Internacional - Fitxes

MEXICO
Number of inhabitants	106,385,000
Number of architects
Index of architects per inhabitant

Admittance to the profession EDUCATION
Establishing of education standards or recognition of study plans	Yes
Regular supervision by an independent body	Yes
Relevant authorities	Estsblishing of standards: SECRETARÍA DE EDUCACIÓN PÚBLICA, SEP (Ministry of Education) and its DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE PROFESIONES, DGP (State Office for Professions). Supervision: COMITÉS INTERINSTITUCIONALES DE EVALUACIÓN DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR, CIEES (Interinstitutional Committees for Evaluation of the Superior Education) / COMITÉ DE ARQUITECTURA, DISEÑO Y URBANISMO (Architecture, Design and Town Planning Committee), and CONSEJO MEXICANO DE ACREDITACIÓN DE ENSEÑANZA DE LA ARQUITECTURA (Architectural Accreditation Board).
Recognised educational centers	84 Schools of Architecture which belong to ASINEA (Association of Architecture Institutions)
Duration of studies	4 to 5 years of study plus, in most cases, elaboration and presentation of a end-of-degree project in a professional exam
INTERNSHIP
Compulsory	No
Is it structured and recorded?	Yes
Duration	Variable. The internship is compulsory only in some schools of architecture, where it is structured and registered. Obtaining the diploma in architecture, besides the fulfilment of the studies, includes a compulsory social service period at the University.
EXAMINATION
Compulsory examination by an external authority to the education	No
Examining body
TITLE GRANTED
Academic title	ARQUITECTO (Architect)	Authority that grants the academic title	The educational centre from which the architect graduates
Job title	ARQUITECTO (Architect)	Authoriry that grants the job title	The educational centre from which the architect graduates
Additional notes	The Dirección General de Profesiones (State Office for Professions) registers the title and issues a professional licence that authorises the architect to exercise.
Professional practice
Regulated profession	Yes
Inscription in register compulsory	Yes
Registering entity	DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE PROFESIONES, DGP (State Office for Professions)
Law regulating profession	Reglamentary Act of the 5th Constitutional article, Civil Code, Consumer's Protection Federal Law. Furthermore, each State has its own regulations at local level
Additional notes
ARCHITECT'S COMPETENCES
Description	Design of buildings, structures and installations, interiors, public spaces, urban planning. Supervision and co-ordination of the construction, real-estate developing, consulting and technical expertise, appraisal services. Research.
MECHANISM CHECKING LICENSE TO PRACTISE
Description	TState Offices for Professions of the Ministry of Education (SEP), in accordance with the National Office for Profession (DGP), register the title and issue a professional 'cédula' (identity card) without which an architect is not allowed to practise.
ARCHITECT'S LIABILITY
Description	5 years in case of proved structural damages. 1 year for hidden defects as of the handover. The architect is only responsible for works produced under his direction. Should there have been posterior modifications directed by another architect during this period, and these have damages, the liability for these will be the latter's.
Source	Construction Reglamentation of the Federal District regulates the liability. The warranty is defined in the building construction licence. Civil Code and the Consumer Protection Act for disciplinary actions.
INSURANCE
Compulsory	No
Description
FEES
Does a fee scale exist?	Yes
Compulsory	No
Recommended	Yes
Published by	Colegios de Arquitectos (Architects associations)
Additional notes	Each Colegio de Arquitectos has specific fees for the services offered by architects.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Compulsory	No
Is it audited?	No
Organising body/ies	Schools of Architecture, Colegios de Arquitectos and other architects associations.
Description
CODE OF ETHICS
Does it exist?	Yes
Constituting body	Colegios de Arquitectos
OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Are there others who may legally provide similar services to architects?			No
Title		Competences

Other professionals in the provision of architectural services
Title		Competences

ADDITIONAL NOTES

PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL BODIES
Name of body		Competences
COLEGIOS DE ARQUITECTOS (Architects' Associations). The 69 local Colegios are federated in the FEDERACIÓN DE COLEGIOS DE ARQUITECTOS DE MÉXICO (Federation of the Architects' Associations of Mexico)		Representation and defense of the architectural profession and its importance for the society, regulation of the professional practice by participating in the elaboration of laws, regulations, code of ethics and other norms related to the profession, organising the national registry of the compulsory social service that the architects must comply with, offering services to architects.
ACADEMIA NACIONAL DE ARQUITECTURA (National Academy of Architecture)		Promotion of the understanding and acknowledgement of architecture within Mexican culture, register and catalogue of Mexican architectural heritage, awarding prizes for Mexican architecture in the country and abroad, professional exchange, education, research, divulgation of the cultural value of architecture.
ACADEMIA MEXICANA DE ARQUITECTURA (Mexican Academy of Architecture) of the INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE CULTURA (Mexican Culture Institute)		A selective group of relevant architects (about 120) that take part in all the national debates in which architects can participate. When there is a social issue that needs attention, the Academy organises forums and seminars with the participation of specialists. The main objective is , therefore, to benefit the society through their professional experience.

Foreign architects
Can a foreign architect practice independently?	Yes
LAW/S REGULATING PRACTICE
Foreign architects may practise independently only if an accord of mutual recognition is signed between Mexico and the country of origin. North America Free Trade Accord, Mutual Recognition Accord with the European Union, regulations of the State Office for Professions.
REQUIREMENTS
Origin 1
Origin 2
Origin 3
PROCEDURE
The FCARM issues a recognition document, and the State Office for Professions the licence (cédula profesional).
EXPENSES
Annual fee of 1.481 mexican pesos.
DOCUMENTATION
Origin 1	Diploma in architecture, proof of legal practice in the country of origin, proof of min. 5 years of professional experience, recognition document from the FCARM, licence from the State Office for Professions.
Origin 2
Origin 3

If foreign architects are authorised to work independently, what type of collaboration with national architects is recommended?
In the event that foreign architects are not authorised to work independently, what is the stipulated formula of collaboration with national architects?
ADDITIONAL NOTES
It is being considered to study the possibility of international practice and mutual recognition among countries with which Mexico has signed a Free Trade Agreement. The negotiations with the EU are already approved by the professional bodies of the countries involved and are going through the political stage. The negotiation with North American countries are in the stage of conclusion.

Useful addresses
FEDERACIÓN DE COLEGIOS DE ARQUITECTOS DE LA REPÚBLICA MEXICANA Yucatán 189-201, Tizapan, San Angel, Del. Álvaro Obregón 01090 Mexico DF Tel: 52-5-55506049 Fax: 52-5-55504180 e-mail: presidencia@fcarm.org.mx URL: www.fcarm.org.mx

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