The Association of Consultant Architects (ACA) is the national professional body representing architects in private practice – consultant architects – in the UK.

The ACA provides an independent voice and support to architectural practices that promotes high standards in practice. Membership is free and open to registered architects practicing alone or in partnership or as a Director of a company whose business consists wholly or mainly of an architectural practice or an allied field.

The principal purpose of the ACA is to represent and support architects in providing excellence in practice. The Association lobbies and consults with Government and major industry bodies, arranges events and provides additional services in support of this goal.

The ACA promotes the service a consultant architect offers and works to sustain the profession’s reputation and ensure its appropriate place within the building industry, as well as maintaining awareness of its value to clients, domestic and commercial, and the broader community as a whole.

While other benefits are available to members, this collective voice is regarded as the most important function of the ACA and is central to the ethos of the Association.

Benefits of free membership

1. The exclusive ACA Newsletter (which has a subscription value of £99 per year)
2. Free webinars and discounted tickets to ACA and industry events which cover topics such as building safety, planning and developments within the MHCLG
3. Partnerships with organisations which offer Professional Indemnity Insurance, Business Management Services and Research & Development tax relief; our partners offer exclusive discounts to ACA members

https://acarchitects.co.uk/membership/

1. Representation on the Construction Industry Council and other industry bodies
2. The ACA offers its members two architectural appointment agreements. The Professional Services Agreement (PSA22) is our refreshed contract for small and domestic works. Our second appointment agreement, the recently published Standard Form of Agreement (SFA24), closely follows its predecessor SFA/2012, which has served both architects and clients well since its inception as SFA/92. The SFA24 is for use with traditional forms of building contracting where the architect can be appointed from pre-commencement to post completion.
3. Both Appointment Agreements are available through our 12 month subscription service. And, for increased cost efficiencies and ease, our NEW combination package offers members an unlimited supply of both ACA PSA22 and SFA24 appointment agreements

https://acarchitects.co.uk/shop/

1. ACA members are eligible for 20% discount across our subscriptions and 25% on individual purchases across our architectural appointment agreements

The ACA has also launched the Principal Designer Register which serves as a platform for Architects in private practice to promote their competence to take on the role of Principal Designer for Building Regulations established by the Building Safety Act. Also developed for use in support are industry guidelines, various templates and creative assets:- https://www.principaldesigner.uk