Germany
Country Profile
ACE Member Organisations
ADG – Association of German Master Builders BDB
Willdenowstraße, 6 – 12203 Berlin
Tel : + 49 30 841 89 70
Fax : + 49 30 841 89 722
http://www.baumeister-online.de
President: Christoph Schild
Head of Delegation: Ralf Niebergall
ADG – Association of Freelance Architects of Germany VFA
Kurfürstenstrasse 130 – 10785 Berlin
Tel : + 49 30 39 49 40-19
Fax : + 49 30 39 49 40-39
President: Alexander Schwab
Head of Delegation: Ralf Niebergall
ADG – Association of German Architects BDA
Wilhelmine-Gemberg-Weg 6 – 10179 Berlin
Tel : + 49 30 27 87 990
Fax : + 49 30 27 87 99 15
President: Heiner Farwick
Head of Delegation: Ralf Niebergal
ADG – Federal Chamber of Architects BAK
Askanischer Platz, 4 – 10963 Berlin
Tel : + 49 30 263 94 40
Fax : + 49 30 263 94 490
President: Andrea Gebhard
Head of Delegation: Ralf Niebergall
The statistics are sourced from the The Architectural Profession in Europe 2024 Sector Study.
Access to the profession
| Academic training | |
|---|---|
| Comments | Universities (= +- 40% of architects): Numerus clausus or entrance examination – Bachelor of 3 years comprising 6 months of internship – Master’s degree 2 years, also 1 year possible. – Formerly (before implementation of Bologna-Accord) Diploma of Engineer (Dipl.-Ing.), today Bachelor (BA) and Master (MA). • Fachhochschulen (= +- 60% of architects): – 3 or 5 years of academic studies (BA and MA as 3+2 or 4+1) – Formerly (before implementation of Bologna-Accord) Diploma of Engineer (Dipl.-Ing. FH), today Bachelor (BA) and Master (MA). Notes – There is a guide (suggesting a curriculum) for schools issued by the Chambers – Schools providing BA and MA courses must be accredited by independent accreditation bodies. – Students can practise the profession during their internship and as employed graduates (after diploma examination) even before registration with one of the Chambers. – Continued training after registration: is not compulsory in all Lander. In some Lander 2 days of training per year are required. In others, the requirement is 32 points in two years (one point is equivalent to 45 minutes of courses or seminars or 2 x 45’ of professional visits or excursions.) – Different curricula for architects, landscape architects, interior architects and town planners. |
| Entrance examination | |
| If yes How much time | |
| Professional training needed? | |
| Qualified as |
Continuous Professional Development
| Are certain subjects mandatory? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Development of the trainings: A. Estimated number of courses/year B. Estimated number of participants/year C. Estimated lesson hours/year | |
| Do you have a database of the content of your CPD programme? | |
| Do you have any evaluation criteria for the CPD material? | No |
| 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? | Required by law |
| If it is regulated, who regulates the system: A professional body A governmental body A combination of the two? | A professional body |
| If yes: Is it compulsory? Is it encouraged? Is it free? | Compulsory |
| Is it organised? | Yes |
| 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)? | Not requested in most lander, by regular checks in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Is training (provision) delivered abroad accepted? | |
| Level of requirements for the architects: | 32 points on 2 years = 12 per year |
| What kind of sanction is applied for the non-compliance with CPD obligation: A. None B. Reprimand C. Expulsion from the register D. Other? | Reprimand in some Lander, expulsion from the register in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia |
| What level of training is provided: | |
| What types of activities or provisions are accepted: | |
| Who provides the courses? | Training mainly provided by the architect’s chambers |
| Who recognises (accredits) these trainings? | Architect’s Chambers of the Lander |
Liability and insurance
| Are Architects obligation to carry insurance? | |
|---|---|
| Comments | Read the insurance sheet 5 years for private and public buildings, (counted from acceptance, other terms of liability subject to contractual agreement). |
| How are insurance premiums calculated? | |
| Insurances/Agents | |
| Legal Basis: what are the most commonly used Term and Conditions: | |
| What are the requirements for obtaining insurance? | |
| What forms of Insurance contract exist: |
Professional title
| Competent authority | 16 Chambers of Architects of the Landers, whereas the National Chamber of Architects (BAK) is representing the interests of the 16 Chambers on Federal and European level. Each Land has its own regulations. Registration with a Chamber is compulsory in order to use the title. |
|---|---|
| If yes, Where? | Bundesarchitektenkammer (BAK) |
| Mandatory Registration | Yes, via a Chamber of one Lander For architects, generally minimum of 4 years of academic training required for registration. For landscape architect, town planner and interior designer: 3 or 4 years (depending on the particular state law). Exceptionally, Bachelor of 3 years is accepted by 3 Landers for registration, provided that the applicant has 4 to 6 years of obligatory professional experience (Bavaria 6 years + additional examination; Hessen 4 years; Schleswig-Holstein 4 years). Compulsory registration with the Chamber of Architects of one of the Lander. Registration is based on an assessment carried out by an independent jury of professionals headed by a magistrate or a lawyer. There is provision for an appeal process. |
| Professional title | Architect, landscape architect, town planner or interior designer The architect does not have exclusive rights. Only the architect’s title is protected by the law of each Land, whatever the domain of intervention of the professional may be. |
| Protection of the function of Architects | No |
| Protection of the title “Architect” | Yes |
Requirements to practice
| What requirements must a European architect fulfill to practice in this country? | Registration by an architect’s chamber |
|---|
Traineeship
| Additional compulsory practical training – internship | 2 years (3 years in Saarland) In certain Lander , the two years practice must be accompanied by complementary training (some Lander recommend, organise, or even impose complementary professional training – for example 80 hours in Hessen or Northrhein-Westfalia). |
|---|---|
| Complementary professional education | 8 hours seminar (in some Lander) |
| Compulsory Professional examination | No |
| Compulsory professional experience (requirement for access to the professional examination) Where? To which conditions | Architects’ office or public administration Always under direction of an architect |
| Evaluation method used | List of exper,? Presentation of a portfolio Appeal possible in case of refusal |
| Evaluation of the professional experience | Yes |
| Model form of contract available | No |
| Number of hours per month required | |
| Period of traineeship supervised (overseen) By who? | The employer |
| Professional practice undertaken abroad taken into account | Individual approval by the Chamber of Architects possible |
| Remuneration of the professional experience | Yes, by individual employment contracts |
| Requirement for undertaking compulsory professional experience as a requirement for access to the professional examination | Final diploma |
| Specific supplementary courses organised | Yes |
| Trainee accompanied | Yes |