Standard Membership Process:

The Certification Board meets monthly to review new applications. Applicants should provide the as much supporting documentation as possible to avoid delays in this process. For more information on supporting documentation, please refer to the FAQ Documentation Required With Standard Application section.

Upon acceptance, the Certification Board will send you a letter outlining the requirements for your 'Part 1 - Upgrading' program. This will consist of additional learning and/or work experience.

You will also need to attend the AATO Admissions Lecture, which is offered at no cost. After attending the Admissions Lecture, those who are Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents will have their membership reclassified as our protected title 'Registered Building Technician' and be able to use our letters M.A.A.T.O. in conjunction with their designation title.

When you have completed your 'Part 1 - Upgrading' program, you will be invited to attend 'Part 2 - Lecture Series' and 'Part 3 - Accreditation Examinations', which are offered twice annually each Spring and Fall. There is a cost associated with this.

The Lecture Series is a two-day virtual weekend event that includes presentations from an AATO past president, Lawyers, Accountants and Insurance Specialists. The Accreditation Examinations are typically held 4 to 6 weeks thereafter at head office. Remote proctoring is available for eligible members.

The AATO has two accreditation exams:

• If you pass the Technical Knowledge exam, you will be reclassified as our protected title 'Architectural Technician' or 'Architecte-Technicien'.
• If you pass the Professional Practice exam, you will be reclassified as our protected title 'Registered Building Technologist'.
• If you pass BOTH exams, you will be reclassified as our protected title 'Architectural Technologist' or 'Architecte-Technologue'.

The Professional Practice exam is an open book exam based on the material presented during the Lecture Series and the Ontario Building Code. Candidates pursuing the protected designation of 'Architectural Technologist' (or its French equivalent) or 'Registered Building Technologist' would be required to take this exam.

The Technical Knowledge exam is a closed book exam. Candidates are expected to draw from their general knowledge of the Ontario Building Code, along with construction materials, methods and building science. Candidates pursuing the protected designations of 'Architectural Technologist' or 'Architectural Technician' (or their French equivalents) would be required to take this exam.

Student Membership Process:

The Certification Board meets monthly to review new applications. Upon acceptance, the Certification Board will send you a letter outlining the steps to progress your membership following graduation. The Student Membership application should be used only for those actively enrolled in an Architectural Technology or Architectural Technician program. If you have already graduated, please use the Standard Membership form.

The AATO welcomes individuals who have relevant international education and/or work experience. The Standard Membership application process should be followed but applicants are required to submit a WES or similar education equivalency report complete with transcript analysis for your international education. Also needed is full details regarding your international work experience (Employer Information, Position Held, Duties, Duration of Employment etc).

It should be noted that our by-laws require members to be Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents in order to progress from the ‘Part 1 – Upgrading’ program to 'Part 2 - Lecture Series' and 'Part 3 - Accreditation Examinations'. For more information on the upgrading and accreditation process, refer to the FAQ Standard Membership Process section.

Individuals who do not have citizenship or permanent resident status are encouraged to work through their upgrading program, and advise our office as soon as their status has changed. Upon confirmation of this, you may continue on the path to full accreditation.

Documentation Required With Standard Application:

a) Official College or University Transcript
b) Confirmation of Canadian Status (Canadian Passport, Canadian Certificate of Citizenship, Canadian Permanent Resident Card, Canadian Work and/or Study Permit)
c) Transcripts or Certificates for any additional programs, courses or seminars taken in the last 5 years
d) If Internationally educated: A WES or similar education equivalency report complete with transcript analysis
e) For International work experience: Full details outlining Employer Information, Position Held, Duties, Duration of Employment etc.

Accepted Education:

a) 3-year Architectural Technology program graduates from approved Ontario Colleges
b) 2-year Architectural Technician program graduates from approved Ontario Colleges
c) Graduates of a 4-year Architecture, Architectural Science or Architectural Engineering program from an approved Ontario University
d) Other Canadian Province or Territory equivalents of the above
e) International equivalents of the above (WES or similar education equivalency report complete with transcript analysis required)
f) We will also consider other relevant programs however an individual’s ‘Part 1 - Upgrading’ program will be tailored accordingly. For more information on the upgrading program, refer to the FAQ General Standard Membership Process section.