The Architectural Practice Board of South Australia is the statutory authority responsible to the Minister for administering the Architectural Practice Act 2009 (the Act), "to provide for the registration of architects and architectural businesses; to regulate architectural practice for the purpoese of maintaining high standards of competence and conduct by registered architects and registered architectural businesses; and for other purposes."
The relevant Minister is the Minister for Urban Planning and Development and Planning SA is the department responsible for supporting the Minister.
The Board is composed of seven persons appointed by the Governor of whom three must be registered architects elected by architects registered in South Australia and four persons nominated by the Minister.
The Board is responsible for maintaining a register of architects, architectural companies and partnerships and for ensuring that only properly qualified and experienced people are listed on the register of architects, and only companies and partnerships which satisfy the requirements of the Act are registered as architect companies and partnerships.
The Board has a statutory role to investigate complaints made against architects and against unregistered persons holding themselves out to be architects. The Board has powers to discipline registered persons and architectural businesses who are found to have contravened the Act.
An important role of the Board is to accredit architectural courses. The Board may also promote knowledge of architecture amongst the public.
The Board charges fees to registered architects to cover costs of administering the Board's activities and there is no cost to the government or members of the public.