Affiliate status FAQs

'Affiliate' is a status within the Institute's structure, which replaced the Profile Candidate category in September 2020.

It is not a membership grade/class but a status within the joining structure, which facilitates access to qualifying as a Chartered Architectural Technologist and an opportunity to be enagaged and involved with the Institute.

No, it is a status which allows you to promote your professional and ethical conduct in Architectural Technology and facilitates access to qualify as a Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT.

Affiliates can promote their association with CIAT to prospective clients and peers (something profile candidates were not allowed to do previously) and refer to themselves as a:

• 'CIAT affiliate' or
• 'CIAT affiliate whilst working towards attaining Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT status'. NB – Only those who are AT professionals are allowed to use this strapline.

There are two types of Affiliate status for individuals. All Affiliates must comply with the relevant sections of the Code of Conduct:

Affiliate A (as defined in Section B of the Code of Conduct):
Architectural Technology professionals who:

• do not satisfy the academic standard criteria for membership; and/or
• are offering services directly to clients via self-employment (as defined in the Code of Conduct).

Affiliate B (as defined in Section C of the Code of Conduct):
Individuals: For those with an interest in Architectural Technology and/or built environment sector and wish to be associated with CIAT and support the discipline. 

Group or Body corporates: For those with an interest in Architectural Technology and/or built environment sector and wish to support and be associated with the discipline of Architectural Technology and CIAT. See more on the Affiliate Group Body Corporate (AGBC) Scheme.

Affiliate B individuals are unable to qualify as Chartered Architectural Technologists and/or Fellow Members nor enjoy the same recognition as the other classes of membership and/or professional qualifications.

Subscriptions are charged pro-rata for those joining dependent on the time of year you apply. The full standard fees and subscription are as follows:
Affiliate A, individual
£70 application fee
£190 annual subscription

Affiliate B, individual
£35 application fee
£100 annual subscription

You will be required to register your practice and services with CIAT as defined in Section B of the Code of Conduct.

No. There is no additional cost for registering a practice and services. If you are joining the Institute, this will be part of the registration process where you will need to complete an online practice registration form for affiliates, provide evidence of current Professional Indemnity Insurance showing its expiry date and samples of business stationery for approval.

Once compliance checks are undertaken, you will be registered as an affiliate and your practice placed on the Register of Affiliates.

Yes, if you are an affiliate A or an Associate member, both of which are holding categories, the progression route/s to Chartered Membership are the same for every0ne. All candidates, irrespective of whether they are employees or have their own business, must be able to demonstrate the required underpinning knowledge, experience, and professionalism, to obtain Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT status.

You may be able to qualify in as little as 4 - 6 weeks after submitting your application for MCIAT. The MCIAT Professional Assessment qualifying process is flexible and candidate-orientated. It has been designed to recognise the diversity of Architectural Technology professionals and can be commenced as soon as you feel ready. 

There is no deadline for submission and the entire process is currently being undertaken remotely. 

Once you meet the standards for Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT you will need to pay an upgrade fee and if your practice was on the Register of Affiliates, you must re-register your practice and transfer to the CIAT Chartered Practices' Register.