Section 1 – General Information
| Question | Answer |
| Sygnatura czasowa | 11/1/2021 16:25:42 |
| Name of organisation | Finnish Assosiation of Architects SAFA |
| Who is responsible for the supervision of the competent authority on architecture? (Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Culture) | N/D |
| Who is responsible for the supervision of the architectural profession? (Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Culture) | N/D |
| Please provide your e-mail address for contact if any clarification is needed | pia.selroos@safa.fi |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | The profession and the title architect are not regulated in Finland. SAFA is a voluntary based professional association. |
Section 2 – Education
| Question | Answer |
| Where: | Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINCHEEC), which operates as an independent, separate unit within the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI). |
| Is accreditation body: | Governmental |
| What is the impact of a competent authority recognising the qualifications of architects on the education programme? | none |
| Please indicate (approximately) how many architecture schools follow the Bologna system | all |
| Please indicate (approximately %) how many schools of architecture from all existing are listed in Annex V.7.1 of the PQD | 100 |
| Is there an obligation to undergo professional practice (internship) during studies? | Yes |
| Are there universities in your country that are nationally accredited for 4 years of architectural studies and whose completion gives full access to the profession? | No |
| If so, please specify the number of such universities | We have 4 Universities of Applied Sciences that have 4 year architectural programs (Construction Architecture, Bachelor’s Programme). The programs are not notified (annex V.7) and do not give a possibility to work in exceptionally demanding building design tasks in Finland. |
| Please specify the title that an architect receives after completing his Bachelor degree | B.Sc.(Arch.) |
| Please specify the title that an architect receives after completing his Master degree | M.Sc.(Arch.) |
| Can you get a Master’s Degree in Architecture after having previously obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in a field other than Architecture? | No |
| If so, please indicate the title that a person holding such a qualification will receive after graduation | N/D |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | N/D |
Section 3 – PPE (Professional Practice Experience)
| Question | Answer |
| Is there a requirement to undertake a period of compulsory practical training (PPE) in your country? | No |
| How long is the compulsory PPE? | N/D |
| Is the time period defined in terms of months/years, or in the form of hours? | N/D |
| If the time period is expressed in terms of months/years, how is part-time work reflected, does it count the same as full-time work or is the work expressed on a pro rata basis? | N/D |
| Is training undertaken prior to graduation recognised as part of the training requirement? | N/D |
| Which authority determines the requirements (program) for the PPE? | N/D |
| Which authority control and supervise the PPE? | N/D |
| Is the traineeship supervised (overseen)? | N/D |
| If so, by whom? | N/D |
| Does the trainee have to register their PPE with the competent authority? | N/D |
| Are the quality requirements for the PPE defined? | N/D |
| What categories of work experience does the PPE include? | N/D |
| Is the trainee required to complete compulsory CPD during the PPE? | N/D |
| Are specific supplementary courses organised? | N/D |
| How are PPE activities recorded (logbook, online register, etc.)? | N/D |
| How many hours per month are required for the PPE? | N/D |
| Is the PPE undertaken abroad in another EU country, recognised / taken into account? | N/D |
| Is the PPE undertaken abroad outside EU, recognised / taken into account? | N/D |
| Can the trainee’s own projects be included in the PPE? | N/D |
| Is the trainee monitored? | N/D |
| Is the PPE remunerated? | N/D |
| Is there a compulsory Professional Practice examination? | N/D |
| What authorities organise and carry out the professional exam? | N/D |
| Please indicate (approximately%) how many architectural graduates complete the PPE? | N/D |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | N/D |
Section 4 – Professional Practice
| Question | Answer |
| Please specify the professional title for an Architect in your country. | Architect |
| Are some or all of the functions usually carried out by architects regulated in your State? (please indicate if they are restricted to architects alone or to architects and other named professions) | The tasks of building design and principal designer are regulated by the Land Use and Building Act (132/1999). All the tasks are divided in for levels (minor, conventional. demanding and exceptionally demanding) and any of them are not restricted solely to an one profession. At the moment however architects are the only ones (only profession) in Finland that fulfills the education requirements for the exceptionally demanding building design task. |
| Does the Architect have to register with the competent authority? | No |
| Please specify the registration body. | N/D |
| Is the registration body: | N/D |
| Which professions are regulated in your country? | none |
| Is this registry entry renewed at a specified time? | N/D |
| Is there a Code of Conduct for Architects in your country? | Yes |
| Is it mandatory? | No |
| Please specify the name of the body that established the Code of Conduct: | N/D |
| Is this body: | Other |
| Does the competent authority have its own judicial system? | not applicable |
| Does your judicial system include public participation (non-architects within judges, public courts, etc.)? | not applicable |
| What kind of sanction is applied for non- compliance with the Code of Conduct? (select) | not applicable |
| Your additional / clarification notes on the Code of Conduct: | Finnish Association of Architects SAFA has it’s own Code of Conduct. This is mandatory for architects that are members in SAFA (use the title architect SAFA). |
| Does the competent authority (your organisation) have a document describing the scope (standard) of the architect’s services? | N/D |
| What sanctions are imposed on the architect for non-compliance with the standard of services? (select) | N/D |
| Does a system of CPD for architects exist in your country? | Yes |
| If so, is it compulsory? | No |
| If so, is it encouraged? | Yes |
| If so, is it free? | No |
| If it is compulsory, is it required by law? | N/D |
| If it is compulsory, is it required by a Code of Conduct? | N/D |
| If it is regulated, who regulates the system – a professional body? | N/D |
| If it is regulated, who regulates the system – a governmental body? | N/D |
| If it is regulated, who regulates the system – a combination of the two bodies? | N/D |
