COA Advisory 2026: 'Quacks', Stop Calling Yourself Architects, says COA!

Q: What Happens if Someone Misuses the Title "Architect"?

According to the COA Advisory 2026 , individuals or organisations using the protected title without registration may face legal action under the Architects Act, 1972 , along with other applicable laws. In fact, the Council has also encouraged the public to report such cases through its official complaint portal .

Architecture Bulletin | Going beyond the headlines | 3-min Read

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The Story in a Minute: Ever come across someone who casually adds “Architect” to their LinkedIn bio, business card or Instagram profile? Well… the Council of Architecture (COA) has dropped a COA Advisory 2026, and it seems to be meant exactly for them!

So, in a nation-wide public advisory issued on 2 August 2026, the COA asked unregistered individuals, companies and organisations to stop using the protected title “Architect.” In fact, it also reminded everyone that only professionals registered under the Architects Act, 1972 can legally use the designation. Furthermore, it also urged clients, developers, government bodies and educational institutions to verify an architect’s COA registration before appointing them for their projects.

Let’s just call this a nationwide “Janhit Mein Jaari” announcement from the COA: if you’re not registered, don’t call yourself an architect. Pretty simple, right?

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Quacks[ⁿᵒᵘⁿ] : So, ‘Quacks’ basically mean ignorant, misinformed, or dishonest practitioners of medicine. But in this advisory, the Council uses this term for unregistered individuals or organisations falsely presenting themselves as architects or using the protected title “Architect” without legal registration. It does not refer to registered architects or qualified professionals.

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Table Of Contents

Wait… Can Anyone Call Themselves an Architect?
So… What Exactly Did the COA Advisory 2026 Announce?
Why Did the COA Issue This COA Advisory 2026 Now?
Let's Decode the Architects Act
FAQs
Citations

Wait… Can Anyone Call Themselves an Architect?

Comic Explaining Coa Advisory 2026, Architects Act 1972, and Why Only Registered Professionals Can Legally Use the Title Architect in India. — *© Archwhispers.com*

Actually, no! In fact, one of the biggest takeaways from the COA Advisory 2026 is that the term “Architect” cannot be just another professional label. People should rather treat it like a legally protected designation under the Architects Act, 1972.

So in short, you can’t call yourself an architect just because you’ve designed buildings, worked in the AEC industry or even completed a B.Arch degree. You must first register with the Council of Architecture (COA) before you can legally use the title.

In fact, section 37 of the Architects Act, 1972 clearly states that no person other than a registered architect, or a firm where all partners are registered architects can use the title & style of the profession. And, the COA Advisory 2026 just reinforces this legal position. It’s like your architecture degree proves you’ve the qualification, but the COA gives you the legal right to practice it in India. And that’s exactly why this latest COA Advisory 2026 sparks such an important discussion across the profession.

So… What Exactly Did the COA Advisory 2026 Announce?

Well, the COA Advisory 2026 isn’t a new law obviously. Instead, it just reinforces the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972 and clarifies the use of the title and designation in general. Here’s what the Council has asked everyone to do:

Stop Misusing the Title: The COA Advisory 2026 simply asks unregistered individuals, companies and organisations to stop using the title & presenting themselves as architects or professionals.
Verify Before You Hire: It makes it a must for clients, developers, government departments, municipal corporations, educational institutions and consultants to check an architect’s registration number before appointing them for a project.
Legal Consequences: According to the advisory, anyone found misusing the protected title “Architect” may face prosecution under Sections 36 and 37 of the Architects Act, 1972. Similar & applicable violations from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 may also follow.
Report Violations: Finally, the Council has encouraged the public to report any unauthorised use of the title “Architect” through its official online complaint portal. And for that, the team has already promised strict confidentiality of the complainant’s name, identity and any other personal details.

Why Did the COA Issue This COA Advisory 2026 Now?

Illustrated Comic Showing the Risks of Hiring an Unregistered Designer and the Importance of Professional Architectural Registration in India

Well honestly, this isn’t a new law. The Architects Act, 1972 has been basically protecting the title & designation for over five decades now. But, what is new is obviously the growing misuse of the title across websites, social media, business directories, factfiles and even company profiles.

You know how today it just takes a few clicks & a few AI prompts to add “Architect” to Linkedin profiles, banners, visiting cards, blogs, etc. But then it gets really really difficult for clients to distinguish between a registered architect and someone who is simply presenting themselves as one. Besides confusing clients, it also undermines professionals who have spent years earning both the qualification and the legal recognition to use the title.

And that’s a serious concern, especially in a country with more than 1.8 lakh architects registered with the Council of Architecture.

Quick Note: At the end of the day, the title isn’t just about professional recognition. It’s about accountability. When you hire an architect, you’re trusting someone with regulations, safety, accessibility and the spaces you’ll live in for years. That’s exactly what the CoA wants people to remember.

Let’s Decode the Architects Act

Noticed how the council repeatedly refers to the Architects Act, 1972 in the COA advisory 2026? Well, let’s just quickly check its considerations & sections here:

Section 37 | Who can use the Title: So, Section 37 says that only architects registered with the Council of Architecture (COA), or an architectural firm where all partners are registered architects can legally use the title “Architect.” In other words, this law protects the title, not just the profession.
Section 36 | Misusing the Title: If an individual or organisation falsely represents themselves as an architect or unlawfully uses the protected title, the Council can initiate legal proceedings under the Architects Act, 1972.

Quick Note: Remember that the COA Advisory 2026 isn’t about enforcing a new law. Instead, it’s just reminding people that the title “Architect” is protected & you just can’t use it casually on your social profiles, websites & businesses.

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FAQs

Can Anyone Legally Call Themselves an Architect in India?

No. Remember that only the professionals registered with the Council of Architecture (COA) can legally call themselves an ‘Architect” in India.

Does a B.Arch Degree Automatically Make Me an Architect?

Not quite. Your B.Arch degree just helps you with the educational qualification. But, the COA registration gives you the legal right to use & practise the title “Architect.”

How Can I Check if an Architect Is Registered With the Council of Architecture?

You can check if an architect is registered with the Council of Architecture by simply searching for their name or graduation year from COA’s online directory. And there, you also have the option to verify architects w.r.t their name, city, graduation year, registration number, etc.

What Happens if Someone Misuses the Title “Architect”?

According to the COA Advisory 2026, individuals or organisations using the protected title without registration may face legal action under the Architects Act, 1972, along with other applicable laws. In fact, the Council has also encouraged the public to report such cases through its official complaint portal.

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Still have a question? Drop it in the comments below, and I’ll keep updating this guide as new clarifications or advisories are released.

✎ Ar. Ruchika’s Margin Note

Maybe every architect has had this conversation at least once. You spend five years in architecture school, countless juries defending every line you draw, and then someone casually adds “Architect” to their Instagram bio. I suppose that’s why this advisory exists in the first place, doesn’t it?

Editorial Note: Architecture Bulletin isn’t here to repeat press releases. Every story is independently researched using official documents, project information and trusted industry sources. We then expand the story with additional context, analysis and editorial insights so you don’t just know what happened; you understand why it matters.

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