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What Students Interested in Being a Professional Architect Should Know About the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM)

THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS MALAYSIA IS A STATUTORY AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ARCHITECTS ACT 1967

The functions of the Board are provided under the Section 4(1) of the aforesaid Act which includes the following :

Registration of Architects, Graduate Architects, Interior Designers, Graduate Interior Designers, Building Draughtsmen, Inspector of Works and Architectural Technologists;
Registration of Architectural Consultancy Practices and Interior Design Consultancy Practices;
Regulation of their conduct and ethics;
Conducting examinations for admission to the profession;
Accreditation of architectural programmes;
Development and Promotion of the profession;
Representing the architectural profession in any matter at local and international levels.

What is the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) and Becoming a Professional Architect in Malaysia

The architecture profession in Malaysia is protected by law. The regulating and governing body of the architecture profession in Malaysia is known as Lembaga Akitek Negara (LAM). They govern the entire profession starting from the definition of an architect under the Malaysian Constitution, licensing, practice, acts and enactments as well as education.

The other body that concerns the well being of architects themselves is Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia. It functions as an association that takes care of its members, organize functions and manages the professional development of an architect from the lowest to highest qualification. Just like Bar exams for lawyers, architects also require certain level of qualification that is a standard worldwide.

The qualifications are known as LAM Part 1, 2 and 3. The equivalent of this is RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), AIA (American Institute of Architects) and RAIA (Royal Australian Institute of Architects).

Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels will go for the Foundation program for one year first. After that, they will go on to an Architecture degree that’s accredited by Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) Part 1. Upon completion of the degree, graduates will then go on to a Masters in Architecture that’s accredited Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) Part 2.

After graduating with Part 2, a person is known as an architect, and will be able to practice according to the job specification of an architect. This should be the minimum target of anyone pursuing this profession. Anything less is a waste of time.

These qualifications can be obtained in two ways:

Obtaining a fully accredited degree (or equivalent) that carries Part 1 or 2 equivalent.
Sitting for individual exams after obtaining a non-accredited degree for Part or 2.

Graduates who obtained the qualifications in architecture from accredited universities are eligible to register as Graduate Architect with the Board of Architects Malaysia.

Part 3 can only be obtained after practicing as an architect for a minimum of 2 years and fulfilling all the project requirements set by LAM.

Fulfilling these needs, the architect will then submit themselves to a series of interviews and exams to determine that they are capable and absolutely qualified. These exams are conducted by Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM).

Exams for Architecture

Examinations: Part I and II

Under Section 4(1) of the Architects Act 1967, the Board is responsible for determining the standard for entry into the architectural profession and conducting examinations related thereto. The examinations are conducted by the Achitectural Examination Council Malaysia.
This examination is aimed to assess graduates from architectural programmes yet to be recognised by the Board.

PART III PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION

Part III Professional Examination

This examination is aimed to establish the required level of skill, competency and maturity which an applicant ought to have attained to fulfill his professional duties, responsibilities and obligation as Professional Architect.

Requirements for Registration as an Architect

1. The applicant shall be a person who :

is a registered Graduate Architect;
has obtained the practical experience as prescribed by the Board; and
has passed the Part III Professional Examination

2. Application for registration must be submitted in the prescribed Registration Form together with the following:

2 copies of recent photographs
Original Certificate of Registration as a registered Graduate Architect
Copy of the Part III Professional Examination Certificate
Registration fee for the amount of RM 500.00 with RM 100.00 for processing fee

3. All documents submitted must be certified as true copies by an Architect registered with the Board

Interior Design Licensure Examination

In accordance with the Architects Act 1967, passing the Interior Design Licensure Examination is one of the qualifications to register as an Interior Designer with the Board of Architects Malaysia.
The objective of this Examination is to establish the required level of practical experience, skills, competency and maturity which an applicant ought to have attained to fulfill his professional duties, technical, management and regulatory responsibilities and obligations while practising his profession as an Interior Designer in Malaysia.

Requirements for Registration as Interior Designer

Subject to the Architect Act 1967, any person who is a corporate member of the ‘Institut Perekabentuk Dalaman Malaysia’ or the Malaysian Institute of Interior Design (MIID) or has obtained a qualification which the Board considers to be equivalent, thereto shall be entitled on application to be registered as an Interior Designer.
Any person who is registered under subsection 10(2) as an Architect shall be entitled to practise or carry on business as an Interior Designer.
Application for registration must be submitted in the prescribed Registration Form as an Interior Designer together with the following :-
- 2 copies of recent photographs
- a copy of Identity Card / Passport
- any other relevant documents
- Registration fee for the amount of RM 400.00 with RM 100.00 for processing fee
All documents submitted must be certified as true copies by an Architect registered with the Board.

What is the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM)?

What Students Interested in Being a Professional Architect Should Know About the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM)