Fellow Membership FAQs

Fellow Membership is an acknowledgement of a Chartered Member's significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology which complements the Chartered Architectural Technologist qualification. It is an aspirational achievement for Chartered Members to further demonstrate their skills, roles and functions. Fellow Membership is not a higher level to that of Chartered Architectural Technologist.

You will always be a Chartered Architectural Technologist, therefore there is no difference in relation to your competence in the discipline of Architectural Technology. 

Chartered Architectural Technologist is the protected title and professional qualification achieved when Members demonstrate their underpinning knowledge, experience and professionalism attained through education and practical experience. It is a protected descriptor which can only be awarded by CIAT under its Royal Charter, regulated by the Privy Council. Only CIAT holds the register of Chartered Architectural Technologists.

Fellow Membership is an accolade which awards the FCIAT designation and is recognition that demonstrates your significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology. It is not an additional demonstration of competence or an elevated level of qualification to your Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT status.

All Chartered Architectural Technologists are eligible to apply and can aspire to become a Fellow Member should they choose to do so.

• The designation, FCIAT, which sits alongside the protected descriptor 'Chartered Architectural Technologist'.
• It is an acknowledgement of your contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology from your Institute and peers.
• Distinction within Architectural Technology.
• It gives additional external recognition and eminence from colleagues, peers, clients and employers.
• It forms part of the continued profile-raising of Architectural Technology as a discipline and profession.
• It offers the opportunity to be involved with, and represent the Institute within your area/s of excellence and/or significance.
• It enables you to be part of the built environment community of Fellows.

There is no difference in relation to your competence in the discipline of Architectural Technology.

Chartered Architectural Technologist is the protected title and professional qualification achieved when Members demonstrate their underpinning knowledge, experience and professionalism attained through education and practical experience. It is a protected descriptor which can only be awarded by CIAT under its Royal Charter, regulated by the Privy Council. Only CIAT holds the register of Chartered Architectural Technologists.

Fellow Membership is an accolade which awards the FCIAT designation and is recognition that demonstrates your significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology. It is not an additional demonstration of competence or an elevated level of qualification to your Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT status.

It is Chartered Architectural Technologist which holds the recognition whether you are MCIAT or FCIAT.

Fellow Membership, FCIAT will demonstrate your eminence and distinction within Architectural Technology.

Fellow Members should describe themselves as per the example below:

Lorraine McCall FCIAT
Chartered Architectural Technologist
(use of the protected descriptor Chartered Architectural Technologists, which is your qualification demonstrates your competence and recognition)

You must be a Chartered Architectural Technologist and complete the online application form and demonstrate your significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology.

Your submission is limited to a maximum of 1650 words and must include:

• Context: Information about you and a brief overview of your activity within Architectural Technology.
• Significant Contribution and/or Excellence: Information on why you are applying for Fellow Membership. This should include: what you believe you have contributed to and/or how you have achieved excellence in Architectural Technology, when you achieved it, how it was achieved and in which sphere of Architectural Technology it was achieved. (For example: professional practice, policy, academia, research, specialist areas, government, industry, the Institute.)
• Impact: Information on the change, effect or influence you believe your significant contribution and/or excellence has had, and the scope of this impact: local, national, international or global.
• Value: Of Fellow Membership to you and how you would use it to contribute further to Architectural Technology.

If you are a Chartered Architectural Technologist you can apply to become a Fellow. It is not possible to achieve it through nomination.

No, it is open to any Chartered Architectural Technologist who can meet the criteria. There are no time-based restrictions.

A Fellow Panel will review your application and make its decision, which will be confirmed in writing (via email) within 28 days of submission.

1. Pass: You would be invited to be a Fellow Member upon paying the additional annual FCIAT subscription fee of £75. A certificate would be issued, and you use the designation FCIAT in tandem with Chartered Architectural Technologist.
2. Defer: If you did not satisfy the criteria or provide sufficient information for the Panel to make an informed decision, your first submission would be deferred, but you would have the opportunity to make two further submissions at no additional charge.
3. Refer: If your application did not satisfy the criteria following three submissions, guidance on remedial actions and a timeframe outlining eligibility to re-apply would be provided. All subsequent submissions would require a new application and £300 fee.

No. The decision is final with no right of appeal.

No, it is a written application only.

It is not a technical application against defined standards, and as such supporting documentation/evidence is not required in all cases. However, you may submit supporting documentation/evidence if you deem it necessary to your application, or if stipulated by the Fellow Panel after the assessment, should they require further information. The purpose and added value of supporting documentation should be carefully considered to ensure it is relevant to the application.

You are encouraged to include links to websites or make reference to other documents within the written statement. All additional documentation, references or links must be relevant, focused and succinct.

The assessment fee is £300 (incl. VAT) and there will be an additional annual subscription fee of £75 for FCIAT on top of your Chartered Membership subscription in the year which you achieve Fellow member. 

Yes. The standard Fellow Member subscription for 2024/25 will be £410 and will cover both Fellow and Chartered Membership. The subscription rate may differ if you are based internationally and/or are a CIOB dual member.