation method used | Through questionnaires |
| Evaluation of the professional experience | Yes |
| Model form of contract available | Yes |
| Number of hours per month required | None |
| Period of traineeship supervised (overseen) By who? | The 2-year programme is supervised by the Schools of Architecture, the Danish Association of Architects, the Danish Association of Architectural Firms and the Association of Employed Architects |
| Professional practice undertaken abroad taken into account | Yes |
| Remuneration of the professional experience | No, normally paid by the employers/employees |
| Requirement for undertaking compulsory professional experience as a requirement for access to the professional examination | No – but there is a possibility of undertaking a 2-year voluntary practical training programme |
| Specific supplementary courses organised | Yes |
| Trainee accompanied | Yes |