COA Council of Architecture

The Council of Architecture or COA was formed by the Government of India, under the Architects Act, 1972. This Act came into effect mainly for the registration of architects and setting the standards of practice, educational standards and the recognized qualifications which the practising architects have to comply with. The body is mainly responsible for regulating the education and practice which the architects as professionals have to practice, while they are in India. It also maintains the register of the architects.

Anyone who wants to pursue the career of an architect has to register himself with the Council of Architecture. The Council is responsible for not only setting the requisite qualifications he must possess to practise in the profession but also providing him with a Certificate of Registration with up-to-date renewals.

At present, 108 institutions are imparting architecture degrees across the country. COA is responsible for maintaining the standard of education in all these institutions. The Council of Architecture monitors these under the regulations of Minimum Standards of Architectural Education, 1983. The body is the apex institution, entrusted with the responsibility of courses, duration, eligibility for admission, standards of accommodation, educational qualifications of the staff, course content and examination of all these colleges.