| Is the CPD system structured / organised? | No |
| Who provides the CPD courses? | Several operators – Finnish Association of Architects SAFA included. |
| What level of training is provided? | N/D |
| Are certain subjects mandatory? | No |
| What types of activities or provisions are accepted? | N/D |
| Do you have any evaluation criteria for the CPD material? | No |
| Who recognises (accredits) the training? | N/D |
| What is the estimated number of courses per year? | N/D |
| What is the estimated number of participants per year? | N/D |
| What is the estimated number of lesson hours per year? | N/D |
| Is there a CPD requirement for architects? | No |
| Is this requirement validated or checked and if so, how? (select) | not applicable |
| Is training (provision) delivered abroad accepted? | not applicable |
| What kind of sanction is applied for non-compliance with the CPD requirement? (select) | not applicable |
| Do you have a database containing the contents of your CPD Programme? | not applicable |
| Did you know that there is a CPD platform on the ACE website? | Yes |
| Your additional / clarification notes on CPD: | At the moment CPD is highly recommended for architects in Finland but it is no way required, validated or checked. The number of participants have raised significantly during the last 5 years and it has become a normal part of practicing the profession for most of architects. |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | We have a voluntary based certification system for building professionals that is operated by FISE (https://fise.fi/en/). In this system there is a requirement for CPD in order to renew the certification in every 7 years. |
Section 5 – Access to the Market
| Question | Answer |
| Is the architect, without any additional requirements, allowed to provide services normally provided by the professions: | landscape architect, urban planer, interior architect |
| Are only architects included in the list/register of the competent authority entitled to design and prepare documents for obtaining a building permit? | not applicable |
| Are contracts for design works concluded by investors: | There is no rule, both models are acceptable |
| Do you have any certification system for architects or architectural firms that conditions the performance of specific design work? | No |
| Can only an architect registered on the list take part in public procurement for architectural designs? | No |
| Is the lowest price criterion (excluding quality criteria) used in the case of public procurement of architectural projects? | Maybe it is, but it is very rare |
| Is signing a contract with a public investor always preceded by a conceptual design of the building? | Very rarely |
| Do you agree that the quality criterion is currently the main condition for selecting a bidder in the public procurement? | Disagree |
| Is insurance required to practice as an architect? | No |
| If so, what is the minimum amount of liability required? | N/D |
| Does public procurement recognise the insurance of any company or insurer with some sort of accreditation? | It doesn’t matter which company provides insurance |
| Which of the participants in the investment process must have compulsory insurance: | none |
| Is the architect responsible for: | quality of the project, providing a building permit, others |
| Does your organisation provide architects with recommended / model contracts? | Yes |
| Does your organisation provide architects with a recommended service fee scale? | No |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | A clarification on the questions about the insurances. Despite the insurance is not required in Finland by law, it is in practice always required by builders in both public and private procurements. Requirement is ususally included in the contracts. |
Section 6 – Tariffs and Rates
| Question | Answer |
| Please explain how the membership fee is calculated: | fixed fee set annually |
| What is the average annual membership fee? | 495 € (2021) |
| Is there an additional fee on first entry (i.e. admission fee)? | No |
| If so, please specify them: | N/D |
| What is the fee in your country for the recognition of qualifications in the automatic system? | N/D |
| What is the fee in your country for the recognition of qualifications in the general system? | N/D |
| What is the fee in your country for the registration of cross border services? | N/D |
| What is the cost of the minimum insurance fee (if mandatory) | N/D |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | Since the profession is not regulated architects have the same fees as all the professions when applying for a decision on recognition of a qualification from the competent authority (Finnish National Agency for Education) Decision on recognition of a higher education degree as comparable in terms of level to a degree completed in Finland 279 € Decision on recognition of higher education studies as comparable to a specific degree or certain study module 420–664 €* Decision on recognition of professional qualifications 420–664 €* Decision on sufficient studies for instruction in a foreign language, teaching based on Steiner pedagogy or pre-primary education based on Montessori pedagogy 420 €* Processing fee for a cancelled application 70 € Final decision on the recognition of professional qualifications or final decision on the recognition of higher education studies 70 € Decision on recognition if the decision is based on the same qualifications as a previous decision on recognition by the Finnish National Agency for Education 150 € *The fee includes a decision on the recognition of the level of a higher education degree, where applicable. Examples of the fees in different cases are provided on the application form. |
Section 7 – Market Access for Foreign Architects
| Question | Answer |
| In the case of cross-border provision of services / temporary registration, please provide a contact address for submitting applications / information: | N/D |
| In the case of cross-border provision of services / temporary registration, please specify the requirements / required documents: | N/D |
| In case of cross-border provision of services / temporary registration, please describe the recognition procedure: | N/D |
| In case of cross-border provision of services / temporary registration, please specify the duration of the procedure. | N/D |
| In the case of establishment / full registration, please provide a contact address for submitting applications / information: | N/D |
| In the case of establishment / full registration, please specify the requirements / required documents: | N/D |
| In case of establishment / full registration, please describe the recognition procedure: | N/D |
| In case of establishment / full registration, please specify the duration of the procedure. | N/D |
| Your additional / clarification notes on this section: | Since the profession is not regulated there is no need for any of the procedures above in Finland. |